Mynydd Sylen

Rising above the Gwendraeth Valley, Mynydd Sylen is a modest Carmarthenshire hill that proves you don't need to be in the north to get wind-whipped. It offers sweeping views of the Gower, provided you don't mind the rhythmic whoosh of the local wind farm.

• •The hill is a significant landmark for the rural communities near Llanelli, historically marking the transition from the industrial valley floor to the upland grazing common.
• •A cluster of wind turbines now occupies the ridge, generating power from the same relentless Atlantic winds that have been annoying local farmers for centuries.
• •Evidence of ancient occupation exists here in the form of Bronze Age cairns, proving that humans have been seeking the 'best view in the county' for millennia.
• •The summit area is notoriously spongy; it’s the kind of terrain where a confident stride can suddenly result in a boot full of 'Cymru-juice' and a lost sense of dignity.
• •Navigating between the turbines in low cloud is a surreal experience, mostly because every sheep you encounter seems to be judging your choice of neon Gore-Tex.