Wick to St Brides
Our walk links two villages in the Glamorgan Heritage Coast parish, running from St James’ Church, Wick, along the cliffs of the Heritage Coast, and through fields to St Bridget’s Church, St Brides Major.
The two churches were linked in medieval times, both being granted to Ewenny Priory Church in 1141. At the Reformation, Wick was annexed to the parish of St Brides Major until 1950, when it was joined with Monknash and Marcross to form a separate parish, and then becoming part of the Llantwit Major Benefice in 1983.
The chancel arch, the chancel window and the font remain from the original Norman building; the rest is 13th century, though heavily restored in the 19th century.
St James is the patron saint of pilgrims, symbolised by the scallop shell.
St Bridget’s Church, St Brides Major, was also built in the 12th century, but on the site of an earlier foundation.
Local tradition has it that St Bridget of Kildare (c.451-525) travelled from Ireland across St Brides Bay to Wales and then followed the Roman roads to Llantwit Major, visiting St Illtud’s monastic school before crossing the Bristol Channel to Glastonbury. While at what is now St Brides Major, she founded a llan or Christian community.
Our walk follows ancient paths, along which perhaps Celtic saints and medieval pilgrims travelled in times past.
Start St James’ Church, Church Street, Wick CF71 7QE (SS 9234 7217)
Getting there B4265 from Bridgend or Llantwit Major. On-street parking by church. 303 bus from Bridgend or Llantwit Major to Church Street.
Walk
From the Church (1), follow Church Street towards the Village Green, continuing along the edge of the Green into Trepit Road. Continue along Trepit Road for 0.5 miles to a T-junction. At the junction turn left, and immediately cross the road to a stone stile next to a gate, marked ‘Cwm Bach 1½ miles’. Walk along an overgrown track to a stile leading into a field. Cross this and two more fields to reach the head of Cwm Bach. Follow the path downhill, on the left hand side of the stream, towards the sea.
The path crosses the valley leading up the other side to a stile on the cliff top. Follow the cliff path in a north-west direction, with views of Trwyn y Witch.
At Cwm Mawr (2) , the path turns inland to follow around the valley, crossing the stream by a bridge to lead up the other side.
Cwm Mawr is a naturalist’s paradise, with its mature trees, ferns, and ground plants. A place to stop and give thanks to God for all created things.
The stepped path leads to a stone stile set in a wall, leading back to the cliff top. Follow the cliff path for 0.3 miles to Trywn y Witch (3), the headland before Dunraven Bay. Take time to look back at the view towards Nash Point and over the Bristol Channel to Exmoor. Below is Temple Bay which can be accessed by a path from Trwyn y Witch. Keep to the left, following first a boundary wall, and then a path to some Glamorgan Heritage Coast information boards and benches.
Temple Bay is a good example of the geology of the Glamorgan Heritage Coast, with the limestone rock layers separated by softer layers of shale. The cliffs were formed 180 million years ago in the early Jurassic times. This is a place to wonder at the glories of God’s creation and to give thanks for the beauty of the earth.
There is now a choice of paths. You can follow the path around Trwyn y Witch through woodland which opens out above the walled gardens to the remains of Dunraven Castle. Alternatively, return back to the surfaced path to the Grade II listed walled gardens, with their terraces, summerhouse and ice house, built in the form of a medieval turret.
From the cliffs or the gardens, go to the car park at Dunraven, with its toilets, refreshments kiosk and picnic area.
Dunraven Bay is popular with families and surfers, the sands surrounded by cliffs 150-200 feet high. Horizontal layers of Liassic limestone and shales overly the much older Carboniferous limestone. Millions of years ago, powerful earth movements forced the Carboniferous layers upwards, leaving folds visible here.
From the car park at Dunraven Bay turn up the surfaced road past the picnic tables to the Glamorgan Heritage Coast Centre. The Centre has information boards, interpretive material, books, and leaflets, though it is not always open.
Continue beyond the Centre, keeping to the wall on the right hand side, and pass through the gate to follow the main track. This runs alongside Slade Wood, with a mass of bluebells in the spring.
The path proceeds gently uphill to a kissing gate, leading into a field. Carry on, with a hedge on the left, to a gap at the end of the field. Turn left into the next field, but then immediately to the right is a stone stile. Climb over into the next field and follow the path, with the hedge to your right.
After climbing over the next stile continue through the field, aiming for the top left hand corner by keeping the hedge to your left. The next stile leads to a path along the hedge to a stile and gate near farm buildings. With the farm buildings to your left, aim for a stone stile set in a wall. The path then leads to the main B4265 by the Farmers Arms pub and restaurant. Continue left along the main road past the village pond and well and then through the village to St Bridget’s Church ?.
Here our walk ends. At the church, pray for the mission and ministry of the Glamorgan Heritage Coast parish—and reflect on this walk, and what you have seen and heard on the way, giving thanks for the blessings of this pilgrimage.
If returning to Wick by bus, retrace your steps through the village, at the war memorial turning right into Southerndown Road. The bus stop is 200 yards up the road on the right hand side. Alternatively, catch the bus from the Farmers Arms.
Map
OS Explorer 151 Cardiff and Bridgend
Public Transport
The 303 NAT bus runs hourly in both directions between Bridgend and Llantwit Major through Wick, connecting with the 304 to Barry, and trains to Cardiff. For up-to-date travel information visit www.traveline-cymru
Refreshments
The Star and the Lamb and Flag pubs in Wick;
The Fox and the Farmers Arms pubs in St Brides Major;
Winnie’s Kitchen café in St Brides Major
Seasonal refreshments kiosk at Dunraven Bay.
