South East Wales Itinerary: Follow the Story of the Lords of the Southern March
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South east Wales itinerary: follow the story of the Lords of the Southern March The Lords of the Southern March played a vital – but changing – part in the history of Wales following the Norman Conquest. You can follow the story of the start of the conquest of south Wales and the struggle to maintain supremacy at a cluster of Cadw sites. The first castle to be built by the Normans in Wales, Chepstow, the nearby Tintern Abbey, and Monmouth Castle were powerful statements of intent to subdue and stabilise Wales. The three castles of Grosmont, White and Skenfrith were built in the Monnow Valley to control the route between Hereford and Monmouth. Discover how together the sites formed part of a robust boundary between Tintern Abbey Norman England the Welsh kingdoms and explore the development of a different culture and society as a frontier land. Just 13 minutes drive from Chepstow you’ll find Tintern Abbey, the best-preserved medieval abbey in Wales. Founded by Marcher Lord Walter de Clare as a spiritual base for the Norman lords on the England Wales border, Tintern was only the second Cistercian foundation in Britain. The present-day remains are a mixture of building works covering a 400-year period between 1131 and 1536 until the abbey was surrendered to King Henry VIII’s officials. Very little remains of the first buildings but you can marvel at the vast windows and later decorative details displayed in the walls, doorways and soaring archways. If you’re feeling energetic, take a strenuous uphill walk to the ‘Devil’s Pulpit’ for a wonderful bird’s eye view of this great gothic abbey. Monmouth Castle White Castle Travel up the river Wye and the next site you’ll see is Monmouth Castle commissioned by William Fitz Osberne at the same time as Chepstow Castle Chepstow, to be the one of the key strongholds of the Norman invasion of Wales. The remains of the great tower date to the Chepstow Castle is one of the oldest stone fortifications in Britain. first half of the twelfth century and was the birthplace of Henry V. Established by William fitz Osbern just a year after the Battle of Further west you’ll find White Castle surrounded by powerful Hastings, it was so powerful that it continued in use until 1690, round towers. In 1138, King Stephen united White Castle with including an epic Civil War siege. Century after century, the castle Skenfrith Castle and Grosmont Castle to create the lordship of the grew and grew along its narrow cliff top ridge. This huge complex, Three Castles. In 1201 they came under the control of a single lord, grand castle deserves to be explored; it boasts the oldest castle Hubert de Burgh, who knew a great deal about military architecture doors in Europe, all wood and all of 800 years old, and the colourfully from his time fighting in France and rebuilt White as a fortress for decorated Earl’s chamber is a feast for your eyes. It’s been the subject military work whereas he added domestic apartments to Skenfrith of many artists, the most famous being Turner. and Grosmount. 