Nottage Walks 12pp DL:Layout 1 28/1/09 14:57 Page 1

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Advice and Information Public Transport

The going is relatively flat. Remember to wear suitable For further information on bus times and service numbers Nottage clothes and good shoes/boots and take food and drink telephone Bridgend County Borough Council’s Public with you and be prepared to get fit! Always follow the Transport Section on 01656 642559 or the Circular Countryside Code. When you are walking on roads keep Traveline on 0871 200 22 33 www.traveline.info to the right and make use of verges whenever you can. Walk Car Parking It should be easy to follow the route using the map and instructions inside this leaflet. When walking the route try There is parking provision at the following: and look out for the Walk logo that will be situated on posts On street parking in Nottage. along the route. 4km (21/2 miles) Accommodation 11/2 hours For further information about this walk or to pass on your comments and suggestions please contact the Rights of To make a reservation or to obtain information on accom- Way Section, Communities Directorate, Morien House, modation contact one of the Tourist Information Centres. Bennett Street, Bridgend Industrial Estate, Bridgend, These are at McArthur Glen Designer Outlet off Junction CF31 3SH 36 the M4 telephone 01656 654906 and at John Street, Porthcawl telephone 01656 786639. Telephone 01656 642553 or 01656 642593 or by e-mail at [email protected] For further general tourist information about the Bridgend area you can contact us via e-mail at [email protected]. Alternatively, you can visit our website which is at www.bridgend.gov.uk Cuckoo Bridge Countryside Code Acknowledgements RESPECT PROTECT ENJOY Thanks to the following for helping to either prepare the walk, text or drawings or for sponsoring the leaflet

▲ Town Councillor Eileen Edwards Be safe – plan ahead and follow any signs Silures Art Gallery ▲ Leave gates and property as you find them ▲ Protect plants and animals, and take your litter home ▲ ▲ Keep dogs under close control A circular walk ▲ Consider other people from Nottage Village

Follow the Countryside Code wherever you go. You will Green through the get the best out of the countryside and help to maintain it countryside around now and for the future. Nottage . . . Nottage Walks 12pp DL:Layout 1 28/1/09 14:59 Page 2 Nottage

Circular The Rose & Crown

Walk Sker House

7 Key Main Route Sites of Interest N

6 Nottage Village Green Pwll y Mwr

Leave Nottage Village Green via the stone arch 8 at the eastern end of the green. 1 Nottage Village Green was dedicated to the community by the Nottage Court Estate in 1983. The wall in which the stone arch is set is known as the Labourer’s Wall and it is where men lined up 5 for work on May Day. When a railway tunnel was dug underneath the village to take the train from Pyle to Porthcawl, human remains were found at the east end of the green. It is thought that it was a 4 graveyard associated with the old Celtic church or the church the monks used at Noge Court Grange. A Fleur De Lys is set into the wall at this point. VIEWPOINT! From here you can see the Rose and Crown, the Swan and the Farmers Arms public houses. 9

2 The Rose and Crown takes its name from two cottages that stood 3 on this site, Rose Cottage and Crown Cottage. Crown Cottage was the last alehouse to be licensed in the Bridgend area. 2 You will exit onto Pyle Road. Turn left and walk along Pyle Road. As you walk 1 along Pyle Road you will pass Ty Talbot Farm on your left hand side.

3 Ty Talbot Farm. The history of this farm goes back to the 16th Century. It has This map is reproduced from Ordnance Survey material been owned by families who have greatly influenced the life of Nottage such as the Lord with permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller of Talbot of Hensol, Bassett, Craddock, Burnell and the Joseph families. Her Majesty’s Stationary Office© Crown copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. (Bridgend County Borough After approximately 150 metres turn left onto Moor Lane. Follow Moor Lane along and down a Council Licence Number 100023405, 2008). slight hill. At the bottom of the incline you will see St David’s Well on your left hand side.

4 St David’s Well was first mentioned in a 12th Century grant of William Earl of Gloucester. The water from the well is reputed to have curative powers and had sanctity bestowed on it during a visit by Wales’ patron saint, St. David. Take care walking along Moor Lane as it can be very narrow. Walk on the right and utilise any verges where possible. Just after St David’s Well you will come to a fork in the road. Continue to the left following Moor Lane. You will then pass under a railway bridge of a disused railway line.

5 Nottage Holt. Moor Lane runs almost parallel with the old Porthcawl to Pyle railway line. On the left hand side of the lane the remains of Nottage Holt can be seen. This was referred to as the Golf Station and travellers had to notify the driver in advance if they wanted to alight at Nottage. The bridge which you pass under on this walk is known as the Cuckoo Bridge and it used to carry the Great Western line over Moor Lane. Continue along Moor Lane. You will pass a camping and caravan park on your left. Very close to this part of the route on your right hand side is a pond area called 6 Pwll y Mwr which is an important habitat for all three native newt species including the Great Crested Newt. Great Crested Newts are protected by law, and management work to restore the ponds needs to take account of this. The ponds were formed by a ground water up-welling through a geological fault in the limestone. For further information about the restoration work please contact Porthcawl Town Council. In the field opposite Pwll y Mwr is an old barn which is the remains of an old longhouse. The famous Baptist Minister, Lewis Thomas, resided there. He was the leader of the Calvinistic Baptists and held services at the farm. It is likely that baptisms were held in the ponds. VIEWPOINT! On your right you have views across to the mountains of the Mynydd Margam and views across the golf course to Cornelly Quarry. Continue to follow Moor Lane. As you draw closer to the junction of Moor Lane with West Road you will have views of the sand dunes at Kenfig and of Parc Newydd Farm.

7 Moor Lane has been marked on maps since the 16th Century. It is also the line followed by the Dyffryn Llynfi Tramline along which horse drawn carriages brought coal and iron to Pwll Cawl Bay. On reaching Parc Newydd Farm follow Moor Lane around to the left. On your right you will see Brodawel Adventures. After 30 metres you will reach a junction. Turn left onto West Road. VIEWPOINT! At this point there are views across the fields to Picton Court, Sker House and the Rest at Rest Bay.

8 West Road. This is a busy road which has been in use since the 16th Century. Continue along West Road. As you reach the houses on West Road there is a signed public footpath on your right hand side which you can take to Pink Bay. Continue along the pavement on West Road. You will pass West Park Primary School on your right hand side.

9 West Park School was built in 1971 on the site of a former market garden. Ty Talbot Farm On continuing along West Road you will re-enter the old village of Nottage. Once in the old village take the turning to the left of the village shop. This is Heol y Capel. Continue along Heol y Capel and return to your starting point at the village green.