Walk 10 Hills of Newtown

1

Start under the Town Clock at the junction of Broad St, High St and Severn St, the area known locally as ‘The Cross’. The building now housing Barclays Bank was erected by Sarah Brisco, a descendent of the Pryce family of Newtown Hall, to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Jubilee in 1897.    Opposite the clock on Severn Street is the Robert Owen Museum and the Robert Owen Memorial Rooms are over the HSBC on the other corner.  Robert Owen, the founder of the Co-operative Movement, is one of Newtown’s most famous sons. 

Walk north up Broad St until you reach Longbridge and the old flannel woollen exchange on your left (now housing a cinema and night club).  After the woollen exchange and before the bridge turn sharp left onto the footpath which overlooks a lower footpath and the River Severn.  Stay on this footpath, passing the Dolerw Park footbridge on your right and pick up the green fence around Ladywell School on your left.  Follow the fence around to your left, passing the Scout hut on your right to the road ahead.  Turn left, still with the school on your left to the T junction. Turn right and immediately right again at the main road, Pool Road, and cross it at the zebra crossing at Lidl. 

2

Bear left under the railway bridge on Dolfor Road.  Pass the school gate and turn right onto a footpath set back off the road.  Follow this around past the front entrance of Ysgol Daffydd Llwyd and Newtown High school then cross the road, Plantation Lane at the zebra crossing.  Turn right and immediately left into Cedewain.  Just after the bend go across the road and up the ramp to the stile on your left.  Cross the stile and head up the steps and on up the path passing a large fallen tree to reach an open space at the top of Black Hall Hill. At the end of this grassy space the path makes a Y and you take either fork into the wood. Follow any of the paths through the wood and go down the steps on your right. 

 3

Turn left and follow the road passing Ysgol Cedewain school on your left.  At the junction with the main road (Plantation Lane) turn left then right at the roundabout. Follow this road around to the left alongside the railway line on your right.  At the next zebra crossing cross the street and go under the railway.  Turn right on Llanidloes Road to cross at the pelican crossing. Turn right then, after the bus shelter, turn left on the footpath.  Follow the footpath until you reach the road, Lon Masarn and turn on to the main road, Lon Pinwydd and follow it uphill to your left.  At the next road junction on your left, cross the road and go up the path to the pedestrian gate on your right.

 4

Continue uphill to the hedge above, go left through a small gap in the hedge, cross the cycle track on to the footpath and on up to the top of Trehafren Hill,.  Here you will see lovely views of the hills in both directions, including Black Hall Hill on your right. Continue along the path to pass to the left of the fenced-in underground reservoir.   

 5

Follow the track down to the roundabout in the road at the bottom.  There is a large metal vehicle gate at the bottom of the track but it is easy to step around. Cross the roundabout to the road ahead, signed for local buses only.  Bear right on to the footpath and follow it past the Newtown FC ground, Latham Park, on your right.  

 6

When you again reach the green school fence, turn left signed Town Centre and cycle route 81.  Retrace your steps along the fence around to the right to the end. Then take the footpath on your right, passing the playground on your right and later the miniature railway track on your left. 

 7

You will soon see a striking single-story red brick building ahead, which is the Oriel Davies Gallery (01686 625041).  The art gallery, which hosts touring exhibitions, commemorates the Davies sisters who were collectors and benefactors. There is a café and bookshop. (Open Mon – Sat 10 – 5, admission free.) details at www.orieldavies.org

Cross the green in front of the gallery to the Park gates, cross the road, (Back Lane) and walk down High Street to end the walk back at the Town Clock.