Today I have planned a walk that will take me to the renowned crooked church at nearby Cwmyoy. I have read about this church and with it being relatively close by it would be a pity not to visit it.
I walk from the Caravan and Motorhome site in Pandy and leave the site by the main entrance and turn left along the road and soon cross over the Afon Mynwy. At a road junction I turn right and after a short distance reach a crossroads and turn left along a narrow lane to reach Trewyn House. I admire the seven hundred and sixty-four nesting box dovecote as I pass.
Past the house the lane climbs steadily uphill. I ignore a footpath up the driveway of Trewyn Farm and continue on the narrow tarmac lane until I reach a finger post on the Offa’s Dyke Path. Here I turn right on a narrow track to go through a gate onto access land.
The Offa’s Dyke Trail follows a distinct path steadily uphill. The path passes the remains of an Iron Age Hill fort and then continues up. On my way I stop occasionally to admire the views.
I continue on to the trig pillar on Hatterrall Hill, I bagged this trig for the first time a couple of days ago.
I now follow the Offa’s Dyke Path as it proceeds along the top of the ridge in a northerly direction.
On reaching a stone marker on the path I turn left in the direction of Cwmyoy.
The route now heads west across Hatterrall Hill on a path through heather.
At a crossing of paths I continue straight on and then join a path coming in from the right near grouse butts.
I now head south along the ridge, in the distance is Sugar Loaf.
I stay with path as it nears the end of the ridge and makes a steep descent towards Cwmyoy. The land in front of me is the result of a landslip from Hatterrall Hill.
The path way proceeds downhill passing the remains of an old stone building to reach a walled track.
After going though a gate I turn to the left and follow a wall to another track where I turn right. At a junction of tracks I turn right again to follow a path below the face of the scar.
At another junction of tracks I turn left and go through a metal gate to follow a walled track downhill. This track brings me to a minor road by the church. I enter the churchyard and get my first view of the amazing St Martin’s Church.
It is believed that work on this church started in the 12th century with most of the building being constructed in the 13thcentury. The landslides over centuries have resulted in the church tilting in a range of directions and it makes for a peculiar external and internal structure and its obvious why it is known as the crooked church.
In the churchyard stands an ancient preaching cross.
How the church remains standing is a wonder, there are heavy buttress’ around it that were added around 1887, with more constructed during renovations in 1991.
I leave the churchyard by a gate to the east and join a minor road heading downhill. At a junction I turn left and follow the country lane as it heads east. At the next junction I ignore a lane heading to the left and continue on to pass a farmstead with a fine old barn dated 1703.
I stay on the road for a few hundred yards and then as it bends to the right I take a track directly in front of me . There is a sign as the start of the track saying it is unsuitable for motor vehicles.
The track goes steadily uphill to pass a farm, Dan-y-bwlch before reaching a crossroads. I go straight across and head downhill on this narrow lane. I soon pass the track I had taken earlier to start my ascent of Hatterrall Hill and then pass Trewyn House and retrace my steps back to the caravan park.
Today’s walk has covered just over 8 miles, there have been some stunning views and the visit to Cwmyoy church did not disappoint. It will be another spot to revisit with Lynnie.
To follow my walk you will need Ordnance Survey Explorer Map OL13 – Brecon Beacons National Park Eastern Area
14th September 2019
© Two Dogs and an Awning (2019)