The Dovecot Walk Nos. 26, 26a & 27, Llantwit Major Church, College & Lighthouse This walk is really three walks in one.There is the complete walk named above of 9 miles but also two shorter walks within it; a western elliptical Llantwit Major walk of 31/2 miles; a Marcross/St Donats Circular of 5 miles. Whichever walk you do, you will be captivated by the magnificent Glamorgan Heritage coast with its cliffs and foreshore, and by the walks' nature reserves and ancient churches. On two of the walks St Donats Castle will engage your interest. Distance: 9 or 31/2 or 5 miles. Map: OS Explorer 151 Parking: To wn Hall car park Llantwit Major, GR 967687; Llantwit Beach GR 957675; Nash Point GR 916684; Lay by just east of St Donats GR 940682 (limited). Public Transport: trains and buses to Llantwit Major and buses only to the Lighthouse Inn at Marcross. Refreshments: various at Llantwit Major, the Lighthouse Inn at Marcross, kiosk (March - Nov inc) at Nash Point, Photograph © Vale of Glamorgan Council cafe at Llantwit Major beach Conveniences: at Town Hall car park. The start of the Route described below is The Town Hall car park Llantwit Major. However, you will be able to pick up the description at whatever point suits you. SCALE (APPROX): 1 Kilometre 1 Mile THE ROUTE S At the exit of the Town Hall car park turn sharp left, to the left of the steps into the woods, the path gradually Tudor Tavern, down Burial Lane.You swinging to the left. As you emerge opposite to enter will pass St Illtud’s Church on the The path then swings right, from the wood Nash Point lighthouse a large field. Head diagonally right to a right and then reach a flight of steps westwards, on a course roughly becomes clearly visible. Continue stile in a gap in the wall.Turn left, leading up to Hill Head.At the top of parallel with the cliff edge. Ahead you westward along the cliff top into the hugging the wall and proceed to the the steps turn left into Hill Head (the will see St Donat’s Castle; seaward on grounds of the Nash Point lighthouse wall stile at the bottom of the field. Gatehouse is over to your right a decent day you have good views of complex .Join the metalled track Cross this stone stile and follow the and in the field behind is a Dovecote). Exmoor. As you proceed along this and follow it via a small metal gate to path left around the building (Tyˆ path, ignore any paths leading off to the Walk past the Hill Head cottages Nash Point car park. S 2 Broc) to a second stile that gives right (unless told otherwise in the and continue downhill along a track onto a lane.Turn right.Now head text below), but heed all warning Leaving the car park you have a to reach a stone stile on the right. through a gap between a garage and notices, for this coastline is prone to choice: either take the road inland '& Once over this, bear left along the towards Marcross and its Church ; Park farmhouse on its left. Continue cliff falls. After about 1/2 mile you will field edge to a corner stile. Continue to a new gate that takes you into pass a WW2 pillbox on your left and or continue along the coastal path into downhill, down a flight of steps with woodland, along a rough, downhill steps to just beyond Tresilian Bay.Turn then a stone stile on your right. Here the valley. Once on the valley floor turn Flanders Farm to your right.You will track into the grounds of Atlantic left at the metal/stone stile *1.Walk walkers doing the Llantwit elliptical right, crossing the stream twice via emerge onto Flanders Road.Turn College. (Ignore paths off to the inland for 1/4 mile to reach an 8 step should turn off right and follow the text stepping stones, to enter the wooded right and follow this road past the right).You emerge onto a road with high stile on the right. Climb it and from *1 below. nature reserve.Take either the left or right junction with Colhugh Park to reach a hand path. Each leads you to the St Donat’s Church on your right. head for the ruins (Sheeplays). Go 1 round this via a stile and, obeying the gateway. Here the road becomes a On the main walk continue ahead Marross road. Here turn left for /4 mile Turn left and walk uphill with the track. to descend into Tresillian Bay . to reach the church. Castle on the right. Follow the road one waymark in this area, through a Cross its pebbled storm beach, with (West Drive) as it bears left, taking tied gate (this does not correspond In essence, all you do now is follow Continue along the road past the its often unsightly jetsam, to return via directions from the Millennium Trail with definitive footpath map). this track for about one mile to reach church to turn right along a track steps on its far side to the cliff top. discs. On exiting the College grounds Maintain direction, making for the left the coast proper. Along the way you next to the bungalow Swn-y-Môr. Keep on the well marked cliff top path turn right along the road, past the of a large clump of trees. Once past will pass Bramble Cottage on the left Follow this track which turns left and to reach after approximately another main College entrance, until you these, change direction very slightly and then, walking gently uphill, go then right to a stile. Over the stile 1/2 mile a junction with a path coming reach a kissing gate on the right, near to the left to walk through a large through a gate and past some barns on stick to the hedge to your left.The in from the right. Here walkers doing a layby S 3 . Go through this to enter prairie-like field to reach a stone stile the left. As the path follows the top hedge turns sharply left on two the Marcross circular will join the George V playing field.Walk south (note castellated Dimlands Lodge to of the steep western side of the occasions. Ignore the footpath leading path.*2 with the wall and woods to your the left).You now cross four fields via Colhugh valley you cross two more off to the left at the second of these, right. Go through a wooden gate to stone stiles almost in a line. On the stiles and eventually reach the remains You now cross a stone stile into a you continue ahead to reach a stone reach the coastal path. Those on the far side of the fourth field cross the of a bench on the right. Immediately wooded area. Keep to the right hand stile. From the stone stile head Marcross circular turn right here and wooden stile and, bearing slightly beyond the bench, cross another stile path, which stays on top of the slope. diagonally left to a gate that takes you follow the relevant section of the guide right, cross two more stiles and fields and continue along the well worn The path then gradually descends and onto a road.Turn right. After passing to reach a broad track (Church i.e. onwards from *2. stiled path to the coastal cliff. Here passes in front of Atlantic College The Elms go straight on through a Lane). Bear left to reach Hill Head there is a dedicated metal bench. (there is no public access from here). gateway for about 100 yards to a stile Those doing the full walk turn left and Llantwit Major. Nearby is the beach car park S 4 . Cross the sea wall and then climb the on your left. Cross it and the stile and for about 1/2 mile retrace your PLACES OF INTEREST church was for the use of the Limestone and Shales. At Tresilian Hearst. The United World College Holy Trinity Church Marcross monks of the monastic grange, the erosion of the shales lower down has of the Atlantic has occupied the site Originally 12th century with a Norman St Illtud’s Church, Llantwit western part by the townsfolk. led to the creation of a number of since 1962. font, south doorway and chancel arch. Major. caves, the largest being Reynard’s Cave. There is also a ‘leper window’ on the Gatehouse and Dovecote Nash Point light A grade 1 listed building, it contains south side of the chancel.There is a These are the main physical remains St Donat’s Castle and Built in 1832 as a response to the medieval wall paintings, Celtic stones fine information board in the porch. above ground of the monastic grange Atlantic College wreck of the ‘Frolic’ with the loss dating back to the 8th century and a that was established in Llantwit Major. The original castle was built early in of 40 lives.The western light is now St Donat’s Church medieval carved stone reredos.The the 14th century. It was held by the decommissioned but the eastern This also has a Norman font but most roof in the west end is thought to Coastal Geology Stradling family for 23 generations one is still working, albeit unmanned. of the building is 14th century. In date back to the 15th century. The cliffs along the entire coast show eventually passing through a number the churchyard is a 15th century Originally the eastern end of the very well defined strata of Lias of owners including William Randolph Calvary cross.