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Ewenny (5.6km, 3.5 Miles)
This is a delightful walk through countryside characterised by woodlands, fields and hilltop views around the pretty rural settlement of Ewenny.
(If you are travelling by car, leave it in the car park by the Priory and make your first stop the priory church)
At times, going may be wet in places. Suitable clothes and good shoes recommended.
Ewenny Priory and Church
This magnificent Norman church was built in the 12th century by one of the Norman Knights of Glamorgan, William de Londres. His son Maurice founded the adjacent priory in 1141 and is widely regarded as one of the finest fortified religious buildings in Britain.
Follow the road away from the church, keeping the priory on your left. Bear left at the junction along Tingle Lane and when you reach the main road, turn left again. Pause at the signposted public footpath.
You have a choice at this point.
For the short walk, follow the well-surfaced path on the left down to the river, turn left and return to the car park.
For the longer option, cross the main road and follow the path up the hill.
When you reach the road at the top of the hill, take a breather and admire the marvellous panoramic view behind you. Immediately below is the historic town of Bridgend with the mountains and valleys of the Heritage Hills in the background.
Turn left along the road
You have another choice at this point.
Either walk to St Brides Major (2kms, 1 ½ miles) along the next footpath on the right.
Or, continue the circular walk by carrying along the road and take the signposted public footpath on the left at Tair Croes. Follow the track around the edge of the fields with the hedge on your right.
There may be stock or crops on these fields, so if you are taking a dog, please keep it on a leash and under control. You can help prevent loss of stock and damage to crops by closing gates after you, and keeping to the paths at the edges of the fields. Please report any loose dogs or other problems to the farmer.
After passing outbuildings associated with Corntown Farm, the path joins a road via a stile. Turn left and follow the road down into Corntown.
Baptismal Pool.
It's thought that the last baptism here was performed at the turn of the century - more recently it has been used for watering cattle. The pool is fed by ground water and overflows into the 'Nant' which crosses the road via an underground culvert and flows through the Priory grounds into the river Ewenny.
Cross the road and follow the pavement to the public footpath on the right. Follow this well-surfaced path down to a bridge over the river.
The River Ewenny is clean and well stocked with fish. If you visit regularly, you can help monitor its condition. Please report any pollution, poaching, flooding or damage to the National Rivers Authority, by telephoning 0800 807060
Now cross the bridge and follow the footpath across the fields to complete the circular walk back to the car park.
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