On a beautiful spring morning ten walkers joined Jan and John at St Brides Major just below the Norman built St Bridget’s Church situated on a hill overlooking the village in order to make the villagers feel protected.
Climbing a steep narrow lane uphill past the Fox and Hounds pub, then more steep steps onto Penylan Road to emerge opposite the Bryn Sion Calvinistic Methodist Chapel which was built as a place for religious worship in 1859, after it closed down in 1987 after many years of being neglected, it is now a private dwelling.
Following a quiet lane before crossing a cattle grid, a rough bridleway brought them onto Old Castle Down above a disused quarry, where expected long distance views were shrouded in a hazy mist and the sound of clay pigeon shooting at a nearby venue echoed through the air.
Following narrow paths through gorse bushes in bloom before heading steeply downhill on a muddy path which thankfully had dried out and passing below a railway bridge, the road led them on beside the clear and fast flowing River Alun.
Reaching the ford and crossing the sturdy fifteen stepping stones over the river which are known locally as Stepsau Duon or Pont y Brown and following the road as it curved gently uphill, scarlet elf cup fungus adorned fallen branches in Coed y Wallas just prior to a stop for morning coffee.
After admiring the stunning wooden sculptures of two herons standing over their nest in a garden pond at the beautifully landscaped Wallas Fach and continuing along the road with its neatly trimmed hedges past Tair Cross Down, the full force of the bright sunshine soon lifted the temperature.
Deviating through fields past a gigantic manure heap, which gave off quite a smell and passing three horses and their donkey companion all snug and warm in coats in a field, a stop followed to remove outer clothing before tramping on across fields overlooking the sprawling town of Bridgend.
Heading downhill and over lovely old stone stiles at Corntown, more fields led on towards Ewenny Priory built by William de Londres between 1115 and 1126 and founded as a Priory in 1141 to house twelve monks and a Prior.
The fortifications built in the 12/13th centuries protected the monks from the repeated raids by Welsh warriors from the north and also housed a garrison for the defence of Ogmore, Newcastle and Coity castles, whilst the church tower acted as a look-out post.
After entering the Priory Church dedicated to St Michael the Archangel, the 12th century nave acts as the parish church and the prominent feature is the stunning Pulpitum screen which was inserted in July 2006 and is the work of the artist Alexander Beleschenko.
The glass is a representation of the Resurrection of Christ and the work is composed of an empty cross set in clouds of glory and from the cross butterflies which were inspired by a rare species found in the Ewenny area are flying around.
Originally the screen would have provided the support for a platform or a pulpit used for the reading of the Gospel or the mass to the congregation at the monastic end of the church which is the south transept, so in actual fact Ewenny was two churches combined into one.
Entering the south transept where the monks who were housed in a dormitory on the south side of the church, it was interesting to note they would have entered by means of staircases and a doorway to work on tasks such as copying books of worship.
Contained in this part of the building is the much worn tomb and effigy on top of de Londres along with a collection of early carved Celtic and Norman religious stones displayed in an alcove on the wall.
From this position there are fine views of the stunning arched vaulted ceiling with medieval floor tiles below and after taking a quick tour of the building, it was time for lunch in the churchyard utilising a low stone wall in the sunshine as seating.
Making their way back through the village of Corntown and stopping at the delightful Corntown Pool situated at the roadside, apparently it acted as a Bethel Baptist baptismal pool until the 1900’s when it fell into disuse.
The lane at Heol y Cawl led gently uphill to the entrance drive of Corntown Farm unusually lined with small stone statues and each one different. Passing through a kissing gate just to the right of the entrance and following the edges of ploughed and seeded fields with holly berries in the hedges, a stile brought them out onto the road at Tair Croes.
Heading along a mucky churned-up bridleway and returning back onto the road at Wallas Fach to retrace their steps back over the stepping stones where a massive pothole they had passed on their way out had somehow magically filled up with water, a narrow lane led through Castle-upon-Alun.
Passing the ancient clapper or packhorse bridge made of stone which crosses the River Alun the lane led on to the entrance of Coed y Bwl. This gorgeous woodland is managed by the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales and its steep banks are festooned at this time of the year with the daffodils that inspired William Wordsworth, closely followed by wood anemones and carpets of bluebells as spring continues.
After their circular tour the route led uphill to the verge beside Blackhall with its huge carpet of white snowdrops and passing fields containing spring lambs dozing in the warm sunshine, before following the lane back down to St Brides Major, the consensus was that spring has finally sprung!
