A BRIGHT sunny morning saw nine walkers join John at the Cross Inn in Llanblethian for a Valeways walk.

They walked to the isolated C13 Llanfrynach Church of St Brynach with its coffin stiles. A short walk brought them under the Cowbridge bypass and into the woods below Penllyn Castle, occupied since C11 and home of the Tubervilles in C16 and17. It was taken over by the Corys in the 1960s.

They walked through Coed y Stanby, where the wood anemones were looking beautiful to reach the old village of Llansannor where a coffee stop was taken in the church yard in lovely warm sunshine and sitting on the C13 cross thought to have been brought from St Mary Hill, the church is dedicated to St Senwyr.

Llansannor Court opposite the church was built in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I by Richard Gwyn.

The walkers then headed across fields to Newton Farm for a short stretch along the road, before turning south towards Cowbridge. New born lambs were abundant with many twins.

On reaching Cowbridge they walked past the Church of the Holy Cross to go below the ruins of Llanblethian Castle also known as St Quintin's Castle after the first Lords of Llanblethian, from C15 onwards the Castle was used as a prison.

A short walk through the village of Llanblethian brought them back to the Cross Inn for welcome food and drink

Thanks to the pub for the use of the car park and the hospitality.

Valeways is a charity aiming to keep footpaths open and used as well as promoting walking for health. For more information and for the programme of guided walks visit valeways.org.uk.

John’s next walk takes place on April 30 starting at 10am from the Sportsman’s rest in Peterston-super-Ely.