St Hilary
A picturesque village brimming with almost 1000 years of history, St Hilary’s is a fantastic location to start or end a ride. North of the village, the peak of Bryn Owain offers sweeping views of the Vale of Glamorgan, and is the site of one of Owain Glyndŵr’s most exhausting battles against the English.
St Hilary itself is a lovely, quaint little period village. Its church is a real gem, a sizable building dating from the 14thcentury, whose rich architectural style and brilliantly carven effigies are not to be missed. The local pub, ‘The Bush Inn’ is 16th century and offers an interior brimming with authentic period features.
And, if you are willing to make the detour, you can make your way to Old Beaupre Castle, a CADW site of stately splendour and mighty, crumbling walls. Its sheer scale, and the many windows that peek out into the courtyard, will fill your imagination with thoughts and images of its once bustling inhabitants. Be sure to plan your trip around opening times, to avoid missing out.
Finally, the Bridleway climbs to a low summit of 134 metres, where you will find ‘The Clump’, a charming copse of trees with clear views across the Vale of Glamorgan. The hillside itself has been associated with the Battle of Stalling Down, fought between King Henry IV and the famous Owain Glyndŵr, Prince of Wales, sometime between 1403 and 1405 AD.
It allegedly lasted a gruelling 18 hours and resulted in a crushing victory for the Welsh, forcing the English to retreat back to Cardiff in the midst of thunderstorms and floods. Keep an eye on the Met Office to make sure you aren’t forced to do the same!