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At the end of the drive, turn right, walk to the corner past the telephone kiosk. Follow the road past Hindwell Farm (the farm with the lovely pool) on your right. Carry along the road until you see a left turning, follow that lane along it’s all on the flat the hill in front of you is called Whimble. This is a very good guide to us as to how the weather is going to be for the day. You will then approach a fork in the road, with a couple of cottages on the left, and in front of you, you will see the ‘Four stones’. If you follow on along that road you will meet the A44, however this road is extremely busy and fast, it is best to re-track back along the lane. | |||
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The tallest stone at the North-west may have served to
indicate the sun as it set behind the dome-shaped Whimble hill
(visible in the distance, at centre-right of picture) on the Celtic
festival days of Beltane and Lughnasa (present day May
Day and Lammas). Like other standing stones in the region, the
shapes of these stones appear to mimic the shapes of nearby hills. The stone at the South-west (left of picture) has three cupmarks on its upper surface, and it may have served to indicate the midwinter setting sun. A local legend tells of the stones going to the nearby Hindwell Pool for a drink whenever they hear the bells of Old Radnor Church ringing! |
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At the end of the drive turn left follow the main road up to the top of the bank there is a grass verge so it is safer for walking. Follow the road until you are at the quarry entrance cross the main road and climb the gate follow the track along until you come to a fork in the track there is a gate and a stile this is the entrance to the Navages. |
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You
can follow the track, bearing right you will come to a fenced area
with gates if you go through the gates you can walk until you look
out over the top of Stanner Rocks if you have come to the area using
the A44 from Kington will have seen these beautiful rocks as you
came over the welsh border. From this point you can, on a clear
day, see Shropshire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire and the Black
mountains.
The area below Stanner Rocks has been designated a site of “Special Scientific Interest” and is selectively grazed by sheep, goats and sometimes horses to help to return the area to grassland because there is a very rare plant, the “Radnor Lily”, which blooms in the depths of winter. It was Ray Woods (botanist), in 1975 who identified the plant as one of the rarest in Britain. Some years ago worried conservationists decided that the felling of 1,500 trees in a forest would save one of the rarest flowers in Britain.
The little yellow flower, closely resembling the Celandine, is only
3” high and grows on just one secluded hillside in Wales and was
threatened by overhanging trees. It has been thriving there for
12,00 years since the last ice age but the neighbouring forest
inched closer and encroached on it’s habitat. Fallen leaves and
pine needles from Scots Pine and Beech trees were smothering their
existence. |
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Water-break its neck has many walks and there is also a nature trail for the children. The waterfall is not always at full capacity but it is still a nice walk through the Radnor Forest. At
the end of the drive turn right heading for New Radnor on the A44.
You will pass New Radnor on the right, keep going approximately half
a mile just as you begin to climb, Water-break-its-neck is
sign-posted on the right. You can park the car at the visitor
information park for your walk. |
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Left at the
end of the drive, past the quarry turn at the bottom of the hill
take a right turn for Gladestry. There is an old, disused,
station house on the right and a gateway opposite where you can park
the car but please don’t block the gateway. Through the gate and
across the field there may be cows in the field so beware. You will
cross a stream. Through the gate, left or right it is up to you.
This is a steep walk, not for the faint hearted, but really lovely,
especially at bluebell time or in the autumn when the leaves are
changing colour. |
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 St Stephen's Church |
Visit St Stephen's Church in Old Radnor See the enormous, pre-Norman font standing on its four flat feet. The beautiful and best in Europe, Rood Screen. Within walking distance of the caravan site but steep incline. Magnificent views of the valley from the church grounds. See the Standing Stone in the grave yard. Country Inn, 'The Harp' next to it |
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