Ogmore-by-Sea
Encyclopedia
Ogmore-by-Sea is a seaside village in the Vale of Glamorgan
, Wales
. It lies on the western limit of the Glamorgan Heritage Coastline of south Wales
.
Approximately 3 miles from Bridgend
and about 20 miles west of Cardiff
the village lies in the Vale of Glamorgan
. The beaches look out on Tusker Rock
, has sand at low-tide, and sharp rocks at high-tide. The River Ogmore
estuary is flanked by Ogmore beach on one side and the dunes
of Merthyr Mawr
on the other. The estuary makes bathing unsafe from most of the beach. The rocky shoreline is well-known as a rock climbing location. It is an interesting place geologically with a variety of fossils clearly visible. Many people use the car-park by the estuary to the River Ogmore
, which is just as you enter the village, others move on to Southerndown
.
Just like its counterparts in Cornwall
, Ireland
and Brittany
, the west-facing beach and coast was notorious as a graveyard for ships during strong on-shore winds (i.e south-westerly winds from the Atlantic). Many ships in particular were destroyed on Tusker Rock
, a brutal reef slightly out to sea that is totally covered at high tide. Also prevalent at Ogmore (and all across the Vale of Glamorgan
coastline) was organised shipwrecking; similar to tales in Cornwall where lanterns would be tied to a bull/cow at night resting onto top of a cliff; passing ships would mistake a flickering light as a lighthouse
and be lured to destruction. This also happened further down the coast at Southerndown
Ogmore centre
was built for the benefit of children from all over South Wales shortly before WW2. It was closed in the mid 90s but reopened in 1998 as a Trust, but following problems with the lease, it closed again in 2007.
Vale of Glamorgan
The Vale of Glamorgan is a county borough in Wales; an exceptionally rich agricultural area, it lies in the southern part of Glamorgan, South Wales...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. It lies on the western limit of the Glamorgan Heritage Coastline of south Wales
South Wales
South Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...
.
Approximately 3 miles from Bridgend
Bridgend
Bridgend is a town in the Bridgend County Borough in Wales, west of the capital, Cardiff. The river crossed by the original bridge, which gave the town its name, is the River Ogmore but the River Ewenny also passes to the south of the town...
and about 20 miles west of Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
the village lies in the Vale of Glamorgan
Vale of Glamorgan
The Vale of Glamorgan is a county borough in Wales; an exceptionally rich agricultural area, it lies in the southern part of Glamorgan, South Wales...
. The beaches look out on Tusker Rock
Tusker Rock
Tusker Rock is a rock in the Bristol Channel, situated about 2 miles west of Ogmore-by-Sea, Bridgend, Wales. It takes its name from Tuska the Viking, a Dane whose fellow Vikings semi-colonised the Vale of Glamorgan....
, has sand at low-tide, and sharp rocks at high-tide. The River Ogmore
River Ogmore
The River Ogmore is a river in South Wales popular with anglers. It runs generally from north to south from the Ogmore Vale and Pentre, past Bridgend and Ogmore...
estuary is flanked by Ogmore beach on one side and the dunes
Merthyr Mawr Sand Dunes
Merthyr Mawr Sand Dunes are sand dunes and a Site of Special Scientific Interest in the Vale of Glamorgan, south Wales. The village of Merthyr Mawr is nearby. The sand dunes are prominent and was a shooting location for Lawrence of Arabia....
of Merthyr Mawr
Merthyr Mawr
Merthyr Mawr is a village about 2½ miles from the centre of Bridgend in the county borough of Bridgend, Wales.- Buildings and landmarks of note :...
on the other. The estuary makes bathing unsafe from most of the beach. The rocky shoreline is well-known as a rock climbing location. It is an interesting place geologically with a variety of fossils clearly visible. Many people use the car-park by the estuary to the River Ogmore
River Ogmore
The River Ogmore is a river in South Wales popular with anglers. It runs generally from north to south from the Ogmore Vale and Pentre, past Bridgend and Ogmore...
, which is just as you enter the village, others move on to Southerndown
Southerndown
Southerndown is a village in South Wales to the southwest of Bridgend, close to St Brides Major, Llantwit Major and Ogmore-by-Sea. It is mostly known for its beach , which is a popular tourist destination during the summer months and since 1972 has been designated a Heritage Coast and is part of...
.
Just like its counterparts in Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
and Brittany
Brittany
Brittany is a cultural and administrative region in the north-west of France. Previously a kingdom and then a duchy, Brittany was united to the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province. Brittany has also been referred to as Less, Lesser or Little Britain...
, the west-facing beach and coast was notorious as a graveyard for ships during strong on-shore winds (i.e south-westerly winds from the Atlantic). Many ships in particular were destroyed on Tusker Rock
Tusker Rock
Tusker Rock is a rock in the Bristol Channel, situated about 2 miles west of Ogmore-by-Sea, Bridgend, Wales. It takes its name from Tuska the Viking, a Dane whose fellow Vikings semi-colonised the Vale of Glamorgan....
, a brutal reef slightly out to sea that is totally covered at high tide. Also prevalent at Ogmore (and all across the Vale of Glamorgan
Vale of Glamorgan
The Vale of Glamorgan is a county borough in Wales; an exceptionally rich agricultural area, it lies in the southern part of Glamorgan, South Wales...
coastline) was organised shipwrecking; similar to tales in Cornwall where lanterns would be tied to a bull/cow at night resting onto top of a cliff; passing ships would mistake a flickering light as a lighthouse
Lighthouse
A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire, and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways....
and be lured to destruction. This also happened further down the coast at Southerndown
Southerndown
Southerndown is a village in South Wales to the southwest of Bridgend, close to St Brides Major, Llantwit Major and Ogmore-by-Sea. It is mostly known for its beach , which is a popular tourist destination during the summer months and since 1972 has been designated a Heritage Coast and is part of...
Ogmore centre
Ogmore centre
Ogmore Centre at Ogmore-by-Sea, often referred to as the Ogmore School Camp, is situated on an site on the Glamorgan Heritage Coast. It was built for the benefit of children from all over South Wales shortly before World War II as a residential education, sport, arts and outdoor activities centre...
was built for the benefit of children from all over South Wales shortly before WW2. It was closed in the mid 90s but reopened in 1998 as a Trust, but following problems with the lease, it closed again in 2007.