Editing Glamorgan (section)

===Coastline===
[[File:NashPoint.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Nash Point]]
The coastline of Glamorgan stretched for 88 miles{{Citation needed|date=January 2010}} from [[Trowbridge, Cardiff|Trowbridge]] in the east to Gower in the west. It was divided naturally into three distinct sections.<ref name="Wade45">Wade (1914), p.45</ref> The coast of the Vale of Glamorgan was mainly characterised by cliffs, while from Porthcawl to Swansea Bay wide sandy shores prevail. The final section, the Gower coast, was made up of a rugged and serrated peninsula.<ref name="Wade46">Wade (1914), p.46</ref>

From the east the first major coastline feature was the [[Rhymney River]], once seen as the natural border between Glamorgan and Monmouthshire, until the absorption of Trowbridge into the Cardiff district<ref name="Davies122">Davies (2008), p.122</ref> in 1936. Heading west, the coast was an expanse of [[alluvium|alluvial]] deposits stretching to the mouth of Glamorgan's most well known river, the [[River Taff]].<ref name="Wade46"/> Once marshland, the area was consumed by the rapid growth of the [[Cardiff Docks]] during the industrial revolution, but with the downturn in Glamorgan's iron and coal industries, the docks declined. Also flowing into Cardiff Docks is the [[River Ely]], which separates Cardiff from the headland and seaside resort of [[Penarth]] in the Vale of Glamorgan.<ref name="Wade46"/> Here the coast stretches southwards for two and a half miles from Penarth Head to [[Lavernock|Lavernock Point]], hidden from vessels travelling up the [[Bristol Channel]].<ref name="Wade47">Wade (1914), p.47</ref> South easterly from Lavernock Point, roughly three miles out in the Channel Estuary is [[Flat Holm]], an island which although geographically is within the Vale, is administered as part of the city of Cardiff.<ref name="Davies119">Davies (2008), p.119</ref> Flat Holm was the most southerly point of Glamorgan and Wales.

From Lavernock Point the coast heads sharply west to the town of [[Barry, Vale of Glamorgan|Barry]], a well-known seaside resort, Barry is most notable for its rapid expansion during the late 19th century to become an important dock, at one stage surpassing Cardiff Dock for the tonnage of coal exported. Passing the cliffs of Barry Island the coastline becomes a low-lying promontory called the Lays,<ref name="Wade49">Wade (1914), p.49</ref> which continues west taking in the villages of [[Rhoose]] and [[Aberthaw]] before reaching [[Breaksea Point]], the most southerly point of mainland Wales. Beyond the point is Limpert Bay, which was overlooked by the village of [[Gileston]] and the ancient encampment of Summerhouse Point. Here the cliffs rise and run for eleven miles as far as the estuary of the [[River Ogmore|Ogmore]].<ref name="Wade49"/> Along this run of cliffs the coast passes [[Llantwit Major]] and [[St Donats]], before heading in a rough north-west direction at [[Nash Point]].<ref name="Wade49"/>
[[File:Southerndownbeach1.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Southerndown Beach]]
[[File:Mumbles wales 750px.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Mumbles Bay]]
[[File:Worm's Head (Rhossili).jpg|thumb|left|200px|Worm's Head]]
The coastline remains as steep cliffs until after Dunraven Head, where the cliff face drops away to expose [[Southerndown]] Beach. Two miles beyond, the Ogmore River runs out into a sand-locked bay which can be seen as commencing the second section of the Glamorgan coast,<ref name="Wade50">Wade (1914), p.50</ref> as here the scenery undergoes an abrupt change; from a series of unbroken cliffs to vast regions of sandy beaches.<ref name="Wade51">Wade (1914), p.51</ref> The Ogmore Bay at [[Ogmore-by-Sea]] was not only floored with sand but was also backed by high and extensive sand dune system, these impressive natural sand features are commonly known as the [[Merthyr Mawr]] sand dunes. Beyond the bay the underlying rocks emerge from the sand to form the promontory of Porthcawl Point.<ref name="Wade51"/> [[Porthcawl]] town, once possessing a small dock, abandoned the trade in favour of tourism.<ref name="Wade51"/> The coast continues to the north west as a low rocky formation for three miles to [[Sker Point]], after which the sand line begins again, forming an arid wilderness all the way to [[Port Talbot]].<ref name="Wade51"/> [[Port Talbot]] was one of the later industrial towns of Glamorgan, and grew out of the medieval village of [[Aberavon]], a settlement built on the banks of the [[River Afan]]. To the west of the mouth of the Afan is the new district of [[Sandfields, Port Talbot|Sandfields]], built over the holiday dunes of Aberavon beach in the 1950s to house the workforce of [[Port Talbot Steelworks]].<ref name="Davies3">Davies (2008), p.3</ref>

The River Afan commences the wide sweep of [[Swansea Bay]], which from Port Talbot arcs around taking in [[Baglan Bay]], [[Briton Ferry]], Swansea and ending in [[Mumbles]]. The whole bay is shut in by high hills and is thickly encircled with sands.<ref name="Wade51"/> Within the bay are two of the major estuaries of Glamorgan; from Port Talbot the first is the [[River Neath]], which is protected by long breakwaters.<ref name="Wade51"/> The second is the [[River Tawe|Tawe]], the central river of Swansea. Beyond the Tawe the bay sweeps for six miles before reaching Mumbles Head, its most westerly point.<ref name="Wade52">Wade (1914), p.52</ref> Mumbles Head is served by [[Mumbles Lighthouse]], which sits on the further of two small islands off the head.

At The Mumbles, the coastline begins its third phase, commencing the wild and rugged cliffs of the Gower. From Mumbles Head to [[Worm's Head]], 20 miles to the west, the coast consists of a series of precipitous cliffs, interrupted by a number of sandy bays. The most notable of the bays include [[Langland Bay]], [[Caswell Bay]], [[Pwlldu Bay]], [[Three Cliffs Bay]] and [[Oxwich Bay]]. Three Cliffs Bay and the adjoining Oxwich Bay are overlooked by three medieval defences, [[Pennard Castle]], [[Penrice Castle]] and [[Oxwich Castle]], all three now ruinous. Oxwich Bay ends in the large wooded promontory of Oxwich Point,<ref name="Wade54">Wade (1914), p.54</ref> which leads west to the beach front villages of [[Horton, Swansea|Horton]] and [[Port Eynon]]. From Port Eynon Point, a five-mile stretch of wild and impressive cliffs<ref name="Wade54"/> leads to Worm's Head and the western termination of the peninsula. This rock face is pierced in places by [[caverns]], the most notable being Culver Hole<ref name="Wade54"/> a bone cave near Port Eynon Point.

Worm's Head is one of the stand out features of the Glamorgan coastline, a long narrow ledge of limestone, projecting into the sea, ending in a 200-foot high wedge shaped crag;<ref name="Wade54"/> the Head takes its name from its resemblance to a dragon.<ref name="Wade54"/> On the northern side of the Worm's Head is the village and Bay of Rhossili, a westerly facing bay that leads backwards to a series of downs, some of the highest land in the Gower.<ref name="Wade55">Wade (1914), p.55</ref> Rhossili Bay ends in the northern formation of Llangenydd Burrows and the islet of [[Burry Holms]].<ref name="Wade55"/> The final stretch of Glamorgan coastline turns north-east to form the Burry Inlet, a shallow and sand-choked estuary which leads to a tract of [[salt marsh]]es which stretch to the mouth of the [[River Loughor]].<ref name="Wade55"/> The Loughor forming the border between Glamorgan and Carmarthenshire.