Kilvey Hill facts for kids
Kilvey Hill is a well-known hill in South Wales, located just east of the city of Swansea. In Welsh, it's called Mynydd Cilfái or sometimes Y Bigwrn.
This hill stands about 193 meters (633 feet) tall. It's known as a "Sub Marilyn," which means it's a hill over 150 meters high with a clear drop on all sides. From the top of Kilvey Hill, you can see amazing views! You can look out over Swansea city centre, the docks, Swansea Bay, and even the Lower Swansea Valley. On a clear day, you might also spot Bon-y-maen, Neath, and Port Talbot.
The original Welsh name for the hill was Y Bigwrn, and its highest point was called Pen y Bigwrn. Today, most people in Wales call it Mynydd Cilfái, which is a direct translation of "Kilvey Hill."
There are several neighborhoods built around the bottom of Kilvey Hill. To the north, you'll find Bon-y-maen and Pentrechwyth. To the south are areas like Dan-y-graig, Port Tennant, and St. Thomas.
At the very top of the hill, there's a TV and radio transmitter station and a tall telecommunications mast. The middle part of the hill is covered in woodlands and open grassy areas. This natural space is part of the Kilvey Community Woodland. Kilvey Hill is also a popular spot for exciting mountain biking events.
If you want to drive to the top of the hill, there's only one way: a very steep concrete road. This road starts from the village of Bon-y-maen and goes all the way to the summit.
The Kilvey Killer Race
The Kilvey Killer is a special event that happens every year, usually in August. It's a challenging race where people run up and down Kilvey Hill while carrying a sack of cement!
This unique race started in 1989. It was created by Nigel Page, who was a boxing champion and trainer. He wanted to raise money for a special baby unit at Singleton Hospital in Swansea. This unit had helped save his daughter Kirsty's life when she was born too early. The Kilvey Killer race is a great way to help others and test your endurance!
