Nash Point and
St Donats Circular Walks
A short circular walk of 4 miles from the lighthouses at Nash
Point to St Donats via Marcross or combine it with the Llantwit Major circular
walk to make it 9 miles. The walk covers part of the Glamorgan Heritage Coast
path with dramatic views of the coast. The going is flat and easy although the
cliff-tops can be muddy after rain. Be careful not to go too close to the cliff
edge and check the tides if you intend to walk along the beach. The walk goes past the
Lighthouse Inn at
Marcross. A limited range of cans, crisps, tea etc. is sold in season at the Nash
Point car park and there are toilets in the small building when it is open. There is a charge for car parking but only in season. The long
walk offers toilets and refreshments in Llantwit Major town and by the Llantwit
Major beach. An alternative start for the long walk is from Llantwit
Major.
Start: Nash Point Car Park, grid ref 916683
For a map showing how to get to the start click here.
From the cliff top looking back along the
valley towards the nature reserve
Aim for the small white building at the beginning on the Nash Point
car park. Alongside this is a wooden barrier with a sign ‘Service Vehicles
only’ and just beyond this an Information board giving some details on local
features. Take the stony path here which descends into the valley heading away
from the sea. At the bottom you come to a barely visible sign saying Nature
Trail straight on and Coastal Path to the left. Go straight ahead towards the
trees crossing a stream which we shall recross several times. There are stepping
stones to assist crossing the stream or a wooden bridge 30 yards to the left of
the stepping stones.
Inside the reserve
Cross the stream a second time then follow the yellow waymark sign to
the left. Cross stream for third time and then fourth. Down wooden steps and
cross stream for fifth time. Path now ascends to continue through the nature
reserve. Eventually you get to a fenced-off area with sign saying ‘Danger,
Keep Out’. Drop down the steps to the right and over a wooden bridge. A few
yards beyond this go onto the road and turn left. Follow the road into Marcross
village (see below for Variation 1). Pass the Marcross Church on the left and, at a road junction
the Lighthouse Inn. (30 mins). Just after passing the church as you walk by a
low stone wall on the left, look ahead to the farm buildings on the left of the
road where you should be able to make out some old wall remnants - the remains
of Marcross Castle.
Turn right at the road junction and proceed along the road with care.
You pass Channel View houses on left, ignore a road junction on the right and
then look out for Marcross Court on the left. Just past Marcross Court take the
road junction to the right – a narrow country lane. After a barn on your
right, the lane gets to a junction – turn right and head towards a metal gate
by a small garage-sized building. Go through the metal gate and then through a
wooden gate following the stony path into the trees. Where the path diverges go
to the left following the descending path (see Variation
2). You eventually emerge with
battlements of St Donats Castle ahead at a junction with other paths. (45
mins).
Left, St Donats Castle 1907; centre, ruined
building; right, St Donats Church
Just to the right is an old ruined building in the trees and beyond and
to the right is the Church of St
Donats. Where our path met the walls go to the
left with St Donats on your right, past a car park on your left and then turn
right and immediately left. Note that the castle and grounds of St Donats are
not open to the public. The road passes student accommodation blocks, then aim
for blue metal gates which mark the exit from St Donats. Go onto the main road
keeping in the same direction and staying on the right-hand side of the road.
You come to a large concrete lay-by on the right. At the end of the lay-by look
out for a kissing-gate set in the wall to the right. (60 mins).
Go through the kissing-gate and head along the right-hand edge of the
playing fields. Go through a small wooden gate by a larger wooden gate and
emerge onto the cliff top. (At this point, for the longer walk, see below). For
the short walk go right, crossing a stone stile and carry on along the cliff-top
with the sea on your left. Where the path forks go to the right following the
arrow indicating Coastal Path. The path skirts a field with clear views to St
Donats and then goes back into the trees. Descend, ignoring other paths to left
and right, to emerge onto the large concreted area in front of St Donats on the
edge of the beach. Go straight ahead to cross the slipway and then take the path
ascending into the trees, (1 hr 15 mins). The main path runs parallel with the
sea but a diversion to the right with your back to the sea brings you after 5
minutes through the trees to the ivy-clad watchtower of Sir Harry Stradling.
Retrace your steps to resume the original path.
The Nash Point lighthouses
Cross a stone stile to emerge onto the cliff-top with the top of Nash
Point lighthouse visible in the distance. Cross two further stone stiles to
get to the buildings by the lighthouse. Join the road which runs past the two
lighthouses to emerge finally onto the wide grassed cliff-top area where the
walk started. (1 hr 40 mins).
Variation 1
This variation, not shown on the map below, reduces
the amount of walking on roads and lanes by crossing several fields - but you
also miss the Lighthouse Inn! 50 yards beyond Marcross Church and immediately
after the white bungalow called Playas take the footpath to the right. After 20
yards the path curves to the left, then becomes grassy and heads towards a stile
by a metal gate which you cross. Head along the left-hand edge of the field and
when the hedge curves left aim slightly left towards the waymark post ahead.
Just after the post follow the hedge to the left to cross a stile. Keep along
the left-hand edge of the next field towards another waymark post and go through
the metal gate. Turn right along the lane.
As you pass a bungalow on your left, follow the track straight ahead,
with farm buildings to your right. After 100 yards take the stile on your left
and go straight ahead across the field to a wooden stile. Cross this and then
head diagonally right across the field towards a metal gate and wooden stile in a gap in the
stone wall with waymark post. Turn left along the
left-hand edge of the field towards some buildings. Cross the stone stile set in
the conifer hedge and follow the waymark posts, passing the building on your
left, crossing three wooden stiles to emerge onto a field. Turn right to go
through a wooden gate onto a path that descends through the trees. You are back
on the original route (see above) from the point "... a wooden gate
following the stone path...".
Thanks to Chris Harris for suggesting this alternative route.
Variation
2
Where the paths diverge in the woods take the right-hand path which ascends
gently and then levels winding its way through the woods until it emerges on the
coast where you turn right to return along the cliff-tops to Nash Point. In the
woods you will pass the ivy-covered watchtower of Sir Harry Stradling. This
shortens the overall walk distance by around three-quarters of a mile.
Long Walk
Looking back towards St Donats
After emerging onto the cliff top (see above) turn left and head along
the cliff-top with wire fence on left and cliff-top bushes on right. The path
drops down to Tresilian bay and then ascends the far side. With the path back on
the cliff-top, after about 50 yards you will see a stone stile on your left. At
this point you are on the last part of the Llantwit Major walk. Do not take the
stile but carry on along the cliff-top until you get to Llantwit Major beach car
park which is the start of the Llantwit Major walk. Follow this route
which eventually brings you to the stone stile referred to above. This time you
turn right retrace your steps from earlier to get back on the Nash Point walk.
It takes about 15 minutes to walk the gap between the two walks each way, so add
30 minutes to the combined walking time. You can combine the two walks in the
same way if starting with the Llantwit Major walk.
Map of walk
