Margam Radar Station.

 Visit Date 04-2022. .

Overlooking the Bristol Channel from high above Port Talbot, I visited the remains of the Margam Radar Station.

The station is a Chain Home Low Radar Station. The original Chain Home Radar system was developed to detect enemy aircraft, but whilst it was extremely effective at identifying aeroplanes at a distance and flying at high altitudes, it could not see them when they flew low.

The  Chain Home Low could reliably detect aircraft flying as low as 500 feet (150 m).

It's design also allows the coast to be guarded against enemy surface craft and submarines in the Bristol Channel, 

This station consists of three squarish concrete buildings with flat roofs.

This building retains the framework of a steel gantry, the base for a rectangular radar transmitter/receiver array, known as a 'bedstead array' from its wires and framework.

Next to it stands the generator house that supplied the necessary power.

There is a third building that is thought to be a back generator.

Situated high on the hill over Margam, Port Talbot and most importantly the Bristol Channel it had great views of the coast.

It now overlooks the mighty Port Talbot Steel Works. The works covers a large area of land which dominates the south of the town. Its two blast furnaces and steel production plant buildings are major landmarks visible from both the M4 motorway and the South Wales Main Line when passing through the town.

This Radar Station is believed to be a unique survivor within the British Isles.

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Visit Information:-

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51.569833872704216, -3.742837925791009

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Additional information.

Visiting is relatively easy but is mostly uphill as the site is on the South Wales Coastal Walk. I visited by parking close by and there is a car park near the start of the walk (51.56361379905241, -3.7338320577891753) and there is also roadside parking. You leave the M4 at junction 38 head for Margam Park but turn in at the sign which reads "Margam Abby" Walk up the hill on the road until you see the path marked "COLD CADW WOODLAND" then follow this path up to the station. The walk is almost all uphill but the paths are quite good.

Additional Information.

On the road part of the walk you will pass both "The Monks Bath" and "

 Capel Mair as y Bryn" both of which have been also blogged.