Ruperra Hillfort Sundown

We picked up my sons two dogs to take them for their weekly long walk. As soon as we let ourselves into the house the pup, a Welsh working cocker spaniel, goes bananas with excitement. The older spaniel/lab cross of 9 years is quite happy to sit and wait for a fuss to be made of her.

As we were late picking them up, we decided not to go far as it gets dark early, and settled on a walk from Lower Machen: This crosses fields and a listed Iron Bridge (one of the earliest in the UK) built for Lord Tredegar to travel from his home at Tredegar Park, Newport to his summer house (see the blip picture), Ruperra Castle, and his medieval church of St Michael & All Angels in Lower Machen.

The weather was glorious albeit with a slight chill, but when you are walking, especially uphill, you soon get warm. The blip photo is of The Norman Motte (and site of Lord Tredegar's summer house) situated on an Iron Age Hill Fort.

The banks and ditches of this Scheduled Ancient Monument (which is registered by Cadw) are just about recognisable, but the most obvious feature is the Motte, at the top of a steep-sided earth bank. This would probably have been a defensive look-out point, with its superb and commanding views over the surrounding countryside. The Morgans, the owners of Ruperra Castle from the early 17th century and nearby Tredegar House, Newport planted on the slopes which has now caused problems by becoming overgrown.

After the circular walk we dropped the dogs off accompanied by a personalised Christmas Card for my son and his girlfriend of a picture I took of their dogs a couple of months ago in the summer. I heard that we are due some snow this winter - now that'll make some nice photo's for next years Christmas cards!