River Kenfig

River Kenfig (Afon Cynffig)
River
These extensive reed beds lie close to the mouth of the river
Countries	United Kingdom, Wales
Region	South Wales
County	Neath Port Talbot, Bridgend

Cities	Pyle, Marlas, North Cornelly


Source
- location	Mynydd Margam, Neath Port Talbot, Wales

Length	18.0 km (11 mi)

The River Kenfig (Welsh: Afon Cynffig) is a river in Wales, straddling the county boroughs of Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend. It is approximately 18 kilometres long.

Course

The river rises in the forest of Mynydd Margam, not far west of Maesteg, in close proximity to the River Afan and the Llynfi River. From here it flows south, and turns west near the town of Pyle, through the area known as the M4 Corridor. The river is at the northern edge of the Kenfig National Nature Reserve, a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest. It also forms the boundary of the Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend districts for much of its course, before running into the sea at Margam Sands, close to Margam Moors. It flows through an area steeped in folklore and local legend, much of it tied in with the lost towns beneath the shifting sands of Kenfig Burrows.

Although the river has few significant tributaries, it picks up a few small streams on its course. Major tributaries include the Nant Iorwaeth-goch, which joins the river as it turns westward north of Kenfig Hill, the Afon Fach, a stream which flows through North Cornelly and Pyle, and the Coal Brook, which rises in Margam Park.

Kenfig National Nature Reserve

The final stretch of the River Kenfig at Kenfig Sands is at the northern boundary of the Kenfig Nature Reserve. This reserve contains Kenfig Pool, the largest lake in South Wales, and Kenfig Burrows, its largest sand dune system. The river does not actually flow through the village of Kenfig itself. It runs about a mile to the north; however, it flows past the remains of Kenfig castle, which is at the original site of the village. This site was abandoned in the 13th century when the sand dunes, shifted by wild storms, began to bury parts of the village. Only the tower of Kenfig Castle is now visible.

Industry

The river is south of the vast industrial complex of Port Talbot and Margam, which includes the Port Talbot Steelworks. In 1968 BorgWarner opened a plant at Kenfig for the manufacture of automatic transmissions. In January 1976 the plant celebrated the completion of its two millionth gearbox, which was 'presented' to A B Volvo. At that time a press release stated that Borg-Warner's UK plants at Letchworth and at Kenfig were producing transmissions for use in more than fifty different car models, and that more than half the gearboxes produced were exported outside the UK. In 2001, the factory faced the threat of closure but was saved by a new contract from Korean car company Kia. In December 2008, Borg-Warner announced that the plant would finally close by mid 2010 with the loss of all 110 jobs at the site; a statement from the company blamed the economic downturn for the decision.

Resources

External links

Bridgend County Borough

Bridgend County Borough Council

Communities	Brackla Bridgend Cefn Cribwr Coity Higher Coychurch Higher Coychurch Lower Cornelly Garw Valley Laleston Llangynwyd Lower Llangynwyd Middle Maesteg Merthyr Mawr Newcastle Higher Ogmore Valley Pencoed Porthcawl Pyle St Bride's Minor Ynysawdre

Towns and villages	Aberkenfig Bettws Blackmill Bridgend Bryncethin Brynmenyn Bryntirion Caerau Cefn Cross Coity Coychurch Coytrahen Cwmfelin Danygraig Garth Heol-y-Cyw Kenfig Kenfig Hill Laleston Litchard Llangan Llangeinor Llangynwyd Maudlam Maesteg Merthyr Mawr Nantymoel Newton North Cornelly Nottage Ogmore Vale Pantygog Pantyrawel Pen-y-Fai Pencoed Pontycymer Porthcawl Price Town Pyle Sarn South Cornelly Tondu Tythegston Wild Mill Wyndham

Castles	Candleston Castle Coity Castle Ewenny Priory Kenfig Castle Llangynwyd Castle Newcastle Castle Ogmore Castle

Rivers	Ewenny River River Garw River Llynfi River Ogmore

Topics	Parliamentary constituencies Places Schools Grade I listed buildings Grade II* listed buildings SSSIs Scheduled Monuments Lord Lieutenants High Sheriffs

Neath Port Talbot

Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council

Communities	Aberavon Baglan Bay Blaengwrach Blaenhonddan Briton Ferry Bryn Cilybebyll Clyne Coedffranc Crynant Cwmavon Cwmllynfell Dyffryn Clydach Glyncorrwg Glynneath Gwaun-cae-Gurwen Margam Margam Moors Neath Onllwyn Pelenna Pontardawe Port Talbot Resolven Sandfields East Sandfields West Seven Sisters Tai Bach Tonna Ystalyfera

Towns and villages	Aberavon Aberdulais Abergarwed Alltwen Baglan Blaengwrach Blaenhoddan Cadoxton Cilfrew Cilybebyll Clyne Cwmgors Cwmllynfell Crynant Glynneath Godre'r Graig Goytre Groes Llangiwg Lonlas Lower Brynamman Margam Melincourt Falls Morfa Glas Neath Pontardawe Port Talbot Resolven Rhiwfawr Rhydyfro Seven Sisters Skewen Tairgwaith Tonna Ystalyfera

Castles	Neath Castle

Rivers	River Afan River Neath Neath and Tennant Canal

Topics	Parliamentary constituencies Places SSSIs Grade I listed buildings Grade II* listed buildings Scheduled monuments Lord Lieutenants High Sheriffs Museums

Coordinates: 51°32′15″N 3°45′41″W / 51.53750°N 3.76139°W / 51.53750; -3.76139

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