Cefn Hirgoed facts for kids

Cefn Hirgoed is a long, low hill, also called a ridge, located in South Wales. It is found in the Bridgend area. Its name comes from the Welsh words meaning "back (ridge) of the long wood."

This ridge stretches for about 5 kilometers (about 3 miles). It goes from the village of Sarn in the west, all the way to Pen-prysg near Pencoed in the east. At its highest point, Cefn Hirgoed reaches 142 meters (466 feet) above sea level. You can find two large water reservoirs at this highest spot. The M4 motorway, a major road, runs along the southern side of the hill towards the west.

What is Cefn Hirgoed Made Of?

Cefn Hirgoed is mostly made of strong rocks called sandstone. These sandstones are part of what geologists call the South Wales Lower Coal Measures. Between these tough sandstone layers, there are also softer layers of mudstone.

These rock layers are tilted steeply downwards towards the north. This tilt is part of a large bowl-shaped rock structure called a syncline. This particular syncline is where the rocks of the South Wales Coalfield are found.

Exploring Cefn Hirgoed

Most of Cefn Hirgoed is considered "open country." This means that people generally have the right to walk across it. This right comes from a law called the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.

There are also several public footpaths that cross Cefn Hirgoed. These are marked paths that anyone can use for walking. Two smaller roads, Heol Spencer and Heol Llan/Heol-Las, also run across the ridge from north to south. These roads make it easier to reach different parts of the hill.