Mayals

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**Mayals Ward**

Ordnance Survey
OS grid reference:	Maps for SS6190
Geography
Principal locality	Mayals
Total population	2,834 (2001 census)
Land area (km²)	4.52 (2001 census)
Administration
Local council:	City and County of Swansea
Number of councillors:	1
Nation:	Wales
Post office and telephone
PostCode(s):	SA3
Dialling code:	+44-1792
Politics
Welsh Assembly:	Swansea West
UK Parliament:	Swansea West
European Parliament:	Wales

Mayals is the name of an electoral ward and a suburb of the City and County of Swansea, South Wales. It is also part of the Mumbles Community. The electoral ward consists of some or all of the following areas: Blackpill, Mayals and part of West Cross, in the parliamentary constituency of Swansea West. The Mayals suburb is an affluent area located about 3 miles south west of Swansea City Centre.

[edit] Blackpill

Blackpill is an area of the Mayals ward, situated beside Swansea Bay, about 4 miles south west of the city centre.

Blackpill is best known by locals for its leisure facilities. A boating lake located here which serves as a swimming pool that is very popular with young children during the summer. North of the boating lake is a mini golf course sandwiched between a busy carriageway and cycle track. Blackpill Pitch-and-Putt, despite its name, is actually located within the Sketty electoral ward and Community. The course, colloquially (and ironically) known in some quarters as "Royal Ashleigh", (due to its proximity to Ashleigh Road) is in fact a small municipally-owned links course. It is often advertised as a nine-hole course, but in fact has ten par-three holes. Clubs are available for hire, and it is open to the general public. The golf course has a crazy golf area and a small obstacle course for BMX bikers and skate-boarders. Further south from the boating lake is a recreation ground containing a large ramp for BMX bikers and skate-boarders to practice their aerial stunts on.

Beside the Blackpill Lido is a building which once served as a station and power station for the Swansea to Mumbles Tram. Today it serves as a public convenience and houses a cafe called "The Junction."

The southern entrance to the Clyne valley cycle track is located just across the road from the boating lake area. This cycle track runs though the Clyne Valley Country Park to Killay, Dunvant and Gowerton, by following the route of a former railway line, which formed the start of the Heart of Wales Line prior to the Beeching Axe of the 1960s.

Sloping uphill to the west of Blackpill are Clyne Gardens (Gerddi Clun), the beautifully landscaped former park of Clyne Castle. Clyne Castle, first built in the late 18th century and much altered, was for half a century a university hall, but is now converted to flats, while futuristic housing is replacing demolished 20th-century student accommodation blocks.

Blackpill Beach is a haven for wildlife, and wildlife watchers. Large numbers of wading birds and a variety of gulls, some rare, gather here at high tide. Unfortunately, the birds are often disturbed at their roost by anti-social joggers and dog-walkers. Nevertheless, it is a popular area for birdwatchers.

[edit] Mayals

Mayals is in area of the Mayals ward, situated further inland than Blackpill.

The populated area of Mayals is a suburb of Swansea and consists mainly of higher value privately owned housing, (although there is a very small pocket of social housing near the boundary with West Cross). Actress Catherine Zeta-Jones once lived in the Mayals.

Much of the area consists of an unpopulated Common, which is used for grazing and forms part of Gower Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. A number of bridleways are available to horse riders and walkers.

Clyne Golf Club, (a moorland 18 Hole Course) is located on Clyne Common which straddles the Mayals and Fairwood, Swansea boundary. Non members require a golf handicap certificate to be able to play.

Located on Clyne Common in the area is the Craig-y-Nos School, in independent school for children.