50th Anniversary Walk – White Castle Circulars

Route detail

Travel across fields and country lanes with a number of route options, where the dive into cultural distance travelled extend far beyond the physical distance. Plan your walks around a visit to White Castle, the best preserved and most imposing of the trio of Monmouthshire fortresses built to control the border.

Distance:    Llanvetherine circular          2.2 miles / 3.6 km

Tre-Rhew circular                  1.9 miles / 3 km

Combined circular                3 miles / 4.7 km

Start Grid Ref:                  SO 38003 16862

What Three Words:        w3w.co/tides.socialite.lodge

Start

• From the car park at White Castle make your own adventure by walking either a single route or combing the routes to make a larger circular or figure of eight.

• For the White Castle to Llanvetherine circular – Facing the castle gateway take the path to your right signposted Offa’s Dyke Path and around its boundary along a leafy section. Reaching an open field follow the hedge line, turn right behind Duke’s Barn and through the gateway in the parallel field. Follow a well trodden grassy path as it drops downhill and toward a gate before gently climbing through fields toward the road at Llanvetherine.

• Turn right at the road and wander through the quiet village, where you leave Offa’s Dyke Path and instead continue along the road, continuinge your journey over the bridge before dipping away from the road on your right and joining the Three Castles Walk.

• Crossing the field head over the footbridge (1) to the remains of the Great Tre-Rhew Mill, once provider of vital supplies of flour to the garrison. Returning to present day, take the stile to the right of the bridge, heading uphill for faraway views. Travel across fields to reach a stone track sheltered amongst trees and reappear at the White Castle car park.

• For the Great Tre-Rhew Mill, Farm and Vineyard circular – With your back to the castle grounds, leave White Castle via the leafy lane heading left from the car park, signposted Three Castles Walk. As the lane flows into a series of fields appreciate hilltop valley views and distant hills before dropping down to the brook and Great Tre-Rhew Mill. Turn right over the footbridge (1) and cross five fields. Before reaching the road, pass Great Tre-Rhew Farm whose buildings originate from the 17^th

• Arrive at the country lane, turn right over the little bridge and ensure you leave enough time to dip into the Three Castles Vineyard. Once you’ve absorbed its delights, continue your journey and climb the country lane back to White Castle, bearing right at the first junction and again as the road reaches White Castle Cottage, arriving back at the car park.

• For a wider loop that encompasses both of the shorter loops – continue as above and toward Llanvetherine, dropping away from the road along the Three Castles Walk. At the footbridge (1) turn left to follow the tree line and the waters edge and before leaving, dip over the brook to take a look at the mill remains and return over the bridge.

• Wander along the waters edge, crossing fields to reach the country lane and White Castle Vineyard, before climbing the lane back to White Castle. Originally a wood and earth structure, todays magnificent castle is defensive structure surrounded by a steep-sided water filled moat, now consumed by flurries of wildlife.

Notes/transport to the start

Parking

There is a small car park at White Castle.

Bus

n/a

Train

n/a

General

Plan your trip around a tour of White Castle Vineyard or add a little time to dip in for a taster – www.whitecastlevineyard.com