Devil's Bridge and Margam Weatherman Walking


Devil's Bridge and Margam

Similar Content

Browse content similar to Devil's Bridge and Margam. Check below for episodes and series from the same categories and more!

Transcript


LineFromTo

It's not Weatherman Walking this week. It's Weatherman Haunting.

0:00:020:00:05

I don't believe in ghosts.

0:00:050:00:07

Do you? DISTANT HOWL

0:00:070:00:09

Wales is full of history and hidden surprises,

0:00:300:00:34

so this week I'll be pulling over, parking up

0:00:340:00:37

and walking around two special sites that are well worth a stop.

0:00:370:00:41

Later on, I'll be having a spooky time visiting the magnificent

0:00:430:00:46

Margam Castle near Port Talbot.

0:00:460:00:49

But first, I'm taking a devilishly good walk

0:00:500:00:53

around some spectacular countryside

0:00:530:00:56

in the heart of Mid Wales.

0:00:560:00:58

There are so many beautiful and hidden places in Wales,

0:01:000:01:03

but this one is really special.

0:01:030:01:06

In fact, legend has it that the devil himself came here to take a look.

0:01:060:01:10

We're heading to Ceredigion and the beauty spot of Devil's Bridge,

0:01:140:01:18

or Pontarfynach - The Bridge on the River Mynach.

0:01:180:01:21

Starting on the famous bridge, we leave the village

0:01:210:01:24

and make our way through the Rheidol Valley

0:01:240:01:26

and wind our way down to the valley floor.

0:01:260:01:29

It's then a hefty climb up and out to Parson's Bridge,

0:01:290:01:32

and on to the tranquil Ysbyty Cynfyn,

0:01:320:01:35

before making our way back to Devil's Bridge, a limb-busting eight miles.

0:01:350:01:40

My guide is local girl Lisa Jenkins.

0:01:450:01:47

She loves a good walk and a good challenge,

0:01:470:01:50

and after tracking all over the hills here,

0:01:500:01:53

she then hiked all the way up to Everest base camp.

0:01:530:01:56

I hope she takes it easy with me.

0:01:560:01:58

It's an amazing place, isn't it?

0:02:000:02:02

It's beautiful, isn't it? And if we head over to the bridge

0:02:020:02:05

and have a look, you can see the sheer drop and the scale of it.

0:02:050:02:09

That's spectacular, isn't it?

0:02:100:02:12

The way the water's carved its way through the rocks.

0:02:130:02:16

It's just thousands and thousands of years of the water,

0:02:160:02:20

obviously such a steep drop, and the power of the water as well.

0:02:200:02:24

Creating this wonderful gorge.

0:02:240:02:26

Devil's Bridge is actually three bridges

0:02:260:02:28

built on top of each other, and gets its name from a local legend

0:02:280:02:32

claiming that the bottom bridge was built by the devil

0:02:320:02:35

in return for the soul of the first person that crossed it.

0:02:350:02:38

In reality, it was more the hand of God that helped,

0:02:380:02:42

as it was built by monks in the 11th century.

0:02:420:02:45

It's such a shame, Lisa, but I bet you half the people who drive

0:02:460:02:49

over this bridge have no idea what's below them.

0:02:490:02:53

-I know, they should get out of their cars more.

-They should.

0:02:530:02:56

This area has also been attracting attention

0:02:570:02:59

through an award-winning Welsh detective series,

0:02:590:03:02

where the dramatic landscape

0:03:020:03:04

became the perfect backdrop for a murder mystery.

0:03:040:03:07

So we've come to the Hafod Hotel.

0:03:210:03:23

You might recognise it from a TV programme.

0:03:230:03:25

-Yes, it featured in Hinterland. Y Gwyll.

-Yeah, that's it.

0:03:250:03:28

So in the programme it was a bit of a mysterious old children's home,

0:03:280:03:31

but actually it was a former hunting lodge,

0:03:310:03:33

and is now a family-run hotel.

0:03:330:03:35

Great views looking towards the Cambrian Mountains.

0:03:350:03:38

-Shall we carry on?

-OK.

0:03:380:03:39

Built in 1787 by the squire of the Hafod Estate,

0:03:420:03:46

it was later converted into a Swiss style chateau,

0:03:460:03:49

and still has an air of the Swiss Alps about it today.

