Merthyr Mawr, Tythegston and Candleston Castle

The route leads through the village of Merthyr Mawr, a scattering of houses spread out along the road, many untouched, some with wonderfully irregular roof lines and eyebrows of thatch above their upper windows. The old post office has a particularly interesting chimney, which appears halfway up the gable wall. It is worth exploring the village to admire its attractive houses. But the main walk turns off past the post office to follow the high walls surrounding the parkland of Merthyr Mawr House.

Along the way, the iron gateway to Home Farm looks exactly like those once used as toll gates on Welsh roads. Ornamental trees lean out over the park wall. From the rookeries here the air is filled with raucous cries, while pheasants inhabit the fields beside the road.

Having left Merthyr Mawr, you join the broad rough track and there are views of the low hills to the north. Passing the whitewashed slate roofed Whitney Farm, the track gives way to a green lane, then bends around the edge of a patch of woodland, and crosses fields by a series of styles to the main road.

The busy A48 road comes as a noisy but very brief intrusion and almost immediately the route turns off over a stone stile through a hedge. This distinctive type of stile is very common in this part of the world. The loop continues across grassy fields and through a small copse. Nearby is the site of an ancient enclosure and a long barrow. For this part of the walk there are good views back to Trelales (Laleston) with its prominent church tower, and to the hills beyond. Up ahead is the hamlet of Tythegston and the impressive buildings of Tythegston Court.

Tythegston Church, although usually locked, is reached by an attractive cobbled path. From the hamlet, the route follows a narrow country lane bordered by hedgerows and trees as it winds gently uphill.

Eventually this gives way to a rough farm track, leading to some sand dunes. This attractive area has pine trees growing in the sandy soil. The dainty pink tinged sea bindweed and vipers bugloss a lovely deep purple colour, can be found here. Just short of Candleston Farm, the route leaves the track for a stony path that runs down through woodland to an area of huge dunes.

The path ends beside Candleston Castle. The name is misleading as the castle was actually a 14th century fortified manor house. Though today it stands in ruins, some of the outer fortifications survive, but what remains of the house has a more domestic air. The dark basement area is crudely vaulted, but at first floor level you can see the fireplace of the Grand Hall with part of its intricately carved stones around. From here it is a short walk back to the car park.