ON AN overcast but humid morning 15 walkers from Penarth and District Ramblers joined Rachel for a walk in Monmouthshire beginning just south of Llanellen on the A4042.

Tramping along the road and heading into a lane leading to Belli-glas, then through fields and along a rough dirt farm track with glorious views towards Blorenge, led them into a quiet lane and back onto the main road close to the Llanellen stone bridge built in 1821 by John Upton which spans the River Usk.

Joining part of the Usk Valley Walk on the north side of the river, a narrow wooden footbridge led into a huge riverside meadow with a variety of beautiful single trees in full leaf, past cows and sturdy calves and a large resting bull along with stunning views towards Sugar Loaf Mountain.

Passing through tall Himalayan Balsam, some steps led to another footbridge and continuing along the riverbank beside the still waters of the Usk, upon reaching a mound which is the only visible sign of Castle Arnold, a medieval fortified court house or Llys signalled a stop for refreshments.

Reaching a bend in the river at Llanover, a private footbridge leads to Tyr-Afon on part of the Coldbrook and Llanover Estate which has been owned by the same family since 1792 with its glorious views towards the Black Mountains.

Hailing a young couple that were trying their luck at fly fishing in the river before the bank passed underneath the River Usk Viaduct, where a swift train sped across and rounding another huge bend in the river with Canada geese and sheep roaming freely, Pant-y-Goitre Bridge built by Upton to carry the turnpike road between Abergavenny and Usk led them across the river and along the road towards Pant-y-Goitre Farm.

Two friendly farm dogs welcomed them as a stop was made to collect the key for the Church of St Mary at Llanfair Kilgeddin, a medieval church rebuilt in 1875 by John Dando Sedding and rescued by the Friends of Friendless Churches, the Victorian Society and a huge grant from CADW after it was declared unsafe in 1982.

This grade one listed building hides a wonderful secret and is the only one of its kind in Wales as the interior holds beautiful wall panels illustrating the Benedicite in ‘sgraffito, that involves five layers of coloured plaster at different depths being applied to the walls, which after being allowed to dry is covered with one more layer of plaster and cut to different depths to reveal the desired colourful effects and the resulting images by the artist Heywood Sumner are breathtaking.

After lunch utilising the four-stepped preaching cross and a visit to the Commonwealth War Graves, the Crawshay and Steengracht Von Moyland plots in the churchyard, a road led them on past Yewtree Cottage with its huge sunflowers in the garden and four barking dogs.

A working farmyard at Pant-y-Beiliau, the home of Trumpers Turkeys with its sleeping pigs, massive bull, large strutting turkey and two sets of twin calves led into a field and back onto the south bank of the Usk, where the path through thick Himalayan Balsam and ferns had been kindly cleared by the local authority after a request from the leader.

Narrow paths beside fields of tall maize led to a field containing some enormous trees just as the surrounding hillsides began to mist over and passing the Georgian country manor house of Pant-y-Goitre into woodland rain began to fall.

Muddy paths led back to the railway bridge and then across a huge ploughed and seeded field and uphill through a copse to pass more maize and onto a road which led to St Bartholomew’s Church at Llanover where the elegant tomb of Sir Benjamin Hall, Lord Llanover and his family is sited.

Heading back through fields as long distance views were shrouded in mist, a lane led past the entrance to the Llanover Estate Office and back to the cars, before heading back to Goytre Wharf for some well-earned refreshments on the way home.

On September 10, meet 9am at Cogan Leisure Centre for an eight-mile walk taking in Llanthony Priory, Hatterrall Hill and the Vale of Ewyas; contact Clive on 029 2065 4156.

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.