SEVEN walkers joined Geraint and his sheepdog Patch for the journey to Machen where they were greeted by light rain and had to don coats but almost as soon as they set off the rain cleared and the sunshine returned. They joined the Rhymney River Circular Walk which is denoted by waymarkers containing a pretty dragonfly and walked downstream passing through a field of mixed livestock with ponies, calves and donkeys, deviating at one point where the path was overgrown on their journey to the pretty village of Draethen.

From the Hollybush Inn they continued uphill through a field into Coed Craig Ruperra nature reserve which is open all year round and this ancient woodland is owned and cared for by Ruperra Conservation Trust. Unfortunately, some tree felling had been taking place and the heavy machinery had turned parts of the track into a bog where several of the group landed in thick deep mud which went over the top of their boots.

Exiting from the woodland they reached the crumbling remains of Ruperra Castle, which was built in 1626 by Sir Thomas Morgan as a Jacobean courtier’s house and in 1645, King Charles I stayed there whilst he attempted to raise support following the Battle of Naseby and later in 1684, the Duke of Beaufort visited the substantial deer park on the estate. The house was destroyed by fire on several occasions the last being during the Second World War when British troops were stationed there and post war when the estate was sold as a farm, the romantic and overgrown ruin of Ruperra Castle was left to slowly decay.

Nearby, the roots of an ancient oak tree provided seating for their coffee break and before they continued it took the outstretched arms of six ramblers to hug the tree all the way around. Doing a quick calculation the leader declared the tree girth was in the region of thirty feet which would mean the tree was about 810 years old, making it a sapling when King Richard III was on the throne.

They continued their journey through Coed Wern-ddu woods, then fields to Cefn-llwyd Bridge and along the road to reach the small village of Michaelston y Fedw, where situated near the Cefn Mably Arms is the village church and having located a shady spot they enjoyed lunch overlooking the valley below. Dedicated to St Michael the church has stood in one form or another since Roman times within half a mile of the old Roman road from Caerleon to Pembroke. In the Tynte Chapel, built by the Kemys family in the 14th century is the tomb of Sir Nicholas Kemys who defended Chepstow Castle for the King against the Roundheads and was killed after the castle fell to the Parliamentarians in 1648.

Heading downhill through the hamlet of Michaelston Bridge, they joined the opposite banks of the River Rhymney and passed through the lower part of Park Wood, tramping upstream beside tall pink flowered balsam, the seed pods exploding as the walkers touched them.

Soon the tall chimneys of Plas Machen, originally built by the wealthy Morgan family as a mansion house where they resided until they moved to Tredegar House in the 1660’s, came into view and substantially altered over the years the farmhouse as it is today is only about a third of its original size. They continued along the river below Lower Machen then past Machen Mill for the short journey back to their start point at the end of a lovely nine mile walk.

On September 20, meet 9am at Cogan Leisure Centre for a seven-mile moderate walk at Aberdare Country Park; contact Clive on 029 2065 4156.

Wear suitable clothing, preferably boots and carry waterproofs, food and drinks. Some degree of fitness is required and if you are in any doubt, then please contact the walk leader for advice. To follow the group please log onto www.penarthramblers.wordpress.com Programmes and membership advice can be obtained from Pam on 029 2025 5102.