0:03:490:03:52

And just around the corner is another part of the valley's history

0:03:520:03:56

which is still going strong in the 21st century.

0:03:560:03:59

So here's the Vale of Rheidol Railway.

0:04:000:04:03

You can come all the way up from Aberystwyth on it.

0:04:030:04:05

-Bet it's a very popular tourist spot.

-Yeah, it's brilliant.

0:04:050:04:08

It's a nice journey, but we're not going to take the train today, Derek.

0:04:080:04:11

-We're going to carry on walking, I'm afraid.

-That's a shame.

0:04:110:04:14

The railway opened in 1902,

0:04:160:04:19

carrying minerals and timber to Aberystwyth.

0:04:190:04:22

But soon after, the mines closed, and instead of timber,

0:04:220:04:25

the train was soon loaded up with tourists,

0:04:250:04:28

and still is today.

0:04:280:04:29

Leaving the roads, we join the Borth to Pontarfynach walk,

0:04:310:04:34

and break out into the stunning Rheidol Valley.

0:04:340:04:38

-Ah, no more traffic.

-No, peace and quiet.

0:04:380:04:41

For the next few hours, anyway.

0:04:410:04:43

-Look at those rolling hills.

-They're beautiful, aren't they?

0:04:430:04:47

Look at the nice view of the Rheidol. We'll be down there soon,

0:04:520:04:56

-right next to it.

-Quite high up, aren't we?

-Yeah, we are,

0:04:560:04:58

and we've got to walk down and back up by the end of the walk.

0:04:580:05:02

-Oh, I don't like the sound of that.

-So I hope you're ready for it.

0:05:020:05:05

-What was it like growing up around here, then?

-Yeah, it was lovely.

0:05:120:05:15

It was a really nice childhood, and this was basically our back yard,

0:05:150:05:19

because my grandmother's farm is just the other side of that hill,

0:05:190:05:22

so yeah, we had all of this to play around in, which was wonderful.

0:05:220:05:28

-Ah, we're just in time for the train.

-Ooh!

0:05:300:05:32

Shall we stop and wave at them?

0:05:330:05:35

As the train heads home to Aberystwyth,

0:05:370:05:39

we head downhill to explore more of this beautiful area.

0:05:390:05:43

-Nice spot.

-It's lovely, isn't it?

0:05:500:05:53

How about a little sit down and a rest?

0:05:570:06:00

-Somebody's put it here just for us.

-They have. And look at that view.

0:06:000:06:03

-Perfect.

-Oh, it's gorgeous, isn't it?

-Yeah.

0:06:030:06:06

You know, I never tire of that view. It's just...

0:06:060:06:08

Yeah, even though I live in Llandeilo now,

0:06:080:06:11

this feels just like home.

0:06:110:06:12

You can see the shape of the valley here, the V-shaped valley,

0:06:120:06:15

all the trees, all the different colours.

0:06:150:06:18

It's lovely, isn't it? But we can't sit around here all day, Derek.

0:06:180:06:21

We've got to carry on walking, I'm afraid.

0:06:210:06:23

The Rheidol Valley is home to sessile oak trees,

0:06:260:06:29

or Welsh oaks as we call them

0:06:290:06:31

after being designated our national tree.

0:06:310:06:33

Next it's time to cross the railway track,

0:06:350:06:38

so please, follow the warnings and look both ways before crossing.

0:06:380:06:42

So we're just coming to the Rheidol River now, Derek.

0:06:470:06:50

Flowing down from the mountains, from Plynlimon.

0:06:500:06:53

The Rheidol is one of the swiftest rivers in Britain,

0:06:540:06:58

dropping 1,700 feet in 28 miles,

0:06:580:07:01

making it one of the shortest, steepest river descents in the world.

0:07:010:07:05

This area is bursting with natural resources, but it comes with a price.

0:07:100:07:15

-So what's going on here?

-Well, we've got the nice spot at the river,

0:07:160:07:20

but unfortunately as well we have the remains

0:07:200:07:22

of the mining in the area, cos 100 years ago,

0:07:220:07:24

this area was big in lead mining. So you've got the set-up here -

0:07:240:07:28

the mines are still polluting the rivers,

0:07:280:07:30

and this is to filter out the water and get it back clean.

0:07:300:07:33

It's good to know they're doing something positive about the pollution.

0:07:330:07:36

Well, yeah, they're working hard and making it safer for people to come down and enjoy.

