Cambria Sports Culture CIC Cymraeg

All walksSevern Valley and Newtown

Severn Valley and Newtown

Carno and the Battle Site

Hill paths above a village where three battles were fought in the Welsh medieval wars, with wind turbines on the tops and long views west.

Distance
4.3 mi / 7 km
Time
2 hr 35
Ascent
300 m
Difficulty
Demanding
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 route climbs from the houses up onto the hills and return by lanes. Steady climbing with open ground above.

Worth knowing

  • Three battles are recorded at Carno between the ninth and twelfth centuries.
  • The Laura Ashley factory here employed much of the village until it closed; she is buried in the churchyard.
  • Wind farms on the ridges divide local opinion and are unavoidable in the view.

What you’ll see

Open hill country, the Severn valley below, and the church and battle site.

Background

Carno saw battles in 950, 1075 and 1081, all fought over control of Powys and the routes through mid Wales.