A new trail linking some of the most beautiful churches and chapels in mid Wales offers to open the door on centuries of secrets and stories for visitors.
The Meini Bywiol – Living Stones Heritage Trail links 15 historic buildings, many in extraordinarily beautiful locations, and will lead visitors through North Montgomeryshire’s peaceful Tanat, Vyrnwy and Cain valleys. Along the way the trail’s supporting information will offer insights into the area’s fascinating past.
For example, at St Melangell’s, Pennant Melangell, they will hear the 1,400-year-old tale of the hare that ran from a prince and his huntsmen for protection to St Melangell, a fugitive Seventh Century Irish princess. Impressed by the girl’s piety the prince helped her create a sanctuary on the spot, which has attracted pilgrims ever since.
There is thought to have been a church on the Pennant Melangell site for 1,200 years and the present building is more than 800 years old. It was recently selected by author T.J. Hughes for his book ‘Wales’s Best One Hundred Churches’ who was impressed by what he called its “sense of holy power”. He says of Wales’s historic places of worship: “There are no better doorways to the culture of the country, still unknown and elusive to the visitor, than these old churches and chapels.”
Tim Hughes is an enthusiastic supporter of the new trail. He says: “In these three mountain valleys, in just a few miles, you have a perfect microcosm of Welsh culture and spirituality – Celtic holy places, ancient saints’ shrines, simple early chapels, rich associations with writers and poets, fine Victorian architecture and traces of the conquest. What’s more, they sit in some of Wales’s most beautiful scenery: the place has long been known as Gwynfa, the blessed land, or paradise. Who wouldn’t want to spend a little time in paradise?” The trail can be followed by car, by public transport or by bicycle. Visitors can follow the whole trail going to all 15 buildings in one go, or choose to break it down into three separate sections covering each of the Tanat, Vyrnwy and Cain valleys.
Details of the route are set out on the new Living Stones Heritage Trail website and in a leaflet. At each church and chapel visitors will find information about the site as well as details of other attractions and facilities in the area.
The hope is that the trail will help local people learn more about the area’s heritage as well as attracting new visitors to one of the most beautiful and little-known parts of Wales. The local historian John Hainsworth is a member of the trail’s steering committee, he said: “For the people who follow it, this trail will be a revelation. They’ll find beauty and history and enjoy all the excitement of discovery.”
The trail has received funding through the Powys Rural Development Plan and it is supported by the RDP’s Culture, Heritage & Local Products project. Project officer Hazel James says: “One of the most exciting aspects of the project is the fact that churches and chapels are seeking to play their part in helping to regenerate the economies of the area’s hamlets, villages and towns. They will present attractive destinations for locals and visitors as well as becoming unofficial tourist information centres that will help visitors get the best from their stay.”
The trail’s launch was marked with a Heritage Day on Saturday, May 22, at Llanfyllin, which is home to two of its locations, St Myllin’s Church and Pendref Chapel. During the day there will be lots for families to see and do plus presentations from author T.J. Hughes and from Professor John Harvey, Professor of Art at University of Wales, Aberystwyth.
