Starting from the bottom of the Pen-y-Turnpike Road, they made their way by means of a narrow man-made path into Cwm George, with its steep wooded hillsides that were formed in the last Ice Age.
Crossing fields and heading towards Michaelston-le-Pit, exiting onto the road, they went uphill past the entrance to the Salmon Leaps and followed the road to reach The Lawns, once an entrance to the Cwrt-yr-Ala Estate.
Because of previous heavy rainfall, some areas of the rough track were still flooded and needed careful navigation and staying in the centre of the track just about kept the water below the level of walking boots.
Passing underneath the bridge that carries the A4232, a concrete track led them gradually uphill to Caerau hillfort, their intended destination. This is the oldest man-made site in Cardiff, dating back to the Iron Age and was used well into the Roman era, whilst at the edge of the site of the fort are earthworks from a Norman wooden-built castle, as well as the ruins of a lovely old derelict church, the Church of Saint Mary.
Stopping for a refreshment break in sunshine on the low church walls, time to listen to some of the history of the church from the leader. Built around 1260, this medieval church was open to Christians for worship for almost 700 years before being closed and deconsecrated in 1957.
After this time, the church suffered a great deal of mindless vandalism, and the Rev Victor Jones, a local boy born in Blackweir in Cardiff and who lived in Ely with his family from the age of one, preached his first sermon from this church, before moving on to St Timothy’s. Visiting the site after the vandalism, he found the altar rail was still intact, along with the cross on top of the church tower and decided he was going to rebuild the church.
With a great deal of hard work already done, it appears Father Jones doubted he would be able to finish and totally exhausted and somewhat disillusioned, he prayed, and as he did, the sun came out and cast a shadow on the tower cross and shone onto the east wall where the altar would be sited, which he took as a sign from God.
With donations of scaffolding and stone from the Wenvoe Quarry and a few volunteers from St Timothy’s and sleeping at the church to prevent further vandalism, the rebuilding of the church went ahead, taking two years and was reconsecrated in April 1961.
Then in 1962, Father Jones left to become a naval chaplain commenting: “I left St Mary’s and St Timothy’s for others to care for. I have often wondered whether I had done the right thing. Should I have stayed?”
In fact, he never returned, and in 1963 the church was closed, and from then its condition deteriorated, and to this day it is cared for by volunteers – The Friends of St Mary’s Church.’
After entering the site of the castle and enjoying the splendid view of the sprawling city of Cardiff and moving on and heading back through The Lawns, a field led them into Limekiln Wood and climbing through the cool shade of the pretty woodland brought them through a gate and into Cwm Slade; where fortunately the cattle and young calves encountered on the recce were in another part of the field, allowing the group to progress safely.
Out onto the quiet lane leading to the hamlet of Wrinstone and following the rough path beside the Wrinstone Brook past some very tall prickly lettuce, also known as milk thistle, which is actually edible, a stony path led them gradually uphill to Beauville Farm. Then, through some lesser-used paths within woodland owned by the Woodland Trust, led them steeply downhill into Cwm George and crossing several fields brought them back to their start point after their delightful four-hour morning tramp.
You can follow the group on www.penarthramblers.wordpress.com or on Facebook.
