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Montgomery's circular Town Hill walk

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Walk directions

From the car park turn right, then left along Broad Street, where you’ll see the town hall and The Dragon Hotel. A signpost to the castle points up the lane behind, the path then leaving right through a kissing gate – it’s a must to see and is free. Return to this point. Turn left up Arthur Street, past The Old Bell Museum.

Reaching the main road, go left and keep left with the B4385 in the direction of Newtown. Leave the road just past the national speed limit signs, through a gate on the left. Bear right across a field towards trees. This path climbs up through woodland, then swings left (southwest) to reach the old hilltop fort above Ffridd Faldwyn.

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Location

Nearest postcode:

Additional information

Terrain - Well defined paths, farm tracks and country lanes, some stiles

Landscape - Pastoral hills overlooking wide plains of the Severn

Dog friendliness - Farming country – dogs should be on lead; not allowed in castle grounds

Parking - Car park (free) on Maldwyn Way, off B4385 at south end of town

Toilets en route - Behind Town Hall

Walks in Powys

About the walk

Montgomery is a fine county town with its origins in medieval times. Tucked beneath a castle-topped crag, many of the houses have Georgian facades, but these were additions to much older dwellings. The centrepieces of the town are the elegant red-brick town hall with a clock tower on top and the... halftimbered Dragon Hotel, a 16th-century coaching house. Plaques on the walls of the old houses tell you of Montgomery’s proud history, but you can learn more by calling into The Old Bell Inn, which has been converted into a museum. Controlling the Welsh Marches After William I conquered England in 1066 he gave the task of controlling the Welsh Marches to his friend and staunch supporter, Roger de Montgomery. Montgomery set up a motte-and-bailey timber castle at Hendomen a mile (1.6km) north of the present town. There were continuous skirmishes with the Welsh, especially with the coming to power of Llewelyn the Great, Prince of Wales. As a result, Henry III had the current castle built in 1223 on a huge rock overlooking the plains of the River Severn. In 1541 the new English monarch, Henry VII, a Welshman descended from Llewelyn, handed the castle to the Herberts, a powerful Welsh dynasty who were later to acquire the neighbouring Powis Castle. The castle saw its last action during the Civil War. The Herberts were Royalists and at first held the castle, but in a great battle in which their 5,000 troops were attacked by 3,000 Parliamentarians, it was the Parliamentarians who were finally victorious. In 1649 they demolished the castle. When you view it today though, it’s still an impressive place and you get a sense of impregnability as you look down those tremendous cliffs. The next castle you see on the walk is of a much earlier time. As you emerge from the woods, the sight of the giant earthworks of Ffridd Faldwyn makes it obvious that this hilltop Iron Age fort was of great importance. It was built in four stages, all completed before the Roman conquest. Artefacts, including neolithic tools, are held in the National Museum of Wales in Cardiff. Distant views After making a brief return to the outskirts of Montgomery the route undertakes one of the locals’ favourite Sunday strolls – to the top of Town Hill, where the war memorial stands tall to commemorate the soldiers of the county. The Automobile Association erected a toposcope to help scan the horizon for the well-known hills of Pumlumon Fawr, Stiperstones, the Clun Hills and the Long Mynd. The Severn can be seen in plan, weaving through forest and field in a landscape as green as any in Ireland.

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About the area

The largest unitary authority in Wales, Powys covers an area of approximately 2,000 square miles. Much of that is mountainous because it actually has the lowest population density of all the Welsh counties.

Route details

Difficulty:

Medium

Gradient:

Moderate

Distance:

5.25 miles (8.4kms)

Ascent:

951ft (290m)

If you like this walk, you can try more routes in the area.

Find more walks in Powys

Montgomery's circular Town Hill walk

Recommended by

Walk details

Difficulty:

Medium

Gradient:

Moderate

Distance:

5.25 miles (8.4kms)

Ascent:

951ft (290m)

Walk directions

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Over the stile at the far side of the fort, bear left downfield to the roadside gate. Turn left along the road, which takes you back towards Montgomery.

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As the road turns sharp right just above the town, leave it for a footpath on the right signposted for the Montgomeryshire War Memorial and beginning beyond a kissing gate. The footpath climbs steadily up the hill to join a farm track, which at first runs parallel to the Town Ditch.

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As it enters high pastures, the track begins to level out and traverse the eastern hillside. Here you can make a detour to the war memorial that can be seen clearly ahead at the top of the hill. Return to the track and follow it, right, through a gate and past some pens with gorse and hawthorn lining the way on the left.

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Keep going in the next field, the hedge curving into the corner. Walk ahead through a wide gap and head downfield to leave by a gate and stile at the bottom. Turn left down a track and follow it to a junction by Chapel Mount Cottage. Turn left along the lane

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Keeping left at successive junctions, walk back to Montgomery. Turn right along Kerry Street into the square. Turn right and right again to return to the car park.

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Location

Starting point

Nearest postcode:

Additional information

Terrain - Well defined paths, farm tracks and country lanes, some stiles

Landscape - Pastoral hills overlooking wide plains of the Severn

Dog friendliness - Farming country – dogs should be on lead; not allowed in castle grounds

Parking - Car park (free) on Maldwyn Way, off B4385 at south end of town

Toilets en route - Behind Town Hall

Walks in Powys

About the walk

Been on this walk?

Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.

Find out more

Walking in Safety

Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.

Learn more

Get an AA guide

Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.

Learn more

Been on this walk?

Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.

Find out more

Walking in Safety

Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.

Learn more

Get an AA guide

Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.

Learn more

About the area

Powys

Montgomery's circular Town Hill walk

Been on this walk?

Walking in Safety

Get an AA guide

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Montgomery's circular Town Hill walk

Been on this walk?

Walking in Safety

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