LLANTHONY PRIORY
- Bannau Brycheiniog - East
- A 12.5 mile circular walk passing by Llanthony Priory
- 6 hours
- 1,600 Calories
- St Martin’s Church NP7 7NT
MORE INFORMATION
St Martin's Church
The most crooked church in Britain, St Martin's apparently is the cause of an earthquake during Christ's crucifixion when darkness descended across the land.
Built some time in the 12th century, the extreme tilt seen today is the result of a landslide - above the church on the side of the mountain, a gash can be still be seen where the landslide came crashing down.
It is also home to the Cwmyoy Cross which bears a rare carving of Christ on the cross,. It have originally stood in the churchyard to be venerated by pilgrims travelling through the Black Mountains
Llanthony Priory
A partly ruined former priory which dates back to the year 1100. A Norman knight by the name of William de Lacy went completely against the norms of the time, gave up war and embraced religion. By 1118 Llanthony was a monastery of Augustinian canons which continued until it was suppressed in 1539.
It was one of many of the great buildings of Wales attacked in the early 15th century, during the rebellion of the great Welsh Prince Owain Glyndŵr, in order to recapture Welsh land from the English.
Today it is under the care of Cadw but also on site is the Llanthony Priory Hotel which also serves lunch and real ales should you need a little break half way through this walk! The bar sits within and is actually part of the original 12th century priory with drinks served in the vaulted under croft bar, thought once to have been the prior's cellar.