Swansea and Neath
Mynydd y Gwair
Open common above the Swansea valley, grazed by ponies and sheep, with big views over the coalfield and the Bristol Channel.
- Distance
- 4.3 mi / 7 km
- Time
- 2 hr 35
- 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
Head up from the valley onto the common and loop across the open ground before dropping back. Exposed once you are up.
Worth knowing
- Open common with no walls or fences; navigation matters in poor visibility.
- Wind turbines on the moor are a recent addition and divide local opinion.
- The Swansea Canal in the valley below makes a flat alternative.
What you’ll see
Open moorland, ponies, the Swansea valley, and the Bristol Channel south.
Background
The common has been grazed under ancient rights for centuries and the boundary stones are still in place.