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Trekking up Kilvey Hill

Marcus James Woolley
Jun 18, 2013
3 min read

I was standing on the other side of the River Tawe looking at the hill that overwhelms the city's landscape, the hill is called Kilvey, it is home to a mountain biking track as well as dense forests, small communities and a transmitting station which sits on the summit at 193m high, there is a challenge that is held at Kilvey Hill, it's called 'The Kilvey Killer' which is an annual charity endurance race usually held in August which involves running up and down the hill whilst carrying a sack of cement - maybe when I am a little stronger I will think about taking part.

I made my way towards one of the entrances to the hill in the small neighbourhood of Port Tennant, the dirt path takes you amongst the thick dense of the trees away from the row of houses that sit at the edge of the city, apart from the birds whistling you could here the children playing in their back gardens which would of been only just behind the trees to the right of me, I started to sweat as it was a warm summers afternoon in June; once you get past the tree line at the bottom of the hill you are displayed with a magnificent view of the King's Docks which was the heart of Swansea's industry during World War II.

I was met with a path that takes me in two different directions, one going left and another going right, I decided to take the left route, the path starts to become more rugged with large rocks sticking out of the path causing you to stumble or stub your toes now and again.

The hill was more challenging than expected, maybe it would of been easier going from a different entrance but still I was enjoying every moment of the trek, the forest was now to the left of me, looking through the trees looked like darkness even though it was a bright summer day, if you were to look to the right you are met with the might of the hill towering high above you with nothing but long grass, shrubs and large rocks.

Looking in the distance you can already see the transmitters which symbolises the top of the hill, I took a wrong path that took me into a largely overgrown field with many horses, it was a beautiful scene as the very long grass swayed gently in the summer breeze along with other coulours of purple, red and blue flowers and ferns, the horses would run around the overgrown field dipping their heads into the long grass before crashing down to the floor, the skyline of Swansea was in the background, as I stood there I totally forgot that a city stood only minutes away, I really felt like I was in the wildreness but the city view in the distance brought me back to reality.

I followed the path back on myself where you are met with tarmac, the top of the hill is very open, you can find a few trees and shrubs but you are mostly met with the magnificent view of Swansea and the long stretch of the bay all the way down to Mumbles which I suppose is the nice prize you are recieved for getting to the top of the hill, there isn't much else to look at apart from a metal fence and gate stopping people getting into the transmitter, I remember a quote from Karl Pillington for this moment and that is "I rather live in the cave with a view of a palace than live in a palace with a view of a cave" and I suppose it is the same as this place on top of a Welsh hill - I rather be at the peak looking across Swansea and the bay rather than in Swansea looking at the summit of the hill.

If you do decide to come and visit Kilvey Hill take a walk around the other side of the hill you would find a large forest follwed by a charming view of Swansea countryside which can be as pretty as a picture.