Joy celebrates 500 walks with the ramblers
The Penarth and District Ramblers enjoyed the lovely October weather with two walks in the Vale, the first from Sheila who guided a group of 17 and Luna the dog, around Cowbridge to explore the Iolo Morganwg Heritage Walk.
Setting off beside the River Thaw and crossing fields, they arrived at Aberthin before climbing gradually to Stalling Down after pausing at the memorial stone to the first meeting in London in 1792 of the Gorsedd of Bards – established by Iolo.
Continuing across the A48, a pretty lane brought them to The Clump, where for two decades criminals were hanged for their crimes until 1787. Following refreshments, they passed the tall memorial stone to the Glamorgan Yeomanry before heading towards St Hilary and a visit to the delightful 12th Century parish church.
Then, it was onwards past the thatched Bush Inn, before following a lane and passing through woodland towards New Beaupre and, entering fields containing cattle, they tramped beside the River Thaw on the journey to the village of Llanblethian.
Castle Hill led them up to the impressive remains of St Quentin’s Castle which relates to the 12th Century with the castle built in the early 14th Century by Gilbert de Clare. After stopping for lunch, they descended via a winding path to pass through the historic South Gate in Cowbridge, before visiting the Physic Garden – which contains a poem on one of its walls by Iolo – before wending their way back to their start.
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Starting from the Plough and Harrow Inn, a group of 11 walkers joined Joy for ‘Shortish Strides’. Crossing a stone stile they entered the historic site of a medieval monastic grange founded in 1130 by Richard de Granville. Providing much of the provisions for Neath Abbey, the site fell into decay following the Dissolution of the Monasteries by King Henry VIII, but the sturdy remains of the round dovecote are still in existence, from where pigeons and doves provided winter meat, feathers for bedding, fertilizer for the land and for the tanning of hides.
A leafy path through Blaen y Cwm led them past the old ruined corn mill and along a flooded path at Cwm Nash to reach the coast for the short steep climb up onto the cliff top, with its fabulous views towards Porthcawl. Descending through the ditches of an Iron Age Fort brought them into Cwm Marcross, using stepping stones over the brook for the journey through woodland to their refreshment break.
A series of stone stiles led them through meadows, past Llan Farm and on by country lane to the pretty hamlet of Broughton, past the old Malthouse – now converted into flats – and through two more meadows back to the start.
As this was the leader’s 500th walk for the group, the sunlit beer garden of the Plough made a perfect setting for a quick celebration, and the leader’s thanks go to a lovely bunch of walking companions for their cards and unexpected gift – but most of all for their friendship.
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