A cushioned swing circuit (10A, 10B, 10C) comprising: a bi-directional hydraulic cylinder (16, 18), a directional control valve, first and second cylinder conduits (26, 28) individually connected to the directional control valve and the hydraulic cylinder, and a flow restriction orifice disposed in one of the first and second hydraulic conduits for generating a pressure differential therein when fluid is flowing through it, characterised in that the swing circuit includes: a three position, three-way cushion valve connected to the first hydraulic conduit by a first vent line and connected to the second hydraulic conduit by a second vent line, the cushion valve moveable between a closed position blocking fluid flow through the vent lines, a first open position establishing fluid flow through the first vent line and a second open position establishing fluid flow through the second vent line, a third vent line directing fluid flow from the cushion valve to a flow restrictor and alternatively to the first hydraulic conduit through a first check valve in a first branch of the third vent line, or to the second hydraulic conduit through a second check valve in a second branch of the third vent line, in which the flow restrictor is provided by a fixed orifice positioned in an outlet conduit of the cushion valve or by a pressure relief valve positioned in an outlet conduit of the cushion valve or by a fixed orifice and a pressure relief valve positioned in an outlet conduit of the cushion valve, and means (51, 53) for moving the cushion valve to one of the first or second open positions when the pressure differential exceeds a predetermined level, the cushion valve including spring means for resiliently biassing the cushion valve to the closed position. a bi-directional hydraulic cylinder (16, 18), a directional control valve, first and second cylinder conduits (26, 28) individually connected to the directional control valve and the hydraulic cylinder, and a flow restriction orifice disposed in one of the first and second hydraulic conduits for generating a pressure differential therein when fluid is flowing through it, characterised in that the swing circuit includes: a three position, three-way cushion valve connected to the first hydraulic conduit by a first vent line and connected to the second hydraulic conduit by a second vent line, the cushion valve moveable between a closed position blocking fluid flow through the vent lines, a first open position establishing fluid flow through the first vent line and a second open position establishing fluid flow through the second vent line, a third vent line directing fluid flow from the cushion valve to a flow restrictor and alternatively to the first hydraulic conduit through a first check valve in a first branch of the third vent line, or to the second hydraulic conduit through a second check valve in a second branch of the third vent line, in which the flow restrictor is provided by a fixed orifice positioned in an outlet conduit of the cushion valve or by a pressure relief valve positioned in an outlet conduit of the cushion valve or by a fixed orifice and a pressure relief valve positioned in an outlet conduit of the cushion valve, and means (51, 53) for moving the cushion valve to one of the first or second open positions when the pressure differential exceeds a predetermined level, the cushion valve including spring means for resiliently biassing the cushion valve to the closed position. a three position, three-way cushion valve connected to the first hydraulic conduit by a first vent line and connected to the second hydraulic conduit by a second vent line, the cushion valve moveable between a closed position blocking fluid flow through the vent lines, a first open position establishing fluid flow through the first vent line and a second open position establishing fluid flow through the second vent line, a third vent line directing fluid flow from the cushion valve to a flow restrictor and alternatively to the first hydraulic conduit through a first check valve in a first branch of the third vent line, or to the second hydraulic conduit through a second check valve in a second branch of the third vent line, in which the flow restrictor is provided by a fixed orifice positioned in an outlet conduit of the cushion valve or by a pressure relief valve positioned in an outlet conduit of the cushion valve or by a fixed orifice and a pressure relief valve positioned in an outlet conduit of the cushion valve, and means (51, 53) for moving the cushion valve to one of the first or second open positions when the pressure differential exceeds a predetermined level, the cushion valve including spring means for resiliently biassing the cushion valve to the closed position.