PDF - Pembrokeshire Greenways

Walking Pembrokeshire
LLAWHADEN - GELLI WALK
It’s good to walk, so why not step out and
sample some of the walks your neighbourhood
has to offer. This walk which starts and
finishes at the car park in the centre of
Llawhaden Village is one of a number of
town and country walks which have been
produced by Pembrokeshire County
Council.
This medium length walk, which is
strenuous in places due to steep slopes,
offers the walker a variety of lowland
scenery with its associated flora and fauna as
well as the opportunity to visit several
magnificent sites of historical significance.
www .pe mbro ke shire. gov. uk/wal ki ng
Also use Ordnance Survey Map: Explorer OL36 (South Pembrokeshire)
Based upon the Ordance Survey mapping with the
permission of the Controller of HMSO © Crown Copyright.
Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown Copyright and
may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings
Pembrokeshire County Council. Licence No 100023344
Key:
Start/Stop
Stiles
Gates
Steps
Bridges
Car Park
Views
Exercise Caution
9
Description
Points
Slope Down
Bus Station
Train Station
Llawhaden - Gelli Walk
This beautiful walk through wooded lowland and
river meadows with its attendant flora and fauna
offers the opportunity to visit several sites of
architectural and historical significance.
3 There are
magnificent view from
the higher parts (3).
Begin the walk at the small free car park in the
centre of Llawhaden village, near the castle. There
is an interpretation board here which offers
fascinating information on the history of the village
and its locale.
4 Walk back down
1 From here walk
up the lane to the
castle (1) which, like
the rest of the village,
belonged to the
Bishops of St Davids
from as early as the
13th century. Indeed,
by 1326, the village
had 174 tenement plots and was the richest estate
of St Davids.
the lane towards the
car park but almost
immediately turn left
at a waymarker (4)
and take a narrow
path that descends
steeply past Oaklands
House through the
ancient Churchill Woods until you arrive at a lane
opposite the church.
5 Once again allow
Allow time to
explore the castle for,
although quite ruined,
it is most impressive
(2) located in a
commanding position
with the early 15th
century gatehouse
visible from afar. The
castle was probably more a splendid manorial
residence than a defensive site and this is evident
from the range of buildings that remain.
2
time to explore the
church, set in a
beautiful location on
the banks of the
Eastern Cleddau (5).
The church of St Aidan
(which gives the village
its name) was erected
in the 13th century on a much older site – an early
Christian stone is located in the east wall of the
church (possible placed there when the church was
rebuilt in the 19th century). The font is now the
oldest part of the church although its unique
feature is the extraordinary double tower, the
smaller tower now buttressing the larger one,
believed to have been added in the 16th century.
Inside the church, on the chancel arch, is a curious
carved roundel showing three hares that share
three ears between them. This is a mysterious and
unexplained, possibly pre-Christian, symbol that
has its origins in the Middle East. The only other
one known in Pembrokeshire is found in the ceiling
of the Lady Chapel of St Davids Cathedral.
6 Leaving the
churchyard turn right
along the lane that
leads to Holgan (6). As
you enter the hamlet,
turn left at a
waymarker, cross two
bridges and go through
two gates, and follow
the stream that meanders though a narrow
wooded valley. The path is muddy here at most
times of the year. When you reach a third gate
don’t go through it but bear sharp right and follow
the path as it narrows and rises up the side of the
valley. Soon you will see a sign for Holgan Camp –
turn left onto this new path and climb steeply up
what is the side of an ancient Iron Age fort.
Llawhaden - Gelli Walk
7
Climb a stile and
you are in the fort
itself. Overgrown and
with little visible
amidst the stand of
conifers other than
two banks and ditches
at the west end, it
does offer fine views
over the countryside (7). Retrace your steps
downhill to the main path and turn left.
8
The path
eventually exits the
woodland onto a
narrow lane. Go
straight across onto a
farm track signposted
Danycoed Farm. At
the farmyard, bear
right and follow a
track that skirts woodland to your left and water
meadows to your right. Once again there are fine
views here up and down the valley (8). Where this
track forks, take the left track, through a gate and
upwards into the woodland. Follow it until it
descends to a further gate and out onto a country
lane. A short distance away on your left is the
hamlet of Gelli, its Baptist Chapel of 1861
overlooking the river.
On your right is
the interesting Gelli
Bridge (9) with its two
unequal arches. Built in
the early 19th century
it probably has a much
earlier foundation.
There is a picnic site
underneath the bridge
from where you may care to look for buzzards and
kingfishers. Flag iris, woodruff, orchids and ransoms
can also be found nearby or elsewhere on this
walk.
9
After a well earned rest and refreshment, retrace
your steps back to Llawhaden. Alternatively, you
can cross the bridge and return to Llawhaden
through pasture land alongside the eastern banks of
the Eastern Cleddau.
www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/walking
Walking Pembrokeshire
Llawhaden - Gelli Walk
How to get there
Walking: The walk begins and ends at the small, free
car park in the centre of Llawhaden Village.
Bus: No bus visits Llawhaden though the 322 from
Haverfordwest and the 381 from Narberth stop at
Canaston Bridge, a few kilometres south of Llawhaden.
Walk overview
Start / Finish:
Car park near the castle
Llawhaden.
Distance:
5.3 miles (8.6 kilometres), 31/2 hour
Terrain:
This is a medium length strenuous walk over
quiet country lanes and gravel, earth and grass
paths. Very steep in places.
Stiles:
2
Gates:
10
Steps:
40
Bridges:
6
Car Park:
1
Views:
several
Train: Nearest station is at Narberth.
National Rail Enquiries: 08457 484 950
www.nationalrail.co.uk
Road Map: www.multimap.com
Search for “Llawahaden, Pembrokeshire”.
Parking: There is a small free car park at the centre of
Llawhaden Village, near the Castle, where the walk
begins and ends.
Toilets: There are public toilets in Narberth.
Refreshments: Narberth (a few kilometres distant) has
a wealth of shops, cafés, restaurants, and public houses.
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