Skenfrith - Mid Wales
Circular walk: 6.13 miles (including a stroll around the castle!)
what3words address for parking: we parked beside the castle at
///slumped.rooting.extensive but there is also some space for two or three cars just opposite the corner of the pub at
///resonated.obey.hydration. Please do not park in the pub car park
This walk straddles the England/Wales border. The River Monnow is the border in this area.
We walked this route anti-clockwise to get the hill (Coedanghred Hill) out of the way at the beginning. The route basically follows the Monnow River Trail and is (mostly) well signposted, although probably not frequently walked in some sections and was consequently somewhat overgrown. We didn’t meet another soul until we got back towards Skenfrith and came across a couple of dog walkers.
The historic church in the fields at Llanrothal was a pleasant surprise; it hardly features on the OS maps but the footpath turns through the churchyard. It is a whitewashed building possibly dating from the Norman period and has a rustic, Medieval interior. It also has a few benches and a picnic table in its grounds and made a good lunch break.
This was a fine walk with variety and some fabulous views, especially from Coedanghred Hill, and with sections through pasture filled with wild flowers as well as woodland.
At the end of the walk the Bell in Skenfrith could make for a welcome refreshment break (it was closed when we passed) and it is also worth a quick look around the castle (National Trust but free to enter) and the church.
hiking
PeterHadfield on scottexservices.com