Mynydd y Castell Camp

Heritage Site in Glamorgan

Wales

Mynydd y Castell Camp

Margam Crematorium Looking North towards main building, just North of the reservoir
Margam Crematorium Credit: Chris Shaw

Mynydd y Castell Camp is a heritage site located in Glamorgan, Wales. It is an ancient hillfort situated on the top of a hill, overlooking the surrounding landscape. The site holds significant historical and archaeological importance, offering a glimpse into the lives of the people who inhabited the area during the Iron Age.

The hillfort occupies an area of approximately 2.5 hectares and is enclosed by a series of earthworks and ditches. These defensive features suggest that the site was used as a fortified settlement, providing protection to its inhabitants. The remains of a rampart can still be seen, showcasing the impressive engineering skills of the people who constructed it.

Excavations at Mynydd y Castell Camp have uncovered a variety of artifacts, including pottery, metalwork, and jewelry. These findings indicate that the site was occupied from around 600 BC to the Roman period. The hillfort's strategic location would have allowed its inhabitants to control and monitor the surrounding landscape, making it an essential hub for trade and communication.

Today, Mynydd y Castell Camp is a popular destination for history enthusiasts, archaeologists, and hikers. Visitors can explore the site and enjoy the breathtaking views from the hilltop. Interpretive panels provide information about the site's history and its significance. The heritage site offers an opportunity to step back in time and imagine the daily lives of the Iron Age community that once thrived on this hillfort.

