Bridgend

Bridgend county borough sits on the south coast of Wales between the coastal plain and the South Wales Valleys. The principal town, Bridgend, lies where the River Ogmore flows through the town centre to the sea. The area grew around coal, iron and later light industry; traces of collieries and 19th-century works remain in valley communities such as Maesteg and Tondu. Road and rail converge at Bridgend railway station, with services along the coast and up the Maesteg Line into the valleys, and local bus routes link smaller settlements to the town.

On the coast, Porthcawl provides a promenade, beaches and Rest Bay, and hosts Royal Porthcawl Golf Club. Kenfig National Nature Reserve occupies a dune system with Kenfig Pool lying just behind the sand, and Ogmore Castle survives as a Norman ruin at the mouth of the River Ogmore. Retail and public services include the Bridgend Designer Outlet and the Princess of Wales Hospital, both near the town. Communities range from coastal villages to former mining valleys, connected by the local road network.