St Brides Major

St Brides Major (Welsh: Sant-y-Brid) is a community on the western edge of the Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales. Its largest settlement is the village of St Brides Major, and also includes the villages of Ogmore-by-Sea and Southerndown, and the hamlets of Ogmore Village, Castle-upon-Alun, Heol-y-Mynydd, Norton and Pont-yr-Brown It is notable for coastal geology and scenery, limestone downlands and fossilised primitive mammals, sea cliffs and beaches, two Iron Age hillforts, three medieval castle sites, (one, Ogmore Castle, still extant), two stepping stone river crossings and a clapper bridge. Three long distance paths cross the community. It is the western limit of the Vale of Glamorgan Heritage Coast, and has a visitor centre and tourist facilities.

The Afon Alun is a river in the Vale of Glamorgan, south Wales. It is a tributary of the Ewenny River, which it joins to the south of Bridgend.

Ewenny and Pant Quarries is a Site of Special Scientific Interest in the Vale of Glamorgan, south Wales, notable for its geological interest. First designated in 1996, both quarries are active, commercial quarries, with no public access. Ewenny Quarry is operated by Lafarge Aggregates and Pant Quarry, just over the community border in St Brides Major community, is operated by Tarmac Group. A third quarry, Lithalun Quarry (operated by Hanson plc) is not part of the SSSI, but has also produced important fossilised remains.Jurassic clay infill, around 200 million years ago accumulated in deep fissures in the already weathered landscape of the Carboniferous limestone. Along with the clay, individuals of several species of very primitive mammals ended up with their remains amongst this clay, which then fossilised. Now, as the limestone is quarried at these two sites the clay infill is stored and subsequently examined by geologists. These infills have provided the most complete fossilised remains of species of primitive mammals anywhere on earth. Morganucodon watsoni is the earliest and most primitive prototherian mammal known. Reconstruction of teeth and jaw fragments suggests they could have fed on 'hard' insects such as beetles. Kuehneotherium praecursoris, classed as the most primitive therian mammal known, by contrast, could only manage 'soft' insects such as moths.

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.

Coed y Bwl is a Site of Special Scientific Interest in Glamorgan, south Wales. The site is managed by The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales. It is an ancient ash woodland on the northwest side of the Alun Valley and overlies Carboniferous limestone.

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.

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.

The Valeways Millennium Heritage Trail is a waymarked long distance footpath in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales.

Cnap Twt is a Site of Special Scientific Interest in the Vale of Glamorgan, south Wales. Located roughly three miles south of Bridgend near St Brides Major. This former disused quarry is of national importance as a site of fossil plant remains.

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.

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.

Ewenny (Welsh: Ewenni) is a village and community (parish) on the River Ewenny in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales. Over the years the village has grown into the neighbouring village of Corntown to such an extent that there is no longer a clear boundary between the two. The nearest town of significant size is Bridgend, 3.1 km (1.9 mi) away. Corntown is within the community. In 1987, scenes from the Doctor Who episode Delta and the Bannermen were filmed in the village.