14. Dingestow

Parking

Park in the village or telephone Val Rowlands ( 01600 740331), chairman of the village hall for permission to park there.

Directions

1. From the centre of the village pass Bridge Farm and Salter’s Cottage and turn right along the lane past the parish church (St Dingnat’s).
2. Just past the castle tump (on the left), take the footpath on the right into fields to the west of the Trothy. Head north for 1km over five fields. the river is never far away on the right (but halfway through the 3rd field bear a little left away from the river to find the stile.
3. At the top of the 5th field cross the Trothy on a footbridge beneath a large oak. Continue directly over field and go through gate.
4. Follow bridleway / Tred and Trot signs across a further five fields to reach a minor road. (Good views to the Skirrid, Sugar Loaf, the Graig and Black Mountains while crossing these fields)
5. Turn right along road. Pass the Cider Mill, ignore Offa’s Dyke on the left, Lower Hendre, Floodbrook House and the Oaks.
6. Take the stony bridleway on right after the Oaks, pass Pear Tree Cottage with millstone and gypsy caravan, then Gorse Cottage, and carry on to approach the rear of Treowen House.
7. Pass the main house and just beyond the last buildings, turn right off the driveway to the house,through a gate and cross two fields to descend to Mill Wood.
8. Head down on a clear path through the wood. (Just above the road, on the right is a mound, the remains of a motte and bailey castle)
9. At the road, turn right over a bridge across the Trothy to return to Dingestow.

Points of Interest

The village was once the site of a Norman motte and bailey sited to control this part of the Welsh Marches by the incomingMarcher Lords.It was later replaced by a larger, stone-built one, the site of which is the large rectangular mound to the west of the church. This was under construction in 1182 by Ranulf Poer, Sheriff of Herefordshire, when it was attacked by Hywel ap Iorwerth, the Welsh lord of Caerleon, as part of his retaliation for the murder of Seisyll ap Dyfnwal at Abergavenny Castleon Christmas Day in 1175 by William de Braose. The sheriff himself was killed in the action.

Trowen House - once the tallest in Monmouthshire.

Map