Continuing the group’s celebrations for their 30th year, a dozen walkers met Joy from Penarth and District Ramblers at Mill Road in Dinas Powys to take part in the fifth in a series of summer evening walks, with this one exploring the beautiful native woodlands owned and cared for by the Woodland Trust.
Setting off in glorious warm sunshine, they crossed the bridge over the Cadoxton River and followed a man-made path between fences which had become much narrower in places due to growing foliage – including stinging nettles. They passed a house named Ty’n y Coed, which also lent its name to the earthworks carried out above it, when the Dinas Powys hillfort was excavated.
Several gates and a sunken lane led them up onto part of the Dinas Powys golf course, which originally opened as a nine-hole course in 1914, and they made their way uphill through a treeline to emerge at the One O’clock Gate.
Following the Beauville Lane for only a short distance brought them to the entrance gate into Park Wood, where uneven woodland paths saw them circumnavigate this beautiful wood with tall trees in full leaf, before descending via a designated bridleway to overlook Cwrt-yr-Ala house in the distance.
Robert Rous had the original house built in 1805, which later came under the ownership of Herbert H Merrett, a self-made man who became chairman of the Powell Dyffryn Coal Company. He demolished the original house to have the present house built, which was designed by the architect Percy Edward Thomas.
Crossing a meadow with pretty orchids and what had been a muddy area that had been baked hard following the lack of rainfall, they climbed gradually through the buttercup covered Casehill meadows, passing a copse of trees that were planted by members of the Welsh Assembly, before entering Casehill Wood where the dappled shade was appreciated.
Then, descending steeply through woodland and re-crossing the river for the last time, led them into the Millfields for the short walk past several horses in an adjacent field, back to their start after what had been a lovely evening.
You can follow the group here or on Facebook.
Joy Strangward
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⭐ All of our social media in one handy place – here
Pencoed tangled up by ‘Seaweeds’
Primary school’s former deputy head is banned from teaching
I make no apologies for calling Plaid Cymru ‘separatists’
‘The importance of participation and continued learning’
Opposition leaders clash with First Minister over independence rally
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Read next:
- Penarth ramblers enjoy their weekend in Sussex
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- Ramblers explore two sections of the Heritage Coast
⭐ All of our social media in one handy place – here
Pencoed tangled up by ‘Seaweeds’
Primary school’s former deputy head is banned from teaching
I make no apologies for calling Plaid Cymru ‘separatists’
‘The importance of participation and continued learning’
Opposition leaders clash with First Minister over independence rally
How Kevin saved a stranger’s life
