Nant-y-moel - the birthplace of notable celebrities and heroes such as actor Windsor Davies, Olympic long jump champion Lyn Davies and Corporal JL Davies, awarded the Victoria Cross for gallantry in World War One.
It can be found nestling at the head of the Ogmore Valley and the foot of Mynydd William Meyrick, and Craig Ogwr.
The viewing points from Bwlch Y Clawdd (the pass between the mountains) facilitates a vista over the Vale of Glamorgan and across the Severn Estuary to the distant coast of Devon.
Nant-y-moel was originally a mining village and suffered the usual scars created by industry. The last of the coalmines closed in the 1980s and little evidence remains of the industry that spawned the community.
Since the pit closures the amenities, in particularly retail outlets, have declined. Where once there was a small but thriving bank, a co-operative store, ironmongers-come-building supplies and various lesser shops, few now remain.
The village has become a dormitory for larger towns, the majority of the population shopping and working places such as Bridgend and Port Talbot.
Not everything is negative however; the former Miners Institute acquired by the borough council in the 1970s houses an art gallery, library, and a small three hundred-seat theatre, the venue for many plays and concerts.
Where were once spoil tips are now lush green hills that are a pleasure for ramblers and casual walkers to enjoy. The colliery sites have been transformed into parks and leisure areas with paths that weave through shrubs and trees instead of industrial waste.
The old railway line is now a tarmac cycle track running from the area known as the Court, along the valley following the no longer polluted river allowing convenient access to Bryngarw Country Park.
Two watering holes are available to the thirsty cyclist or rambler - the Blaenogwr Hotel and the Nant-y-moel Inn.
For the sports enthusiasts there is a large playing field known locally as the Planker, which offers several football fields and cricket pitches. Nant-y-moel RFC has its own ground adjacent to the primary school, with its clubhouse on the main road as you enter the village.
Nant-y-moel - not a large bustling town but a tranquil oasis a little north of the M4.
Rory Hunt is a member of the Bridgend Writers' Circle
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Gary Morgan
Geraint Howells obviously feels well qualified to write his diatribe here after a short two week stay, please don't believe him much of what he has written is either highly exaggerated or factually incorrect. Since he is so fond of quotes, one from Alexander Pope came to mind when I read his offensive drivel - 'A little learning is a dangerous thing'. Slag heaps on your doorstep? None in Nantymoel Geraint, are you sure you definitely stayed here and not somewhere else? The recent influx of inhabitants we have seen in the valley must be seeing some attraction that escaped his notice. His sweeping statement labelling inhabitants of the village as poor in a number of respects is unfounded, unfair and simply untrue. Before you count me as one of those people who you say 'don't realise how sad their lives are' let me tell you I have visited over 20 countries and I realise I am quite happy here thanks. I once stayed in residential areas in your beloved Canada that were over 10 miles from any form of entertainment whatsoever. I will concede that judging by the obese nature of many of your adopted countrymen you are in a position to comment about the food. Of course Nantymoel has its share of socio-economic problems as do most places but they are not as bad as Mr Howells would have you believe. The recent news about one of the world's most prolific serial killers, where was he from? Oh yes, Canada!!! Mr Howells' comments are those of a high and mighty visitor who would have us believe his life in his Canadian paradise is so much better than ours, well speaking from experience I know that's untrue. At least we will always have one thing a pseudo Canadian like him will never have - a proper national identity, after all the only real Canadians are either Eskiomos or Native Indians.
Simon in Lancaster
My dad grew up in Nant - Edd Davies, 1 Pem, Mum was Kit. As a family we went to the valley as kids for years, from about early 1960's to early '70's. Went to Porth, Southerndown, Port Talbot, and even camping at Oxwich, Pembrokeshire and so on. What a joy!!!!! I remember going up 'the mountain' with my grandad (Wilf Davies who worked in the Ocean pit) tasting clear mountain stream water and whimberries. I remember Gramps showing me the far distant hills of Somerset from up the mountain. And the Devils Pulpit - I remember a postcard of this geo formation at the head of the valley and why could we never find this formation? Cos it was overgrown by trees. I think we bought the postcard from Zeta's in Commercial Street. And I so remember we bought a model of Ark Royal along with many Airfix models fron Zeta's - I also remember how dad's boat trailer fractured near Bridgend and on taking the broken part to the Ocean's blacksmith's forge, he made a part, by eye, which fixed the trailer perfectly. What joyful and long lasting memories of this very special place etched into my memory are beyond what I can write here. I revisited about 2 years ago and it weas exactly how it was how I could remember it. Most poignant of all my memories of this very special place is when we drove from Nanty to the Crem at Bridgend. The flag at the British Legion flew at half mast. Old men stopped and bowed their heads at the passage of a funeral cortege. We live in a world where respect for real people has all but evaporated. That is the real truth. This day I saw real respect from real people to a real person.
Ian James, Newport
Lived in Nant-y-moel for three years (2003-2006) in Nant-y-moel Row - what a small tatty house that was. What beautiful scenery and breath taking views. Just a pity the mix/match of all different shape houses and rundown gardens and gangs of yobs had to spoil it.