0:07:360:07:40

-Which is what it's all about.

-Exactly.

0:07:400:07:42

The Rheidol Valley is rich in history,

0:07:440:07:47

but sadly most visitors don't leave Devil's Bridge and the waterfalls.

0:07:470:07:51

So the locals have been working hard to change all that.

0:07:510:07:54

This area is absolutely stunning,

0:07:560:07:59

and yet you don't get many people coming out here.

0:07:590:08:01

They tend to stick around the waterfalls, don't they?

0:08:010:08:04

Yeah, it is a beautiful area, and some great walks as well.

0:08:040:08:07

And it's been designated as a Walkers Are Welcome area.

0:08:070:08:10

It's just encouraging more people to get out there,

0:08:100:08:12

and a lot of hard work has been put in by local businesses

0:08:120:08:15

and local people to get people knowing more about it.

0:08:150:08:18

And after walking down into the steep valley,

0:08:200:08:23

it seems to me there is only one way out.

0:08:230:08:25

So there's something I haven't told you yet, Derek.

0:08:270:08:29

We've got a bit of a climb coming ahead of us.

0:08:290:08:32

-I'm not going up there!

-You're going to have to.

0:08:320:08:34

And there's something else I didn't mention - this is where we used to practise to go to Everest base camp.

0:08:340:08:39

-Everest base camp?

-Yeah.

-SHE LAUGHS

0:08:390:08:40

So there are no Sherpas here, I'm afraid.

0:08:400:08:43

-We're going to have to walk it.

-Oh, go on, then.

-Come on.

0:08:430:08:47

-Does it go on for long like this?

-Erm...a little while.

0:08:470:08:51

Shall we have a little rest here before we head on?

0:09:020:09:05

I think we should.

0:09:050:09:07

By here?

0:09:070:09:08

-Yeah, and there's a lovely view of the hotel here as well.

-Oh, yes.

0:09:080:09:13

Tell me, what was it like climbing up to Everest base camp?

0:09:130:09:16

Yeah, it was brilliant. And it was an experience,

0:09:160:09:19

so something my dad always wanted to do, and needed the company,

0:09:190:09:22

so I said I'd go along with him.

0:09:220:09:25

And here's perfect terrain for the training.

0:09:250:09:27

Got some pictures to show you here as well.

0:09:270:09:30

So there's me at base camp.

0:09:300:09:33

-Oh, yes.

-And then me and Dad on the way.

0:09:330:09:36

-Bit different to Cwm Rheidol.

-Yeah, just a little bit!

0:09:360:09:38

-Must have been an awesome experience for you.

-It was, yeah,

0:09:380:09:41

and something I'd like to go back and do, really.

0:09:410:09:43

You probably don't take it all in the first time,

0:09:430:09:45

so yeah, maybe one day.

0:09:450:09:48

I think we've caught our breath back. Shall we head on?

0:09:480:09:51

Yeah, where's my Sherpa? SHE LAUGHS

0:09:510:09:53

-We've left him at home, I'm afraid.

-Come on, then. One last push.

0:09:530:09:57

-HE SIGHS

-We've made it.

0:10:050:10:07

Well, it's not quite Everest base camp,

0:10:080:10:11

but it kind of feels like it.

0:10:110:10:13

-SHE LAUGHS

-Come on.

0:10:130:10:14

Leaving the steep valley behind, we break out into the huge landscapes,

0:10:160:10:20

and this is what I really love about the Cambrian Mountains -

0:10:200:10:24

the rolling hills and vast open spaces.

0:10:240:10:28

# It's a beautiful day

0:10:280:10:31

# It's a beautiful day

0:10:310:10:34

# One beautiful mistake... #

0:10:340:10:38

Oh, look, there's the train.

0:10:390:10:41

Yeah, it's making its way to Devil's Bridge at the moment.

0:10:410:10:44

-Is it always on time?

-Like clockwork, every day.

0:10:440:10:47

Well, the sun may be shining, but it's really blustery today.

0:10:470:10:50

This wind has come from the west -

0:10:500:10:52

it's got a real chill to it, hasn't it?

0:10:520:10:54

I know, and as well as that, it's not doing my hair any favours today.

0:10:540:10:57

-You need the extra strong hairspray.

-Let's go.

