Cefn Bryn is a 5 mile long
Old Red Sandstone ridge in the heart of the Gower peninsula
in Wales
.
Local people colloquially refer to it as the "backbone of Gower".
The highest point on the ridge (188m/617ft
[180139]) is the second highest point in Gower,
offering panoramic views of the surrounding Gower countryside. The
swathes of grassland around the ridge are known as
Cefn Bryn
Common.
Along the
ridge of the hill, banked by grassy common on both sides is the
road from Cilibion to Reynoldston
. The road was previously known as the Old
Coal Road and Red Road. Wandering sheep, wild ponies and cows can
be seen along the road. Large swells and dips can be encountered
along the route, formed by
swallets and
sinkholes in the
limestone. The highest point of the road
intersects with the ridge summit.
Arthur's Stone
Just north
of the ridge summit of Cefn Bryn, there is a neolithic burial ground, known as "Arthur's Stone"
( ) Its name comes from a legend that King
Arthur threw a large stone from Llanelli
which landed
on this spot.
It is believed that during the
Bronze
Age, Cefn Bryn was used extensively for ceremonies and rituals.
Beneath the bracken on the hill, over sixty
cairns have been discovered. Most of these mounds are
likely to be nothing more than a collections of stone cleared by
local farmers. However, just north west of Arthur's Stone, three
prominent cairns were excavated proving their role in ancient
history, with the largest being Great Cairn, a circular heap of
stones above a central grave.
Broad Pool
There is a small
freshwater pool called
Broad Pool at the foot of the eastern approach to the ridge. This
pool is known to have existed since 1645 and has dried out and been
re-excavated twice. Today it is a protected nature reserve. It lies
in a shallow basin on the limestone plateau beneath Cefn Bryn and
consists of an
acidic pond,
heath and
bog, which is important for
aquatic plants,
amphibians,
dragonflies
and
wetland birds.
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