TWELVE walkers from Penarth and District Ramblers joined Geraint in St Brides Major on a dry but chilly morning before heading uphill into the churchyard of the delightful 12th century church dedicated to the Irish St Bridget, where a stop was made to view the gravestone dedicated to the 20 lost crew of the Portuguese iron ship the Malleny, bound for Rio with a cargo of Welsh coal when she struck Tusker Rock in October 1886.

Exiting onto a road and continuing uphill along wide paths on Ogmore Down, the views stretched up towards the Ogwr Ridgeway and the windmills above Llanharan to the north and Nottage and Trecco Bay to the west, whilst skylarks trilled overhead.

Descending a rough path onto a lane, a new pathway above the busy coast road led them behind the Pelican in her Piety pub and carefully crossing the main road into a lane past the riding stables, patient horses all saddled and bridled were awaiting their riders for a trek at Merthyr Mawr.

Whilst stopping for morning coffee at the ruined Ogmore Castle with its clear view over the confluence of the Ewenny and Ogmore rivers, the horses and riders could be seen crossing the ford and following the River Ogmore down towards the beach.

As some of the stepping stones were still under water several of the group elected to cross the footbridge a short distance upstream on the Ewenny River and re-grouping on Ogmore Moor, a slight detour to avoid the flooding and boggy mud led them on past banks of primroses and through metal kissing gates to a large cropped field at Verville.

As the sun appeared and crossing fields where young lambs were dozing in the warmth, a gate led onto the road which in turn led to Ewenny and then onto the Heronston Lane covered in places by surface water.

Passing the Old Malt House and following a narrow muddy track between field boundaries across Ewenny Moor to a metal footbridge over the river, a rough track led to Ewenny Priory where the churchyard was covered with wild violets, celandine and primroses.

Before lunch it was time to discover some of the many treasures inside the Priory built by William de Londres between 1115 and 1126 and which housed 12 monks and a Prior, including copies of a watercolour painting of the transept which the renowned artist JMW Turner completed in 1797.

Following a pleasant lunch in sunshine out of the breeze it was time to move on across a series of old stone stiles into Corntown and a slight climb up through cropped fields, from where there were glorious clear views across the sprawling town of Bridgend and beyond.

Passing Badger faced sheep and their pretty young lambs and heading across meadows and through a bridleway to Tair Cross, a short road-walk led past Wallas Farm and two delightful shaggy donkeys in a field, before a descent through the wood anemone carpeted Coed y Wallas and safely over the railway line.

Crossing the crystal clear River Alun by way of the old stone packhorse or clapper bridge, the name of which is derived from the noise the horse and donkey hooves made as they crossed over, a steep rocky path led uphill beside an old stone wall and through a new metal gate onto open paths at Craig Ddu and then across part of Old Castle Down which is the home of the rare high brown fritillary butterfly.

Then following a rough bridle path and crossing a cattle grid onto a road on the outskirts of St Brides Major, narrow lanes led back downhill to their start after which some of the group enjoyed a welcome drink in the Fox and Hounds prior to the homeward journey.

On April 30, meet 9am at Cogan Leisure Centre for a 12-mile mod/hard walk at Rhiwderin and Mynydd Machen; contact Rachel on 01446 410545.

Wear suitable clothing, preferably boots and carry waterproofs, food and drinks. Some degree of fitness is required and if you are in any doubt, then please contact the walk leader for advice.

To follow the group please log onto penarthramblers.wordpress.com or Facebook. Programmes and membership advice can be obtained from Pam on 029 2025 5102.