Mynydd Caerau

Rising above Maesteg, Mynydd Caerau is a high point in the South Wales Valleys that has swapped its coal-mining heritage for giant wind turbines. It’s less 'craggy peak' and more 'bracing industrial plateau,' offering grand views for those who don’t mind a bit of whirring overhead.

• •It holds the distinction of being the highest point in the Bridgend County Borough, reaching a height of 555 metres.
• •The name translates to 'Mountain of the Forts,' nodding to the ancient Iron Age hillforts that once guarded these strategic ridgelines overlooking the Llynfi Valley.
• •The mountain's geology was once the lifeblood of the area, with the deep coal seams of the Caerau Colliery running directly beneath your hiking boots.
• •It currently hosts the Llynfi Afan wind farm, where the massive blades provide a rhythmic soundtrack that sounds suspiciously like the mountain is sighing at your climbing speed.
• •Navigating the summit plateau in thick mist is a special kind of challenge, as every wind turbine looks exactly like the last one, turning your walk into a confusing, high-altitude game of 'didn't I just pass that giant white stick?'