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Cardiff and the ValeSt Illtyd’s Walk from Margam
A stage of the long-distance route linking sites associated with the sixth-century saint, over the hills behind Margam.
- Distance
- 5.6 mi / 9 km
- Time
- 3 hr 10
- Ascent
- 330 m
- Difficulty
- Demanding
- Shape
- There and back
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 waymarked route climbs from Margam over the hills eastward. Follow it and turn round when you have had enough and return.
Worth knowing
- St Illtyd’s Walk runs sixty miles from Pembrey to Margam, linking places connected with the saint.
- Illtud founded the monastic school at Llantwit Major that taught much of the early Welsh church.
- Field paths and open hill; boots and a map.
What you’ll see
Margam’s abbey and park, hill ground behind, and the coast and Swansea Bay.
Background
Illtud founded his school at Llanilltud Fawr around 500 AD, and it became one of the great centres of learning in the early British church.