Abermule, New Wells and Dolforwyn Castle

In times not long ago, the area was a busy transport corridor. The Cambrian Railway came in 1862 and a year later, the branch line was opened from Abermule to Kerry. On 26th January 1921 fifteen people were killed at Abermule in a train crash. The branch line was closed in 1955 but trains still pass along the main line between Shrewsbury and Newtown. These days, Abermule is a peaceful place. The main road bypasses the village, the railway halt is long gone and there is little river or canal traffic.

There was once a number of corn and flannel mills in the area. Just north of Abermule is the ruin of a sawmill that was in use until the early years of the 20th century. Not far from it, at Brynderwen is the site of a Norman motte and bailey castle.

You crossed the River Severn over the second iron bridge to be erected in Montgomeryshire, built in 1852. Dolforwyn to the north means 'Maids Meadow' and was the setting for an ancient drama that gave the Severn its Welsh name, Afon Hafren. Hafren was a maid who was drowned in the river.

The story goes that Lochrine, the son of Brutus, had a daughter by his mistress, Estrildis. When his giant slaying father-in-law, Corineus died, Lochrine set aside his wife, Gwendolen, and made Estrildis his queen. Understandably furious. Gwendolen raised an army. She killed Lochrine in battle, took over the kingdom, and had Estrildis and her daughter, Habren, drowned here. In Milton's Comus, Hebren becomes the river goddess and is to be found:

Under the glassy, translucent wave,
In twisted braids of lilies knitting,
The loose train of thy amber drooping hair.

The more mundane canal was dug as part of the link between the Severn and the Mersey. Opened in 1821, the Shropshire Union Canal is now a haven for wildlife. There are kingfishers here, while in summer pink valerian on the banks attracts peacock and red admiral butterflies.

Towards the end of the walk is Dolforwyn Castle. This is the site where Prince Llewellyn once tried to establish a market town just below the castle. It was the last castle to be built by a native Welsh prince. It fell to English artillery in 1277 and by 1398 it was a ruin, guarded only by squirrels and buzzards.