Geraint Howells, Canada
I visited two years ago for two weeks, a big mistake! Having lived in two Canadian townships within which communities take social responsibility, I found my feelings on returning to Nantymoel ones of shock and disappointment, coupled with a great sadness at the decay, deprivation and breakdown in the social fabric that once cemented valley communities tightly together. Nanty remains a miserable, parochial, narrow minded community with little other entertainment than real or constructed gossip. I had forgotten, yet, there are still the filthy black dusty slag tips dumped on ones' doorstep. Tacky public houses and cheap clubs with even cheaper "turns" of a weekend. Poor people, poor food, poor education, poor Nantymoel. Now simply a dismal, decaying, dilapitaded, dispicable, dormitary town of high unemployment. Alcohol abuse across the social fabric clearly out of control which coupled with drug mis-use, sees ever increasing crimes committed including I am horrified to say murder. Result, a dormitory village of little or no-skills workforce serving the low wage factories and service industries of the Ogmore valley and the closest town Bridgend. The real sadness is they do not know how miserable theirs lives are. Who are these people writing here? A quick emotional visit to "the valley" then back to comfortable hotels or even grander homes in distant lands. Wake up and smell the decay. "Nanty-hole" is a fair description ... to paraphrase Philip Larkin "... get out and don't have any kids yourself".
Resident of Nantymoel
The only problem we have is when people hang George crosses from their windows. If I lived on the other side of the bridge I wouldn't expect the warmest of welcomes if I flew a Welsh flag.
Jones now from Worcester
I lived in Pricetown untill 1970 and I still look upon it as home. Number 31 Waun Lwyd overlooking the Wyndham collery and the park; and I can remember the ponies comming up from underground ready for the miner's holiday where the valley moved to Porthcawl! Are there any crockers still in the valley? Also does anybody remember my father 'Darkie' Derek Jones?
Steven from Vale View, Nantymoel
Growing up as a kid in Nanty was a laugh. But now I'm older, the kids now are disgraceful e.g {drinking on the clock, vandalism}. Apart from that it's superb scenery to look at from the Bwlch and the Tipps mountain.
Helen Butler, Northampton
I visited every year during the 50/60s as a child with my mother Margaret Dowdy nee Trigger, who was bought up by her aunt, Miriam Moses who lived in Blaenogwr Terrace. To me it was magical, and I loved the way the sheep would come right up to the house. I remember the pigeons on the slag heap behind my aunt's house and loved the fact that if you went out the back way, you had to climb up a ladder to get to the road. Oh and the coop and the smell of sawdust in the butchers.
Dale Avery
Once lived in Nant-Y-Moel at Glanavon Terrace almost as far as you could go to the very top end. I remember moving in on the Friday going for a newspaper on the Saturday morning and it appeared that the local gossips had been about as everyone knew where I had moved from! Still you could feel safe and people then still left their doors open. Beautiful place but a bit remote. Took my son to show him where I used to live he (being brought up in London) thought it was to far from the shops etc. and couldn't imagine living there.
Ken Ihme from Nant-y-moel
The most wonderful place I have ever lived, I moved here from London in 2001 and will never leave, beautiful and tranquil with some of the most friendly people I have ever had the privilege of meeting.
Kevin, Nantymoel
Windsor Davies was born in London. So Lynn Davies is our only local hero. A great place to live.
Tony Walton, Oxon
I worked in south Wales in the early 70s and dated a lovely girl from the village. She was called Sue Williams and both her dad and uncle worked in the Wyndham pit locally. Had many a pint in the miners institute and the hustle and bustle has changed to a somewhat sleepy environment. Lovely people.
Kevin Falconer from Southampton
My Great-Grandmother lived in Nant-y-Moel and I have fantastic memories of visiting this beautiful little town. Far from the hustle of my city life I enjoyed walks in the hills and forests from this perfectly situated town. I still have relatives there now and this site has made me wish to visit again soon.
Brian Avery - Melbourne Australia
I remember Nant y Moel well, as I attended Ogmore Grammar School in the early 60's. In fact, the "Planka" was our rugby field, a thin layer of soil over a flattened slag heap, still have the elbow scars to prove it!. Still have fond memories of the area, and took my children there in the early 80's. Much had changed for the better, the green hill returning and the rivers flowing clean. Great people, good Country.
Hugh Jones, Australia
Visited in 1991 and saw cousins Ihad never met, as my father imigrated to Australia in the 20s, the family was originaly from Anglese but came down in the 1900s because of hardship. Nantymoel and its people did not disappoint us absolutely beautiful
Matt from Nantymoel
Nantymoel was a great place to grow up as a kid. You could leave the house and be walking up the side of a mountain within minutes which was so much better than living in a city. Great for cycling too with the cycle path and other mountain tracks such as the 'ukalade'. Still a very quiet place, fairly tidy and not much vandlism etc. Most people shop & work in Bridgend / Cardiff, only a handfull of shops are still here. Still, I could not imagine living anywhere else. A very green valley for sure.
a person in nant-y-moel
nice to look at apart from all the rubbish and as long as your a local person Watch out if you dont "belong" !!
David Deacon - Dartford In Kent
I would like to express my apprieciation of this sketch of my mothers birthplace. Her name was Iris Philips and left the village after WW II.
Lesley Parsons from Prestatyn
As a former resident of Nant-y-moel I very much enjoyed the album of photos. I have many good memories as well as not so good ones. My husband likes the photo of the rugby pitch, as he played there many times. It must indeed be a tranquil oasis as many people never move away, and spend all their lives there.
Jenny from Rhoose
Just wanted to say that it was a breathtaking experience. What a fantastic place to be. Am now thinking of moving there, to be in the tranquil oasis that you talked about. It truly is an amazing place that one can experience God's wonderful creation...a little of heaven on earth...
Jonathan Parsons
Well done Grandpa.
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