Town Trail 5 Edible Newtown

From Hafan Yr Afon walk along the car park, past the front of Oriel Davies to the main entrance gates into the park.  Here you will find a productive apple tree (1) next to the drive (SO 107 915). Parallel to the boundary wall you will see a row (2) of lime trees (SO 108 915).  Follow these then bear right towards the old bailey of the castle passing the old chestnut trees (3) (SO 108 914) to reach the moat where you will find a profusion of wild garlic and nettles (4) (SO 107 914).

Head back towards the gallery back to the park drive where there are two large magnolias (5) (SO 107 915) in front of the council offices.  Bear left on the footpath that follows the hawthorn hedge (6) (SO 107 915) and on down to the paved path beside the river.  Cross the stream over the wooden bridge and start following the river on the grassed area.  The plants on the banks of the river here include brambles, many sloes, wild roses (7) and ground elder (8) (SO 102 914).  There are more sloes all along the river bank.  There is a good patch (9) at SO 100 914. Follow the river and you will come to the mixed orchard (10) planted with apples, cherries and pears (SO 098 913). Later you will see the path beginning to climb and here are gorse and fireweed/rose bay willow herb plants (11) (SO 096 910).  Turn back to the left passing honeysuckle (12) (SO 096 911) to arrive at the second mixed orchard also with apples and cherries (13) (SO 098 911).  There is more Rose Bay Willow Herb here. You have now reached the paved path where you turn sharp right up the hill passing sycamores to the venerable sweet chestnut trees (14) said to be about 400 years old (SO 097 911).

Continue ahead through the estate until you reach the road, Lôn Cerddyn where you turn left. Carry on uphill till you reach Lôn Pinwydd on your left, cross the road and go through the pedestrian gate on to Trehafren Hill.  Go up through the hedge, where you will find sorrel and more sloes and brambles (15) (SO 099 911).  Cross the mountain bike track and carry straight ahead on the grassy track which then meets a concrete path which you follow downhill and around to the left.

This brings you to one of the access gates but when you see the gate, leave the concrete and take the grassy path to your left.  If you miss this track and arrive at the gate, take the grassy track to the left just before the gate and this will soon join the higher track.  Follow the path through the trees past more gorse (16) (SO 100 910), then primroses, violets and wild strawberries (17) (SO 101 910).  Once through the trees you pass the established apples and cherries and the notice board of the community orchard (18), ‘Incredible Edible Newtown’ (SO 101910).  Continue along this path through a few more mature trees until you reach the open grassland.  Turn right and go through the access gate and turn left on the paved path.  Follow this path past the football ground on your left, allotments on the right to reach the police station.  Cross the road ahead, turn left then immediately right to follow the fence around the school, passing the scout hut on the left (SO 105 914).  In this school hedge there are elders and cherries growing (19) (SO 105 914).  You will then pass the playground to return to Hafan Yr Afon with the old oak tree (20) (SO 106 916) next to it.