Swansea and Neath
The Mawr Commons
Open common on the northern edge of Swansea, a landscape of moorland, small farms and ponies that few people associate with the city.
- Distance
- 5.0 mi / 8 km
- Time
- 2 hr 50
- Ascent
- 300 m
- Difficulty
- Demanding
- Shape
- Circular
Where it is
The circle shows the general area, not the exact start. Use the directions link below to get to the car park itself. Contours and paths shown are OpenTopoMap, drawn from OpenStreetMap data.
The route
Tracks cross the common from the village and loop back through farmland. Open ground with no shelter.
Worth knowing
- The Mawr is the most rural part of the city and county of Swansea by a long way.
- Common grazing rights are still exercised and the ground is unfenced.
- The Lliw reservoirs nearby give an alternative walk.
What you’ll see
Open moorland and ponies, small hill farms, and Swansea Bay to the south.
Background
The Mawr commons have been grazed under ancient rights for centuries, largely untouched by the industry below.