Route: Longtown
Area: Herefordshire
Date of walk: 25th July 2022
Walkers: Andrew and Gilly
Distance: 3.2 miles
Ascent: 400 feet
Weather: Mostly cloudy, some showers and sunny spells
After this morning’s short walk from Kilpeck we still had plenty of time to explore the Welsh Borders, an area which is new to us, and so we drove to the old village of Longtown in the upper Monnow Valley. We parked in the Parish Hall car park and made a short uphill diversion to visit Longtown Castle. The castle was built for the influential de Lacy family in the 12th century and has the oldest circular keep still standing in the area. The keep is presently undergoing repair and cannot be visited but it was a worthwhile detour all the same. From here we retraced our steps back into Longtown and at a junction turned right
A succession of path and stiles through fields eventually brought us to the far point of the walk, Clodock. The ancient church is dedicated to St Clydawg, King of Ewias, who was martyred about 500AD. The present building stands on the site of his tomb, beside the River Monnow. We visited the interior of the church, noted for its three-decker pulpit, said to be one of the best examples in the country, dating from the mid 17th century
We left the church grounds via an old slab-stile beside the River Monnow and followed a path beside the river for a short distance. This brought us to the quiet lane leading back into Longtown which we followed back to the start of the walk.
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View of the Black Mountains from the parking area in Longtown. The village was fomerly named Ewias Lacy and was renamed in reference to its shape - the houses stretch along the road for one mile or so
We make a there and back detour to Longtown Castle, passing by St Peter's Church which is now deconsecrated and is a private house
Longtown Castle, which has the oldest circular keep still standing in this area
The castle is an English Heritage property. The keep is presently under repair and out of bounds
We walk away from the castle and retrace our steps, turning right a little further down the road
We follow a lane down to Olchon Brook
We leave the road and enter into a field...
We cross the footbridge over Olchon Brook
The ridge of Hatterrall Hill in the Black Mountains - the border with Wales runs across it
We cross a waymarked stile by an old oak tree
Views back to Longtown as we head uphill towards Penrhewr...
We join the lane at Penrhewr, but almost immediately leave it again and pass through a gate into the fields
We head in the direction of Clodock at the foot of Mynydd Merddin
Rolling Herefordshire countryside
Heading down to Clodock below Mynydd Merddin
Looking across to Ysgyryd Fawr, known as The Skirrid, an easterly outlier of the Black Mountains
St Clydawg Church, Clodock
The church is dedicated to St Clydawg, King of Ewias, who was martyred about 500AD
We enter into the grounds via one of the stone slab stiles
The three-decker pulpit is said to be one of the best examples in the country and dates from the mid 17th century
We leave the churchyard and turn left at a path by the River Monnow
The path continues beside the river, though there are no views of it
Another stone slab stile brings us onto the lane leading into Longtown
We cross the bridge over the River Monnow
We arrive in Longtown...
...where the Crown Inn is pleased to serve thirsty walkers