1 A59 A565 3 26 M58 A570 7 M6 A58 6 A580 23 5 LIVERPOOL Amlwch M57 Birkenhead A5025 2 Capel 1 M62 1 Caer y Twrˆ r Hillfort Lligwy 5 7 2 6 A57 Lligwy 2 Holyhead Mountain Hut Group Tregwehelydd Standing Stone Burial Chamber Great Ormes A551 3 1 Din Lligwy Head 3 Caer Gybi Roman Fortlet Penmon Priory Prestatyn 3 2 Hut Group Llandudno Maen Achwyfan M Holyhead Benllech and St Seiriol’s Well A558 Rhyl Cross 4 e A56 4 Penrhos Feilw Standing Stones Presaddfed r Puffin Island Colwyn s e 11 5 Burial Chamber Beaumaris y 4 Bay Basingwerk M53 5 Tyˆ Mawr Standing Stone B5109 Penmon Cross Abergele A5151 A548 12 Castle Abbey 5 6 B5109 and Dovecote 6 Trefignath Burial Chamber Holy Island A5 Llangefni A55 Rhuddlan Castle A540 M56 Plas Conwy Castle Flint 9 A55 Bryn Celli Ddu and Twthill Ty Newyddˆ Burial Chamber A545 Mawr and Town Walls Castle 14 A56 Burial Chamber Bangor St Winifred’s Chapel Llanfairfechan St Asaph A55 and Holy Well 11 Barclodiad y Gawres 7 A541 A550 Burial Chamber 10 Denbigh Friary, A55 A54 Lord Leicester’s Church Clwyd 7 Din Dryfol A4080 8 A470 and St Hilary’s Chapel Ewloe Castle 12 Burial Chamber Bethesda B5106 A544 A525 A51 9 Segontium Chester A49 8 Bodowyr A548 A549 Chester Burial Chamber Roman Fort Denbigh Castle Mold Roman Amphitheatre A5118 Chester Gwydir Uchaf and Town Walls A55 9 Castell Bryn Gwyn Llanrwst Castle Llanberis A5 Chapel A51 Caernarfon Castle A494 10 Caer Lêb Dolbadarn Capel Curig A543 A541 A41 and Town Walls Alyn A4086Castle Ruthin Dee Beeston Betws-y-Coed Castle C a e r n a r f o n Capel Garmon A534 A4085 Derwen Burial Chamber Conwy Churchyard Cross Dolwyddelan A525 B a y Wrexham A498 Castle A49 A499 A5014 A483 Beddgelert Blaenau Alwen Rug Ffestiniog Chapel Valle Crucis St Cybi’s Eliseg’s Corwen Pillar Abbey Well A525 A5 Nefyn A4212 A525 Dee Whitchurch Llangar Llangollen Penarth Fawr A497 Old Parish Church Chirk Dee B4417Medieval House Porthmadog A41 Criccieth Llyn Bala Castle Trawsfynydd A495 SouthPwllheli east Wales itinerary: A494 A528 Harlech Bala Lake Old Oswestry A470 Castle Hill Fort A499 follow the story of the Lords of the Southern March Oswestry Abersoch Dyffryn Ardudwy Burial Chamber Moreton Corbet Aberdaron A5 Castle Tanat A496 Lake Vyrnwy Bardsey Cymer Abbey A49 A53 Island Haughmond Abbey Dolgellau A470 Severn Barmouth Pont A495 Minllyn Vyrnwy A458 Shrewsbury Castell y Bere A458 A5 Banwy A483 Welshpool Wroxeter Cantlop Roman City A493 Llanfair Caereinion Bridge B4405 Dyfi A458 A488 Acton Burnell A490 Castle Tywyn A489 A470 Machynlleth Montgomery Castle Mitchell’s Fold Langley Motorway M4 Prehistoric Site Stone Circle Chapel Dolforwyn Castle A49 Aberdyfi Dyfi Furnace While you are inB4386 the Monmouthshire area, veering away from the A470 A489 Primary Route Roman Site B4518 Church Newtown Stretton Bryntail lords of the southern MarchB4385 make sure you also check out Raglan A488 A487 Main Road Castle, Historic House, Palace Lead Mine Borth Castle, built for show rather than with battle in mind, it still held off C a r d i g a n Bishop’s Secondary Road B4518 Religious Site Castle Severn Oliver Cromwell’s forces for 13 weeks during the Civil War. From Clun Llanidloes A488 Other Road Historic Industrial Site B a y the great tower to the greatCastle gatehouse, everything is impressive Aberystwyth A44 A483 Craven Arms Ponterwyd Wye Passenger Railway Other Historic Site Rheidol about Raglan Castle. Llangurig Stokesay B4340 Castle National Cycle Network Route English Heritage Site A4120 A4117 Ithon Tourist Information Centre Cadw sites charging for admission are Teme Ludlow Ystwyth (open all year) shown in green; all other sites are free Knighton A4113 B4343 A485 Wigmore 0 5 10 Kilometres Rhayader