St Andrews Major, St Andrews Church and Garn Hill
A walk to St. Andrews Major across the Golf Course and onwards via the One O’Clock Gate to St. Andrew’s House the Mews and St. Andrew’s Church. Then back to Dinas Powys across the fields and woodland at Garn Hill to Beauville Lane and the Twyncyn.
Leave the village centre via Highwalls Road and join Footpath No.3, walking round the Golf Club House and retracing the return part of the route of Walk No.2. Cross the golf course up to the One O’Clock Gate on Beauville Lane and turn to the right. Walk down the lane until you come to a stile in the hedgerow, on the left, just beyond the point where a gateway, on the right, goes into Hales Wood. Climb this stile on the left and rejoin the route of Footpath No.3, following along with the hedgerow and the Golf Course on your left. This path will, on a good day, provide fine views across the Bristol Channel to the south and over to the Welsh hills in the north.
Continue walking, in a straight line, between stiles. You will see the buildings of Beauville Farm below and over to the right; with Ysguborgoch Farm further ahead, also on the right of the footpath. Straight ahead now you will see St. Andrew’s House, at Garn Hill. Before reaching the House, you will arrive at St. Andrew’s Mews; follow the stiles around the right hand side of the stables to join the track that runs down to the public road below St. Andrew’s House. Turn left at this road and follow it down to where it comes out onto St. Andrew’s Road, opposite St. Andrew’s Church.
Although some distance from Dinas Powys, St. Andrew’s served the community that grew up around the Twyn until St. Peter’s Church was constructed in the village centre. A visit to both St. Andrew’s Church and the churchyard will be well worth the time spent.
When you arrive at the churchyard, you will notice the imposing monument raised to the local Bard, Dewi Wyn O’Essyllt, 1820-1891 (Thomas Lesley David). This is one of the few monuments to be found here with inscriptions in the Welsh language. Look around you with interest especially on the south side of the church, where the remains of the old preaching cross and an ancient yew tree still stand. (For further details please use reference given below).
Over the wall, behind the church, you can see what is probably the oldest house still standing in the Parish, this is the old rectory. Once thatched, the building has now been re-roofed and is used for stabling and as a barn. This building has been dated to circa 1500. Standing next to it is the newer rectory building, dating back to Georgian times, which is now a private dwelling. The records indicate the presence of a place of worship here, around 1200 AD, which consisted of a nave and chancel. The present building still confirms this description, although the internal structure has been much Victorianised.
The existence of a strong defensive ‘Batter’ in the construction of the base of the tower may indicate that the tower was originally designed for purposes other than worship.
Further details about the church and churchyard relics can be found in the booklets “St. Andrew’s – in the Vale” etc. by Chrystal Tilney.
Leaving the churchyard, turn right on St. Andrew’s Road and head back towards Dinas Powys.
DO, PLEASE, BE CAREFUL OF THE TRAFFIC ON THIS BUSY CORNER.
At the corner, cross over the road and enter the side-turning which goes back towards Garn Hill. On the right, inside the entrance, you will see a stile leading to a narrow pathway between hedgerows, this is Footpath No.4. Follow the footpath to the next stile, climb it and turn right to the top of the field, then turn left. Keep to the edge of the field, alongside the wood on your right.
When you reach the corner of the wood, cross directly over the field ahead, towards the corner of the opposite wooded area. Please keep to the footpath.
Walk up the hill, with the woodland on your left, until you come to a stile. Climb the stile and follow the pathway up through the wood until you come, once more, to Beauville Lane, the old Parish roadway. Turn right and walk down the hill.
You are now on the top of the Twyncyn, the highest point in Dinas Powys. There are good views to be had from the Twyncyn out towards the islands of Flat Holm and Steep Holm and on towards Weston-Super-Mare and the Quantock and Brendon Hills in Somerset.
Follow the road round and down towards the Common and thence back to the centre of the village.
This is the end of Walk No.3
