Radnorshire
Abbeycwmhir
The ruins of an abbey whose nave would have been the longest in Wales, in a hidden valley, with Llywelyn the Last buried under a slab of slate.
- Distance
- 3.7 mi / 6 km
- Time
- 2 hr 10
- Ascent
- 230 m
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Shape
- Circular
Where it is
The circle shows the general area, not the exact start. Use the directions link below to get to the car park itself. Contours and paths shown are OpenTopoMap, drawn from OpenStreetMap data.
The route
The way up from the abbey into the woods and onto the hillside, returning by lanes. Steady climbing.
Worth knowing
- The nave was planned at 242 feet, longer than any other Welsh church, and was never finished.
- Llywelyn’s headless body was brought here after Cilmeri in 1282 and a modern slab marks the grave.
- Glyndŵr’s Way passes through the village.
What you’ll see
The abbey ruins and Llywelyn’s memorial, the hidden valley, and the hills above.
Background
Cwmhir was sacked by Glyndŵr’s opponents and never recovered, and its arcades were taken to Llanidloes church.