A488 A456 Tourist Infomation Centre B4356 Castle Pontrhydfendigaid Visit cadw.wales.gov.uk to discover the stories and people behind (seasonal opening) 0 3 6 Miles A44 A487 A470 our 128 historic sites. Presteigne A49 Aberaeron Mortimer’s CrossA4112 Strata Florida B4362 Water Mill New Quay Abbey ‘Like’ Cadw on Facebook and follow @Cadwwales on Twitter or Tregaron downloadLlandrindod our Wells smartphone app to stay up to date. Leominster A44 Aeron A44 A4110 Wye A482 A481 A485 B4343 A4111 A4112 A417 Aberporth Raglan Castle B4337 B4567 Teifi Builth A480 A487 A486 B4459 Wells B4546 A438 Cardigan B4570 Lampeter Irfon St Dogmaels A465 A483 Llanwrtyd Wells Abbey A484 A475 A49 Carreg Coetan Arthur B4350 Arthur’s A4103 Burial Chamber Stone Hay-on-Wye Wye Strumble Cilgerran Hereford A438 Tywi Rotherwas Head Castle Newcastle A482 Fishguard Chapel Newport Emlyn A485 Llandovery Pentre Ifan Brecon Gaer Burial Chamber Bronllys A484 Roman Fort Longtown Cothi A40 A470 Castle A487 Llynfi B4313 Llanwrda Honddu Castle Wye W A479 St Davids A478 Talley Sennybridge Usk e s t u A465 e a Abbey A49 Bishop’s Palace r dd n le Llangadog Llanthony Grosmont C C l n ed r A40 Brecon Priory Castle d te Dinefwr A4069 au B4329 s a A4215 A40 Skenfrith A487 E Dryslwyn Castle Monnow Tretower Court Castle Castle Llandeilo B4347 and Castle A40 Ramsey St Non’s Llawhaden Tywi Island Chapel Castle Carmarthen White Goodrich A466 Castle Wiston Castle A4067 B4521 Crickhowell Castle 4 Hen Gwrt A48 Carreg Cennen S t B r i d e s St Clears A40 A40 Moated Site Haverfordwest Castle B4233 Broad A40 Llansteffan B4312 B a y Narberth Brynamman TrothyMonmouth Haven Haverfordwest Castle A4068 Brynmawr Castle B4341 A470 Abergavenny 3 A4115 Blaenavon Skomer Priory A4221 A4059 A465 A4136 Laugharne A483 Ammanford Ironworks Island A4076 A478 B4248 Raglan Wye A477 Castle Ystalyfera Ebbw A476 Castle A40 A4075 A4066 Vale Milford A477 Carew Rhymney A474 5 St Briavel’s 49 Glyn-neath A467 Haven Loughor Cross Pendine A4048 Castle Merthyr Usk A4046 Raglan A484 Tawe Kidwelly A466 Saundersfoot Cynon Tydfil A469 Castle Burry Pontardawe A4109 A465 Tintern Skokholm A4043 48 Neath Aberdare Port A4061 A472 Abbey Island M4 A4059 Usk Offa’s A4042 2 Pembroke Tenby C a r m a r t h e n A4054 A449 Dyke Carswell 47 45 Pontypool Lamphey Llanelli 46 Medieval House Chepstow Bishop’s Palace B a y Loughor 44 Neath Abbey A4233 Castle Castle 43 Afan Treorchy A472 Chepstow Caldey Island Neath Ebbw Cwmbran Runston 1 B4295 42 Llanmelin Wood Bulwarks A4107 Blaengarw Rhymney Caerleon Chapel Weobley A483 A469 Hillfort Camp B4271 Roman Fortress Castle A4064 A4058 A48 SWANSEA Maesteg Taff 2 Swansea Port 41 M48 Parc le Breos Burial Chamber 26 Castle Talbot 40 A4061 A470 24 A4118 Margam Stones Pontypridd A468 A467 Caerwent 1 Worms Head Museum A4093 23 Roman Town A4063 Caerphilly The Mumbles 28 NEWPORT M4 21 Oxwich 38 Castle Newport 22 Port-Eynon Castle Coity 29 M4 Newcastle Castell Coch M4 30 S w a n s e a 36 Castle A48 Castle (Bridgend) Llantrisant 29a M49 32 17 B a y 37 35 Avonmouth 34 33 18a A4106 A48 St Quentin’s Castle y Portishead r (Llanblethian) a Porthcawl CARDIFF u 19 Ogmore Ewenny Tinkinswood t s Burial Chamber Castle Priory E Cowbridge M5 Penarth n Clevedon BRISTOL 20 A4055 r Old Beaupre Castle e v St Lythans Burial Chamber e A370 S B4265 Barry Stanton Drew Yatton A38 Circles & Cove 21 Weston-super-Mare The journey time from Chepstow – Tintern Abbey is approx.