It also boasts a castle that began its life as a motte and bailey built by the Turberville family and was cast in stone in 1272 by Sir Grimbald Paucefote who also secured the official market charter in 1281 from King Edward I.
They set off in cooler conditions in overcast weather to begin with, although it did clear up later on, and as there had been some previous rainfall in that area the dry crumbly ground was a bit softer to walk on as they commenced their hike on a walk entitled ‘Three Pens and a Table’ relating to some of the mountains in the area.
A lane led them to a farm from where they gently climbed through fields and stopped for their morning break utilising ruined stone walls as back rests, whilst enjoying the glorious views, but away in the distance they saw wafts of smoke billowing from the direction of the wildfire at Llangynidr across the valley.
After this the real climb began as they followed the fern lined pathway steeply uphill towards the ridgeway and arriving at the top they overlooked the Glanusk Estate to the south below them which was holding the Green Man Festival. This four-day event which celebrates music, art, film, literature, comedy and science is so called after the mythical Green Man who is a symbol of rebirth and new growth in the spring. This private estate was originally owned by the wealthy ironmaster Sir Joseph Bailey from 1826 who built a mansion house there that had to be demolished in 1952, because of serious damage caused after it was requisitioned for use by the Army.
The ridgeway led them to their first ‘pen’ in the shape of Pen Gloch-y-pibwr or the ‘peak of the piper’s bell’ a prominent rocky spur which made the perfect lunch stop at 674m above sea level. From this vantage point they were able to enjoy the fantastic views of Pen y Fan in the Central Beacons and northwards across the Black Mountains to the Dragon’s Back, Mynydd Llysiau and Mynydd Troed. Their trusty waterproofs got an airing as the first of a few squally showers hit them during their lunch break.
Refreshed they moved on to Pen Allt-mawr at 719m, or 2,359 feet, the tallest of the ‘Pens’ before they headed along the ridgeway with grand views over the western Black Mountains and ahead of them the iconic dark shape of Sugar Loaf Mountain. A short climb led to the last of the ‘Three Pens’ and Pen Cerrig-calch or ‘the top of the limestone rock’ situated at 701m, and still with wonderous views in all directions.
A gentle descent brought them to Table Mountain at 451m which when viewed from afar looks as if it has slid down the mountain and come to a rather lopsided halt and which contains the Iron Age Fort of Crug Hywel, or Hywel’s mound or hillock, that Crickhowell was named after. The stone and earth remains relate to around 500BC and it was defended by ditches, banks and stone ramparts for Celtic tribes to live in, house their livestock and trade from as well as defensive purposes.
Their views overlooked the Usk Valley towards Mynydd Llangatwg or Llangattock, where the old disused quarries and tramroads are situated and it made a most welcome stop for an afternoon break, whilst the more energetic members explored the fort. After which they made their way downhill through a delightful wooded valley where the river was just a trickle after all the hot weather and no rainfall, to return to their start via a farm and a variety of pathways.
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