St Brides to Ewenny
Our walk links two churches in the Glamorgan Heritage Coast parish, St Bridget’s Church, St Brides Major, and Ewenny Priory Church.
St Bridget's Church was granted to Ewenny Priory Church in 1141 and served until the Reformation by monks from the Priory. It was built on the site of an earlier Celtic Christian foundation.
Local tradition has it that St Bridget of Kildare (c.451-525) travelled from Ireland across St Brides Bay to Wales coming to St Brides Major. While here she founded a llan or Christian community and is known as ‘Our Lady of the Vale’.
Our walk to Ewenny Priory Church follows ancient paths, which perhaps the monks travelled between the churches, and land which they farmed. Above St Bridget’s Church is the base of a pilgrim’s cross, with another similar one at Ewenny Priory, marking a pilgrimage route.
Ewenny Church was built by William de Londres, Lord of Ogmore, in 1115, again on the site of an old Celtic Christian church. In 1141 it was given to the Benedictine Abbey of St Peter, Gloucester, and became a Priory. It is the most complete Norman church in South Wales, divided into two halves, the nave for the parishioners of Ewenny, and the Presbytery for the monks. There are many interesting features, including Celtic stones, medieval wall decoration and tiles, and a 21st century Pulpitum Screen. Most importantly, both St Bridget's and the Priory are very much living churches today.
Start St Bridget’s Church, St Brides Major CF32 0TB (SS 8942 7504)
Getting there B4265 from Bridgend or Llantwit Major. Park in the car park below the church. 303 bus from Bridgend or Llantwit Major to Southerndown Road and walk through the village to the church.
Walk
From the lower gate of St Bridget’s Church (1) walk down to the main road, cross over, and walk up the lane to the right of the Fox pub. Follow the lane to its junction with Penylan Road and Blackhall Road. Turn right, and immediately on the left go through the metal gate onto the open common.
Follow the path upwards, joining a hard surfaced track, but leave it as it turns towards Brynawel House. Carry straight on along a broad green bridleway to where the path divides into three. Here, at the highest point of Castle Down (325 feet) (2), there are fine views in all directions, to the south, St Brides Major and the Bristol Channel, to the north Bridgend and the hills behind, and immediately to the west Pant Quarry.
Where the track divides, take the bridleway to the right past a waymarker post and follow field boundaries for 0.3 miles until you reach the boundary of the disused Duchy quarry. Follow the narrow steep path down, without taking a path to the right. At the bottom continue straight through a gate, turning right under a railway bridge, then through a metal gate to join Heol y Stepsau.
Cross the River Alun using the stepping stones (3) and follow the road up the hill for 0.4 miles to its junction with Wick Road.
Turn left onto Wick Road, and follow the road up hill past Wallas Fach for 0.36 miles. Just past the brow of the hill turn right along a way-marked path by the side of a gate (see photo below).
Follow the path across fields for ¼ mile, keeping hedges and walls on your left until you reach another road, Tair Croes.
Turn right and almost immediately down the road on the left hand side is a stone stile next to a metal gate. Climb over the stile to follow the path to the left of a hedge bank, which later follows the right hand side of the hedge. Bridgend and its industrial estates spread before you.
Soon the houses of Corntown are visible as you pass through a gate, dropping down to the houses of Parklands. At the road, turn right and then left to the B4524.
Turn right and follow the road for 0.2 miles to the Nant Pool (4) on the right hand side of the road. This was used as a baptismal pool until the turn of the
20th century, and then used for watering cattle. The pool is fed by groundwater.
The baptismal pool is an obvious place to reaffirm your baptismal promises and belief and trust in one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Return back along the B4524 until, just past the entrance into Parklands, you see a white converted chapel, Ty Capel, on the right hand side. Just to the left of Ty Capel is a signed footpath. Follow it down hill, crossing stiles and a footbridge. The path turns left and leads to Ewenny Priory Church (5)
Here our walk ends. At the church, give thanks for the work and witness of the Benedictine monks who worshipped here for nearly 400 years, and of local people for another 500 years. Pray for the mission and ministry of the Glamorgan Heritage Coast parish—and reflect on this walk, and what you have seen and heard on the way, giving thanks for the blessings of this pilgrimage.
If returning to Bridgend or Llantwit Major by bus, walk along the lane running west from the Priory Church for 0.68 miles, keeping on the lower Abbey Road. Turn right at its junction with the B4524. At the junction of the B4524 and B4265 turn right to the bus stop by the bridge over the River Ewenny.
You may wish to continue up the hill for ¼ mile to Ewenny Pottery (6), the oldest continuously working pottery in Wales, where there is also a glass workshop and the Village Diner.
Map
OS Explorer 151 Cardiff and Bridgend
Public Transport
The 303 NAT bus runs hourly in both directions between Bridgend and Llantwit Major, connecting with the 304 to Barry, and trains to Cardiff. For up-to-date travel information visit www.traveline-cymru
Refreshments
The Fox and the Farmers Arms pubs in St Brides Major;
Winnie’s Kitchen café in St Brides
Major;
Café at Ewenny Garden Centre.
The Village Diner at Ewenny Pottery
