Gaggle of geese join ramblers on lovely Vale route:
Sheila from Penarth and District Ramblers reprised a walk she did back in April of this year and was joined by a group of five walkers for the 8.5 mile route in the lovely Vale of Glamorgan.
They began from the Church of St Mary in the village of St Mary Church before making their way into fields, with grand views across open countryside before heading down through woodland to join a road that led them to Howe Mill Farm. Fields beside the River Thaw brought them to the remains of the manor house of Old Beaupre set on a slight hill and which was built partly in the 1300’s by the Bassett family, then enlarged during the 1600’s by Sir Rice Mansel who married into the Bassett family, and altered by William Bassett and his son Richard, with its three-storeyed gatehouse and interior porch that still remain intact, built to show off the family’s stature and wealth.
Heading back to the road they deviated around a gaggle of geese to climb through fields on the journey to Llandough where they paused for morning refreshments in the churchyard of St Dochdwy’s Church, after admiring the ancient carved head of Christ on the ceiling of its porch. Then a quick look at the outer wall remains of Llandough Castle built by the Walsche family before passing through sheep-filled fields with gorgeous views towards Llanblethian, which was their next port of call.
The Factory Brook was flowing fast following all the recent rainfall as they made their way through the village and up Castle Hill to the remains of St Quentin’s Castle and their stop for lunch near the remains of the ancient keep. Retracing their steps downhill they tramped through meadows beside the River Thaw with its newly installed kissing gates before passing New Beaupre which was the home of Richard Bassett when he moved from Old Beaupre after the family fortunes dwindled.
Woodland led them to the village of St Hilary and on past the thatched Bush Inn to the 12th century Church of St Hilary, before a country lane brought them to a narrow stony track for the awkward battle against hedge trimmings covering the footway. After winning the battle, a road led them back over the River Thaw to arrive at the grand house at Fishweir with its lovely outbuildings and peacocks, before fields and more road walking brought them safely back to their start.
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Joy Strangward
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