Day 1: Sunday 24th July – Long Race on Kenfig Burrows. Any orienteer who has ever driven along the M4 towards Swansea, will have seen this fantastic large area of open sand dunes and wondered whether it is possible to run there. After many years of trying, permissions have finally been obtained to hold a big event there.
Some 70% of the area is completely new to orienteering. Most of it very runnable grazed sand dunes with complex irregular contours and patches of natural woodland to keep you on your toes. Brand new map of the whole area based on LIDAR survey.
Extract from new map of Kenfig by Dave Peel; 2.5m contours and 1:10000 scale, based on recent Lidar survey.
Day 2: Monday 25th July – Middle Race on Kenfig Burrows. The area is large enough to accommodate a Middle race as well without significantly covering the same ground. Both Sunday and Monday races are counters for the 2016 UK National Orienteering League.
Read mapper Dave Peel's description of the terrain here.
Link to StreetMap.
Kenfig Pool National Nature Reserve is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest. The reserve has a visitor and interpretation centre, and a car park. The dunes are home to a variety of rare and endangered species of plants and animals, including a high concentration of fen orchid (or Liparis loeselii). It makes up part of the largest active sand dune system in Europe. The current village, built further inland, is a continuation of the mediaeval one. Landmarks include ruins of Kenfig Castle, and a natural pool which attracts birdwatchers.
The original Bronze Age settlement was situated around Kenfig Castle, but the encroaching sand became difficult for inhabitants around the 13th century, at which time the village was relocated further inland, forming the current village of Kenfig and Marlas. The church was moved from the original village stone by stone and currently stands in the village of Pyle, where the relocation is evident by smaller stones at the bottom of the church, with larger ones above. All that remains now of Kenfig Castle is covered by the sand dunes, except for the top of its 50-foot keep which was uncovered in the early 20th century. The earlier settlement was the subject of an episode of the archaeological television programme Time Team, screened on 18 March 2012.
[Adapted from Wikipedia]