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Mynydd y Castell Camp Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 51.5656/-3.724 or Grid Reference SS8086. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Margam Crematorium Looking North towards main building, just North of the reservoir
Margam Crematorium
Looking North towards main building, just North of the reservoir
Margam Hills Dramatic Wooded Hillside - looking NE from centre of square (across the M4)
Margam Hills
Dramatic Wooded Hillside - looking NE from centre of square (across the M4)
Hilltop nr Brombill Heavily wooded hillside East of motorway
Hilltop nr Brombill
Heavily wooded hillside East of motorway
Margam Crematorium
Margam Crematorium
Coast Defence Radar Station Swansea Bay CHL/Coast Defence Radar Station. The Coast Defence/Chain Home Low chain was set up to provide radar plotting of both shipping and aircraft movements and operated on the same 1.5 m wavelength as CHL stations. The CD/CHL stations were originally manned solely by the Army, or jointly by all three services, until the RAF assumed responsibility for them. A 60 Group (RAF) Statement Map (2nd edition) identifies Swansea Bay as a CHL (Type 2) Station.The equipment was housed in a building sharing many similarities with the brick CHL combined transmitter/receiver block, but the gantry supporting the aerial array was mounted on top of the block rather than on the ground with four buttresses for support.  Three concrete buildings survive at the Swansea Bay site on the east side of a public footpath running along the ridge that overlooks Swansea Bay. The largest of these, at the north end of the site, was the operations block which is of the standard design illustrated in the diagram above. It is divided into three rooms with some of the windows retaining their metal shutters. The building is completely empty apart from some wiring remnants. A 10 foot high metal gantry on the roof would have mounted the radar array.The power house is located a few yards to the south, this is a smaller rectangular concrete building with a blast protected door at one end and small vents high in each wall. As this station was not connected to mains electricity this building would have housed a diesel generator. All that remains now is the concrete engine bed. An identical building stands 100 yards to the south east close to an electricity pylon. This would have housed a standby generator which would have been used if the main set failed.
Coast Defence Radar Station
Swansea Bay CHL/Coast Defence Radar Station. The Coast Defence/Chain Home Low chain was set up to provide radar plotting of both shipping and aircraft movements and operated on the same 1.5 m wavelength as CHL stations. The CD/CHL stations were originally manned solely by the Army, or jointly by all three services, until the RAF assumed responsibility for them. A 60 Group (RAF) Statement Map (2nd edition) identifies Swansea Bay as a CHL (Type 2) Station.The equipment was housed in a building sharing many similarities with the brick CHL combined transmitter/receiver block, but the gantry supporting the aerial array was mounted on top of the block rather than on the ground with four buttresses for support. Three concrete buildings survive at the Swansea Bay site on the east side of a public footpath running along the ridge that overlooks Swansea Bay. The largest of these, at the north end of the site, was the operations block which is of the standard design illustrated in the diagram above. It is divided into three rooms with some of the windows retaining their metal shutters. The building is completely empty apart from some wiring remnants. A 10 foot high metal gantry on the roof would have mounted the radar array.The power house is located a few yards to the south, this is a smaller rectangular concrete building with a blast protected door at one end and small vents high in each wall. As this station was not connected to mains electricity this building would have housed a diesel generator. All that remains now is the concrete engine bed. An identical building stands 100 yards to the south east close to an electricity pylon. This would have housed a standby generator which would have been used if the main set failed.
Gorsedd Stones
Gorsedd Stones
M4 motorway passing Eglwys Nunydd reservoir, Margam The waters of Eglwys Nunydd reservoir can be glimpsed  behind the barrier with the steelworks beyond. The reservoir covers the site of an early medieval monastic settlement associated with St Non, mother of St David.
M4 motorway passing Eglwys Nunydd reservoir, Margam
The waters of Eglwys Nunydd reservoir can be glimpsed behind the barrier with the steelworks beyond. The reservoir covers the site of an early medieval monastic settlement associated with St Non, mother of St David.
Milepost  (Relocated?) Last in a series of mileposts along the A48 before the M4 at Junction 38. This is located less than a mile from the previous one near Margam Country Park, and is opposite a lay-by. Was it moved when the M4 was built and the A48 was remodelled between Junctions 38 and 39?
Milepost (Relocated?)
Last in a series of mileposts along the A48 before the M4 at Junction 38. This is located less than a mile from the previous one near Margam Country Park, and is opposite a lay-by. Was it moved when the M4 was built and the A48 was remodelled between Junctions 38 and 39?
BOC Gases plant nr Margam
BOC Gases plant nr Margam
Brombil Reservoir Brombil reservoir, near Port Talbot. The start of the walk can be accessed via Latitude:  51°34'24.56"N Longitude:   3°44'52.54"W. The trail splits off to the left, but where the photo was taken is across the river to the right. If you start walking up a long steep trail, you've gone the wrong way.
Brombil Reservoir
Brombil reservoir, near Port Talbot. The start of the walk can be accessed via Latitude: 51°34'24.56"N Longitude: 3°44'52.54"W. The trail splits off to the left, but where the photo was taken is across the river to the right. If you start walking up a long steep trail, you've gone the wrong way.
Margam Crematorium entrance
Margam Crematorium entrance
Abbotts Close
Abbotts Close
View of Port Talbot Gwaith Dur Port Talbot & Bae Abertawe
Port Talbot Steel Works & Swansea Bay
View of Port Talbot
Gwaith Dur Port Talbot & Bae Abertawe Port Talbot Steel Works & Swansea Bay
Entrance to the Eglwys Nunydd Reservoir The Eglwys Nunydd is a 260-acre supply reservoir originally constructed in 1963 to provide water for the large steelworks at Margam. Specifically the reservoir was to provide a supply of cooling water for the cold rolling mills at the eastern end of the works. (Wikipedia)
Entrance to the Eglwys Nunydd Reservoir
The Eglwys Nunydd is a 260-acre supply reservoir originally constructed in 1963 to provide water for the large steelworks at Margam. Specifically the reservoir was to provide a supply of cooling water for the cold rolling mills at the eastern end of the works. (Wikipedia)
BOC factory at Margam
BOC factory at Margam
The road to Margam Crematorium
The road to Margam Crematorium
The M4 at Margam Interchange
The M4 at Margam Interchange
Tyla Farm, Brombil Tata steelworks, Port Talbot, beyond.
Tyla Farm, Brombil
Tata steelworks, Port Talbot, beyond.
Show me another place!

Mynydd y Castell Camp is located at Grid Ref: SS8086 (Lat: 51.5656, Lng: -3.724)

Unitary Authority: Neath Port Talbot

Police Authority: South Wales

What 3 Words

///contained.twists.regulator. Near Taibach, Neath Port Talbot

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Nearby Amenities

Located within 500m of 51.5656,-3.724
Created By: Potlatch 0.10f
Tourism: picnic_site
Lat/Long: 51.5635648/-3.7299507
Parking
Lat/Long: 51.5631878/-3.7251581
Passing Place
Lat/Long: 51.561581/-3.7262392
Passing Place
Lat/Long: 51.5619226/-3.7242516
Toilets
Lat/Long: 51.5626926/-3.7240015
Cafe
Lat/Long: 51.5627539/-3.7243327
Bicycle Rental
Lat/Long: 51.5627897/-3.7240698
Ford: yes
Lat/Long: 51.567491/-3.7236557
The data included in this document is from www.openstreetmap.org. The data is made available under ODbL.

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