Line © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), drawn by Global Adventurer.
The walk
The walk starts from the car park beside Montgomery Castle, on the hill above the market town. It passes the castle ruins, which Cadw looks after, then follows footpaths north-west on to Ffridd Faldwyn, the hillfort on the hill above, and round its slopes, with views back to the castle. It returns along a lane to the town and the car park.
It is 2.8 km with 130 m of ascent; allow about 1 hour. The grade is Easy. About a quarter of the walk is on the lane and in the town.
The fields on the hill are grazed, so keep dogs under control near livestock. At the castle, Cadw says the way in is over several wooden bridges and some of the low stonework is slippery when wet, and that visitors must not climb the walls.
The castle is free to enter. Cadw gives its opening times as 10am to 6pm from 1 April to 30 September and 10am to 4pm from 1 October to 31 March, with the last admission 30 minutes before closing; it is closed on 24, 25 and 26 December and 1 January, and may close at short notice in extreme weather. OpenStreetMap tags the car park as free of charge.
Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.
Good to know
- Montgomery's stone castle was begun in late summer 1223 with Hubert de Burgh as architect
- Its Welsh name, Castell Trefaldwyn, means Baldwin's town castle
- Lord Herbert of Cherbury surrendered it to Parliament's troops in September 1644, and Parliament demolished its walls in June 1649
- Ffridd Faldwyn, the hill above the castle, is an archaeological site: a hillfort
Getting there
Start: Montgomery Castle car park · Free parking. 52.56137, -3.15018
Directions to the start
Places to stay nearby
Rooms in and around Welshpool: Booking.com → Expedia → Hotels.com →
Affiliate links: if you book, Global Adventurer earns a small commission at no cost to you.
Paths change, and the weather decides the day. The line is drawn along OpenStreetMap paths and the figures are worked out from it; take a map, check the forecast, and turn back if it isn't right.