On an unseasonably warm day in March, 7 intrepid walkers from the Cowbridge U3A Long Walks’ Group set off for a walk of over 9 miles from Rhiwderin, near Bassaleg, not far from Newport.
This was a good number for the small group, perhaps enticed out by the pleasant spring weather, after a long wet winter, although it’s the longest walk the group had done for some time.
We very quickly left the urban area behind, soon climbing through woods and across fields on part of the Sirhowy Valley Walk, already enjoying far-reaching views and having to remove jackets in the sunshine.
When at the top of our climb, we were rewarded with great views across Cardiff, being able to pick out the main landmarks, and of the Severn estuary, before starting our descent into the Rhymney valley. The benches at the medieval church in Lower Machen provided a comfortable spot for our elevenses.
The next part of the walk was flat easy walking, passing Plas Machen, the manor house that was the original home of the Morgans, later of Tredegar House.
We soon reached the River Rhymney, following the lovely riverside path, until reaching Michaelstone Bridge, from where we had to climb again to the village of Michaelston-y-Fedw. This was our lunch stop, at another medieval church.
The adjacent 16th century pub, The Cefn Mably, was closed, but the landlord who was outside tidying, gave very helpful information about the church, including the Roman arches which are incorporated into the building. He also showed us the grave of a distant relation of Rudolf Hess. Apparently Mably was Mabel, the daughter of Robert FitzHamon and the estate was set up as a hunting ground for her.
We then walked via fields and a bridleway to emerge onto a lane near the hamlet of Pen-y-Lan. Soon we cut across more fields, passing what had clearly formerly been a farm and is now some kind of industrial unit, whose purpose we could only guess at.
A steep lane down took us back to Rhiwderin.
VEM