0:10:570:11:00

# It's a beautiful day

0:11:000:11:04

# Go and claim your place

0:11:050:11:08

# Oh, cos this is how you find your way... #

0:11:080:11:12

A few fans of Weatherman Walking here.

0:11:150:11:17

There is. And we're going to head off the track and into the field to join them now.

0:11:170:11:20

-Hello.

-Seem quiet enough.

0:11:280:11:30

-This is a lovely old bridge.

-It's called Parson's Bridge,

0:11:490:11:52

and it was used by the parsons as a short-cut

0:11:520:11:54

from Llanbadarn Fawr to Ysbyty Cynfyn.

0:11:540:11:57

And until 1950, it was just a wooden plank,

0:11:570:12:00

and a man was paid six pence a day in danger money to maintain it.

0:12:000:12:04

Just six pence a day?

0:12:040:12:06

Well, looking at that drop, I'm glad they replaced it.

0:12:070:12:10

Otherwise, I'd still be stuck on the other side.

0:12:100:12:13

Ooh, it's getting a bit steeper again.

0:12:160:12:19

I'm afraid we've got to get out of the gorge

0:12:190:12:22

-and tackle another Everest climb, I'm afraid, Derek.

-HE SIGHS

0:12:220:12:25

Come on. We'll get there.

0:12:260:12:28

-My heart's still beating.

-That's always a good sign!

0:12:280:12:32

And out in the open, we find ourselves surrounded by red kites.

0:12:330:12:37

During the Middle Ages, Ysbyty Cynfyn was a monastic hospice

0:12:450:12:49

run by the Knights Hospitallers of St John,

0:12:490:12:53

providing care for the pilgrims making their way to St David's.

0:12:530:12:56

But even in these beautiful surroundings,

0:13:040:13:07

the churchyard holds a tragic reminder

0:13:070:13:09

of how tough times could be.

0:13:090:13:11

It's a sad story,

0:13:140:13:16

and it's the grave of the first recorded quads,

0:13:160:13:20

which all died within six days of being born.

0:13:200:13:24

But within a month, they also lost her daughter,

0:13:240:13:26

her son and her husband.

0:13:260:13:28

It's very sad, isn't it?

0:13:280:13:30

What an ordeal for that woman, to lose all her family.

0:13:300:13:33

Basically, I think, you know, it's probably down to

0:13:330:13:35

something like typhoid, but no-one really knows.

0:13:350:13:38

And it's just a tragedy. How would you survive and carry on after that?

0:13:380:13:42

And with the sun setting,

0:13:450:13:47

we begin our final push back to Devil's Bridge.

0:13:470:13:50

So no more hills, and only a couple of miles to go, Derek.

0:13:500:13:54

Well, thanks very much, Lisa, for a fascinating and challenging walk.

0:13:540:13:58

I think my legs will be aching for a week after those climbs.

0:13:580:14:01

And I may not be heading to Everest base camp any time soon,

0:14:010:14:04

but who needs the Himalayas

0:14:040:14:06

when you've got all this right on your doorstep?

0:14:060:14:09

And if you fancy trying this, or any of our walks, go to our website...

0:14:130:14:18

It's got route information and maps for you to print off,

0:14:210:14:25

or you can download it onto your tablet and take it with you.

0:14:250:14:29

Next I'm at Margam Castle, just east of Port Talbot.

0:14:320:14:36

This was the home of the Talbot family,

0:14:360:14:38

who gave their name to the town.

0:14:380:14:40

As you can see, they weren't short of a bob or two.

0:14:400:14:42

There's lots of history here, and some people say it's haunted as well.

0:14:420:14:47

Margam Park is just off the M4 near to Port Talbot.

0:14:490:14:53

The walk starts at the car park before visiting the ruined abbey

0:14:530:14:56

and the orangery next door.

0:14:560:14:58

Then we walk up past Margam Castle into the woods,

0:14:580:15:02

and an old iron age hillfort.

0:15:020:15:05

Then we follow the woodland trail up to a ruined church,

0:15:050:15:08

before retracing our steps back to the castle where we started.

0:15:080:15:11

It's just over 3.5 miles in total.

0:15:110:15:14

My guide is James Cowan.

0:15:190:15:21

He used to haunt the Welsh Assembly,

0:15:210:15:23

but now concentrates on organising walks,

0:15:230:15:26

especially the spooky variety.

