Ganarew

A walk from Ganarew to Whitchurch – coming soon. In the meantime here it is in the other direction.

  • Starting at St Dubricius Church, Whitchurch, walk along the church lane and turn right when you meet the road.
  • Passing in front of the Old Court Hotel, make your way left at the roundabout, leading to the bridge over the dual carriageway.  Cross the bridge and take the left turning down to the village road.
  • You will now be at a crossroads (Grange Park in front of you).  Turn left here.  At the end of a short terrace of houses you will find a public footpath sign.
  • Turn right onto this footpath.  At the top (in the first field) keep the hedge on your right to the top of this field, then cross diagonally right into another field.
  • Make your way diagonally right across to a stile, positioned roughly halfway across the hedge in front of you.
  • Cross the stile into another field, then descend diagonally left to a stile in the far corner.
  • Cross again and head for the final stile, which leads into a sunken lane.
  • After negotiating the last stile turn left.  The lane will lead to Lewstone Farm.  Keep to the right of the grass triangle and continue between farmhouse and farm buildings.  Keep on this road to its end, then turn right onto a road which leads up to a bridge over the dual carriageway.
  • Just before the bridge, take the right turn onto the road that leads into Ganarew.  You will see St Swithins Church and can enter the churchyard either via the lychgate or, a little further along, through a gate opposite the church porch.

St Swithin’s Church, Ganarew

St Swithin’s Church stands on a pass between Monmouth and Whitchurch. The name Ganarew comes from the old Welsh Genau Rhiw, ‘pass of the hill between two hills’. The church, in its grassy walled churchyard with a lych gate, is set in the most idyllic and picturesque landscape. 

There is an iron age fort on the nearby Little Doward and the hill is associated with Vortigern, the last ‘great leader’ of Roman Britain. The Plague Cross standing at the junction of the old A40 highway indicates a far greater population in years gone by. In the churchyard there is also a Celtic preaching cross, with the cross unusually oriented east-west. 

The present building, dedicated in 1849, designed by Mr Pritchard of Llandaff, appears to be built upon the same ground plan (if not on the same foundations) as the previous Saxon church. Entering through the south (main) door, the font which is older than the building, is immediately to the left. The atmosphere is very much one of peace and calm. 

Ganarew has been a place of Christian worship for well over a millennium and with its connection with Vortigern and its beautiful setting and peaceful interior is well worth a visit.

Website

Postcode: NP25 3SU 

OS Grid Ref: SO 519 135 

Open: Easter to October, 10 – 4 daily 

Parking available 

Disabled Access