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Hay & the Black MountainsTretower and Cwmdu
A gentle farmland circuit from a medieval court and castle, through the Rhiangoll valley with Mynydd Troed above.
- Distance
- 3.1 mi / 5 km
- Time
- 1 hr 45
- Ascent
- 140 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
From the court, take field paths up the valley towards Cwmdu, then return by lanes and paths on the other side. Easy going with plenty of gates.
Worth knowing
- Tretower Court is one of the best-preserved medieval houses in Wales and worth the entry fee.
- The round keep next to it is earlier and free to look at from outside.
- Henry Vaughan, the metaphysical poet, is buried at Llansantffraed nearby.
What you’ll see
The court and castle, hedged pasture, and Mynydd Troed filling the skyline.
Background
Tretower was held by the Vaughan family through the fifteenth century, and the court is a rare survival of a domestic building from that period rather than a fortress.