Penarth and District Ramblers enjoy Shortish Strides walk

Crossing the playing fields and Port Road via the traffic lights, top coats were soon discarded as they followed Highlight Lane past the delightful Highlight Farm and made their way downhill on an uneven woodland track adjacent to the Brynhill Golf Club. A deviation off the track brought them to the remains of Highlight Church which was built in the late 12th century and was surrounded by a medieval village that was deserted by the 16th century and is classed as a Scheduled Monument.

A series of stiles and bridges over the streams led them through farming land where they met the farmer and his sheepdog that were en route to fetch the sheep in, and after a discussion over the proposals for new solar farms in the area with him, the group moved on through the farmyard at Old Wallace.

Crossing a stone stile and a footbridge they passed one of the fishing lakes at Dyffryn Springs before entering a meadow full of sheep and two Alpaca’s at Dyffryn Mill. The feistier of the alpaca’s took a great interest in the group jumping up to greet them as they passed through and great care had to be taken when passing through a kissing gate as the sheep were intent of escaping.

Circumnavigating the mill they exited onto the road leading through Dyffryn Village and about half a mile further on re-entered fields to arrive at the St Lythans Burial Chamber which dates to 4000BC. This Neolithic tomb was originally covered in earth and after leaving bodies exposed so they would decompose, the bones were placed within the burial chamber and would be brought out on special occasions when people met to socialise, hold ceremonies and often buy livestock. The three mud stones are topped by a capstone and legend has it the capstone spins around three times on Midsummer Eve, whilst on the same night the stones go bathing in the river.

Making their way to a circle of trees in the same field, the surrounding bank made for suitable seating for their refreshment break in lovely warm sunshine. Refreshed they moved on, making their way beside cropped fields on the western end of Goldsland Wood and reaching some tall maize grown on the edge of a field as cover for pheasants, they disturbed almost a dozen male pheasants that rapidly scurried away to find fresh cover.

Entering the Goldsland Valley they descended to cross the Goldsland Brook for the short climb passing three gentle horses in the adjacent field to reach New Wallace and passing through the farmyard, the quiet lane led them on to their next stile. Re-entering fields they passed into the Brynhill valley, where the bridge over the Nant Brynhill has been removed, but there are no warning signs from the local authority that this has been done or that the route is temporarily closed, until you actually reach the footbridge! Clambering over a fence and crossing the rather depleted brook, a climb through a field led them to Port Road.

Then descending via Merthyr Dyfan Road and joining Cemetery Road, they deviated past the pretty Church of St Dyffryn and St Teilo at Merthyr Dyfan. This medieval village was originally part of the manor of Cadoxton and once contained a barn, bakehouse, forge and corn drying kilns. 13/14th century pottery was found, but during this era famine and war in Wales meant most of the population died and even in the late 19th century Barry was still only accessible by foot, carriage, cart or horse along the Port Road turnpike and modern developments in the area mean most of its past history is lost forever. Some pavement pounding at White Farm led them back to their start after what had been an enjoyable journey.

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