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This is a walk
that straddles two countries.
You should be able to park on a bit of
verge on the English side (east) of Tregate Bridge. There’s a good
view of a weir if you are facing south. |
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| On the Welsh side
you will find a well marked path across a broad field north towards
Blackmoor Farm. |
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| Pass the farm
house and over a couple of stiles and you are into a poplar
plantation with spooky regularly-spaced trees marching to the
horizon. The path is well marked but don’t miss the point where it
veers off to the right towards the river. |
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| Back at the river,
you enter open farm country again. Follow the bank of the river
around to the north and west until you reach Clappers Wood. After
about 300 metres of uppy-downy paths you emerge into fields again.
The path crosses a private property and it’s easy to miss the way.
Yes, you do go down the steps and you do pass the chicken coops
until you are back in fields again. |
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| Carry on north
towards a low converted barn but make sure you start climbing the
bank on your left where you join the lane to Skenfrith. It’s plain
sailing all the way to the village with beautiful views of the
gently curving Monnow valley ahead of you and Monmouth in the
distance behind you. At Skenfrith there’s a decent sized pub or a
little café opposite the castle. |
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| The castle is one
of the famous “Three Castles” (with Grosmont and White Castle)
of the southern Marches. It dates from at least the 12th
Century and is, allegedly, well preserved (although a bit of a roof
wouldn’t go amiss). If you want somewhere to picnic, make you way
down to the river for a peaceful spot on the boulders beneath the
castle walls. |
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| Heading back,
cross the Skenfrith Bridge and take a stile on the right after some
50 metres into broad, meandering fields. As the valley curves, you
come to a biggish private property with tidy gardens. Stick to the
river side, crossing the tiny footbridges. Ignore the loud dog that
clearly hasn’t been briefed about the public right of way. Towards
the end of the lawns you need to veer to your left until you find
another footbridge into the woods. You are now back in England.
It’s a short step thought the woods to open fields again. |
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| The path is well
marked through arable fields and pasture until you reach a new
housing development in massive barns at Llanrothal Court. Pass down
the gravel drive until you reach the lane. 200 metres later,
after crossing a small stream, you will see a footpath to your
right. Diagonally across the field you should see an old white
chapel – that’s where you are heading. |
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| The chapel is fairly
repulsive on the outside but if you peer though the windows it
appears quite a homely place. |
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| Now it’s just a question of
following the river back to Tregate Bridge. Watch out for a couple
of points where the path climbs up the bank to your left rather than
sticking to the river. |
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| If you take the
trouble to look under bridge you will find a perfectly circular arch
which I suppose provides some relief during floods (like the one in
1219 which wrecked the castle!). |
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