II.

Land and Resources

The Vale of Glamorgan is not really a valley, but rather a fertile plateau area varying in height from 60 to 120 m (200 to 400 ft) and drained by several small rivers. The landscape, which is formed on rocks that are soft and easily eroded, comprises rolling farmland reminiscent of the English Midlands, both in the land formation and in the settlement pattern of villages centred around a church. The Vale of Glamorgan ends abruptly at the coast in cliffs 30 m (100 ft) high, which frequently break off into the sea. At Penarth Head, the layers of rock that make up the area can be seen. A 23-km (14-mi) stretch of the borough’s coastline (extending into the county borough of Bridgend) has been designated as the Glamorgan Heritage Coast by the Countryside Council for Wales.

The climate is moderate, with average temperatures of 4° C (38° F) in January and 20° C (68° F) in July. Average annual rainfall is in the region of 750 to 1,000 mm (30 to 40 in).