Garw Valley Railway

Tondu (English: Black Meadow) is a village in Bridgend County Borough, Wales, located about 3 miles (4.8 km) north of the town of Bridgend, in the community of Ynysawdre. Tondu lies on the A4063 from Bridgend to Maesteg, and was established in the late 18th century as a coal mining village servicing the Parc Slip Colliery. In later years, an iron works was also established, and in the 19th century, a brick works was constructed using the clay from the carboniferous coal measures to make a variety of bricks, mostly for engineering. The brick works was demolished in 1977. The association with the coal industry was also reflected in the large area office of the National Coal Board in the village and a centre for the Mines Rescue Service.

Tondu railway station is a railway station serving the village of Tondu, Bridgend county borough, South Wales. It is located on the Maesteg Line from Cardiff via Bridgend. Passenger services are operated by Transport for Wales Rail as part of the Valley Lines network for local services.

Parc Slip Colliery was a coal mine near situated at Aberkenfig, near Tondu in Bridgend County Borough, Wales.

The River Llynfi (Welsh: Afon Llynfi), is one of three main tributaries of the River Ogmore (Welsh: Afon Ogwr). It runs for around 10 miles from its source north of Maesteg and flows generally southwards through the Llynfi Valley to the confluence with the River Ogmore and the River Garw at Aberkenfig. Its main tributaries are Nant Cwm-du and Nant Cedfyw which enter on its left bank and Nant Crynwydd, Nant Sychbant and Nant y Gadlys on its right bank.The Llynfi has endured a long period of industrialisation and coal mining especially around Maesteg. There was an ironworks and brick works at Tondu. Industrialisation and poor provision of sewerage led to severe water pollution of the river. In the second half of the 20th century, whilst the impact of coal mining diminished, new industries such as cosmetics and toiletries, paper making and sewage disposal continued to maintain the Llynfi in an almost abiotic condition. Strong enforcement action against a number of industries helped to ensure a steady improvement in quality into the 21st century. Map sources for: the source on Mynydd Caerau and confluence with the Ogmore.

Aberkenfig (Welsh: Abercynffig, meaning "mouth of the Kenfig" (stream)) is a village located in the County Borough of Bridgend, Wales to the north of Bridgend town. It is in the community of Newcastle Higher.

Ynysawdre is a small community in Bridgend County Borough, south Wales. It is located to the east of Aberkenfig in Wales, and comprises the two villages of Tondu and Brynmenyn. The name Ynysawdre is also usually used for a small section of Tondu. At the 2001 census, the population of the community was 3,698, reducing to 3,367 at the 2011 Census.

Sarn railway station is a railway station serving the village of Sarn, South Wales. It is located on the Maesteg Line from Cardiff via Bridgend. The station was opened by British Rail on 28 September 1992.Passenger services are operated by Transport for Wales as part of the Valley Lines network for local services.

Newcastle Higher is a community in Bridgend County Borough, south Wales. Located north west of Bridgend town centre it is made up of the townships of Pen-y-fai and Aberkenfig and straddles the M4 motorway. The community is home to several notable buildings, including the Pen-y-fai Hospital (the former Glamorganshire Lunatic Asylum), Court Coleman and All Saints Church. At the 2001 census, the community's population was 3,695, increasing to 4,046 at the 2011 Census.

Coleg Cymunedol Y Dderwen is a large English-medium comprehensive school serving the Garw and Ogmore valleys. The school was formed as a result of a merger of Ogmore Comprehensive School and Ynysawdre Comprehensive School in 2011. The school initially operated as a split site school, with students being taught on the campus of both of the previous schools, but in 2013 the school moved to its new building located next to the old Ynysawdre site. The new building, designed by Scott Brownrigg and constructed by Leadbitter won the BREEAM Outstanding award in 2013.The school was the first in Wales to issue all of its students with an iPad Mini as educational tools, designed to inspire creativity and aid hands on learning. Estyn has given Coleg Cymunedol Y Dderwen an overall performance rating of Unsatisfactory.For 2017, Coleg Cymunedol Y Dderwen was placed in the Amber support category by the Welsh Government.

Ynysawdre Comprehensive School was a public secondary school located in Tondu in Bridgend County Borough which catered for ages between 11 and 18. Beginning in Autumn Term 2011, Ynysawdre Comprehensive officially closed and its former students merged with those of Ogmore School to become Coleg Cymunedol Y Dderwen (translated to The Oak Community College).

Sarn is a village (and electoral ward) in Bridgend County Borough, Wales, about three miles (five kilometres) north of Bridgend and which lies just east of the confluence of the Ogmore and Llynfi rivers. It is located to the east of Aberkenfig, south of Brynmenyn, and south-east of Tondu. It is around 15 minutes' walk from the M4 and the McArthurGlen Group Bridgend Designer Outlet.

Brynmenyn railway station served the village of Brynmenyn, in the historic county of Glamorgan, Wales, from 1873 to 1958 on the Garw Valley Railway.