Mynydd Carn-y-cefn

Nestled between the Ebbw valleys, Mynydd Carn-y-cefn is a broad, dependable Marilyn that offers industrial-chic views and a refreshing lack of crowds. It’s the perfect spot for those who like their nature with a side of Blaenau Gwent’s gritty history and a trig point that has seen it all.

• •As a Marilyn, it boasts a prominence of 176 metres, ensuring it stands proud above the surrounding industrial valleys despite its relatively modest 550-metre stature.
• •The ridge historically divided the heavy industrial powerhouses of Ebbw Vale and Blaina, serving as a high-altitude green lung for the coal-dusted communities below.
• •The summit area features a classic OS trig point at grid reference SO 187084, marking the highest ground on this expansive NNW-SSE sandstone ridge.
• •It once marked the boundary of the old county of Monmouthshire, acting as a natural topographical border long before modern borough lines were drawn.
• •Hiking here is a masterclass in urban-rural contrast; you can contemplate the majesty of the wilderness while simultaneously checking if you left your car unlocked in the Ebbw Vale leisure centre car park.