Southerndown Coast

Ogmore-by-Sea (Welsh: Aberogwr, meaning "Mouth of the River Ogmore") is a seaside village in St Brides Major community in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales. It lies on the western limit of the Glamorgan Heritage Coast of south Wales. The population in 2011 was 878.

The River Ogmore (Welsh: Afon Ogwr) is a river in South Wales that is popular with anglers. It runs generally from north to south from the Ogmore Vale and Gilfach Goch, past Bridgend and Ogmore. The River Ogmore rises at Craig Ogwr (527 m) in the Ogmore Valley as the Ogwr Fawr before it links with the Ogwr Fach at Blackmill. The River Llynfi, the River Garw and finally the River Ewenny in its estuary are all tributaries of the Ogmore which flows into the sea between Ogmore-by-Sea and the Merthyr Mawr sand-dunes.

Portobello House (also known formerly as Portobello Hotel) is a building on the bank of the River Ogmore, about half a mile up from the sea, near the estuary at Ogmore-by-Sea, western Vale of Glamorgan, southeast Wales, on the country border with Bridgend County Borough. It is accessed off the B4524 road. Merthyr Mawr Sand Dunes lie across the river from the house and Southerndown Golf Club lies to the southeast. It was used to describe the location of several geological features in 1933.It was formerly the Portobello Hotel and served also as a social club. During some period was run by the Prosser family. A community history reports that "At one time, it was only possible to buy drinks on a Sunday throughout Wales if you could prove to the innkeeper that you had travelled three miles or more". The Portobello Hotel served well as a post-practice social gathering place for shooters at the Glamorgan Artillery, as it was conveniently "the required distance".Also walkers in the countryside seeking to cross the River Ogmore would not be able to cross if the tide was in, and a Mr. Prosser from the Portobello could be relied upon to ferry across the river in "his little flat-bottomed home-made boat for a small fee."The Portobello House has been owned for decades by Dawn Clarenda Mary Llewellyn, a former medical professional.

Southerndown is a village in the Vale of Glamorgan, in south Wales. It is southwest of Bridgend, and within the St Brides Major community, close to Llantwit Major and Ogmore-by-Sea. It is mostly known for its beach which backs Dunraven Bay (Welsh: Bae Dwnrhefn), which is a popular tourist destination during the summer months and since 1972 has been part of a Heritage Coast and is part of the Southerndown Coast SSSI. When the tide is out there is an expanse of sand and pools. The cliffs are an obvious example of sedimentary rock.

Merthyr Mawr Sand Dunes are sand dunes and a Site of Special Scientific Interest in Bridgend, south Wales. The village of Merthyr Mawr is nearby. The largest dune at the site is known as The Big Dipper and is the second-largest of its kind in Europe, measuring around 200 feet (61 m).

Candleston Castle (historically sometimes Candlestone Castle) is a 14th-century fortified manor house, in ruins since the 19th century. It is 0.75 miles (1.2 km) southwest of Merthyr Mawr, Glamorgan, Wales, now Bridgend County Borough and just 0.75 miles (1.2 km) northwest of Ogmore Castle, separated by the River Ogmore. Candleston's original long and narrow rectangular structure lay across the western end of a low narrow promontory, suggesting a defensive position. The castle is believed to be named after the Norman family of Cantilupe, thought to be its first feudal tenants.

Ogmore Castle (Welsh: Castell Ogwr) is a Grade I listed castle ruin located near the village of Ogmore-by-Sea, south of the town of Bridgend in Glamorgan, South Wales. It is situated on the south bank of the River Ewenny and the east bank of the River Ogmore.Its construction might have begun in 1106. Ogmore was one of three castles built in the area in the early 12th century, the others being Coity Castle and Newcastle Castle. It was in use until the 19th century for a range of purposes, including a court of justice and a prison, but is now a substantial set of remains and a local landmark. It is managed by local authorities.

Ogmore (Welsh: Ogwr) is a village in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales on the River Ogmore. It grew around the now ruined Ogmore Castle, built by the Normans. The village does not lie in the parliamentary constituency also called Ogmore, which lies further up the Ogmore River in Bridgend and Rhondda Cynon Taff districts. Southerndown Golf Club lies opposite the village.

Southerndown Golf Club is a downland/links golf club in the Vale of Glamorgan, in south-east Wales, near the coast and Ogmore-by-Sea and Southerndown, in proximity to Merthyr Mawr Sand Dunes. The course lies in an open, elevated position above the Ogmore River valley and in 2001 was 6,417 yards. The course was established in 1905 and designed by Willie Fernie. Players such as Peter McEvoy, Gary Wolstenholme, Stephen Dodd, Bradley Dredge, and Gene Sarazen have all played at Southerndown. The club has held the Piccadilly Medal in 1970–71 and the Martini International and has also hosted the Welsh Amateur Golf event.

Dunraven Castle (or in Welsh, Castell Dwnrhefn) was a mansion on the South Wales coast near Southerndown. The existing manor house was rebuilt as a castellated hunting lodge in the early 19th century and was extensively remodelled later in the century. The surviving parts of the house are a Grade II listed building and its gardens and park are designated Grade II on the Cadw/ICOMOS Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in Wales.

Tusker Rock (Welsh: Ynys Twsgr) is a rock in the Bristol Channel, about 2 miles (3.2 km) west of Ogmore-by-Sea, Vale of Glamorgan, Wales. It is suggested that it takes its name from Tuska the Viking, a Dane whose fellow Vikings semi-colonised the Vale of Glamorgan. Alternatively, the name might derive (as with the similarly named Tuskar Rock, Ireland and various other Tusker Rocks in the Bristol Channel and Milford Haven/Skomer area) simply from the Old Norse tu (large) skar (rock). It is fully visible only at low tide, and was formerly a notorious hazard for ships. Today, the waters around Tusker Rock are a popular diving location.

The Ewenny River (Welsh: Afon Ewenni) is a river in South Wales. For most of its 10 miles (16 km) length, it forms the border between the Vale of Glamorgan and Bridgend. It is a major tributary of the River Ogmore, which it joins near its estuary.