0:15:260:15:28

The first stop on our walk takes us to the ruins of Margam Abbey.

0:15:410:15:45

It dates from about 1147,

0:15:450:15:47

and was once one of the most powerful monasteries in south Wales,

0:15:470:15:52

with 50,000 acres of land and hundreds of monks.

0:15:520:15:55

Well, this is the chapter house.

0:15:570:15:59

I mean, this was the business heart of the abbey, if you like.

0:15:590:16:02

Very important abbey in its day. So every day,

0:16:020:16:05

the monks would be brought in here in the morning.

0:16:050:16:07

The abbot would be seated,

0:16:070:16:09

and they would be given their orders for the day.

0:16:090:16:11

Sometimes punishments if they hadn't been seen to be pulling their weight

0:16:110:16:15

and worshipping with the fervour that they were supposed to.

0:16:150:16:18

-And when did it all come to an end?

-Well, it was the 1530s.

0:16:180:16:22

King Henry VIII decided to split from the Roman Catholic Church,

0:16:220:16:26

and he became head of the Church in this country,

0:16:260:16:28

and shortly after that, all the abbeys and monasteries

0:16:280:16:31

throughout the land were dissolved, including Margam.

0:16:310:16:34

-And I have to ask - is it haunted?

-Well, it could well be.

0:16:340:16:38

You see, the bodies of the abbots were laid to rest

0:16:380:16:41

underneath where we're standing. For many, many years

0:16:410:16:44

people are said to have seen what looked like spirits of monks

0:16:440:16:47

standing in this area or wandering around. So who knows?

0:16:470:16:51

-I should avoid coming here at night then?

-Ah, you'd love it.

0:16:510:16:55

This corner of Margam Park is full of wonderful old buildings.

0:17:000:17:04

Next door to the abbey is one with a fruity history.

0:17:040:17:08

# Follow me, don't follow me

0:17:080:17:11

# I've got my spine I've got my orange crush

0:17:110:17:15

# Collar me... #

0:17:150:17:17

-Well, this is lovely. What is it?

-This is the Margam Orangery.

0:17:170:17:21

Built in the 1780s,

0:17:210:17:22

and it is the longest orangery in the whole of Britain,

0:17:220:17:25

and possibly one of the longest, if not the longest, in Europe.

0:17:250:17:28

And it was built by the Mansel Talbot family

0:17:280:17:31

as part of their pleasure garden that they designed for this place.

0:17:310:17:34

And it would have been filled with orange and lemon trees.

0:17:340:17:37

-So where are the orange trees now?

-Not in this building,

0:17:370:17:40

but they are kept just around the corner in the greenhouses.

0:17:400:17:43

-Do you want to see?

-OK.

-Come on.

0:17:430:17:45

The citrus house was built in 1800,

0:17:470:17:49

and has recently been restored to its original condition.

0:17:490:17:53

-Here we are.

-The citrus house.

-This is the citrus house,

0:17:530:17:57

and the first thing that hits you is the heat, doesn't it, in here?

0:17:570:18:00

All this glass keeping in the heat,

0:18:000:18:03

because this place is for propagating orange trees,

0:18:030:18:07

lemon trees, and so it needs the shelter from the elements.

0:18:070:18:10

-But can you smell it as well?

-Smells fruity.

-Certainly is.

0:18:100:18:14

Any ripe oranges here today?

0:18:150:18:17

Not yet, but there are some well on the way to being ripe.

0:18:170:18:20

Now, the thing is, this building, beautiful though it is,

0:18:200:18:23

is only one of the outbuildings of this park.

0:18:230:18:26

Where we're going to go now is the most striking building,

0:18:260:18:29

Margam Castle, at the top of the hill.

0:18:290:18:31

-You ready for a climb?

-OK.

-Come on, then.

0:18:310:18:33

# It's looking like a beautiful day... #

0:18:330:18:39

And high on the hill, in the middle of some gorgeous parkland,

0:18:390:18:43

is Margam Castle.

0:18:430:18:44

It's not strictly a castle, but a stunning 19th century des res.

0:18:490:18:54

Well, this building is so grand and impressive. Who built it?

0:18:580:19:02

Well, it was built by a man called Christopher Talbot,

0:19:020:19:05

and he inherited a vast fortune

0:19:050:19:07

from the land that his predecessors had acquired.

0:19:070:19:10

Also, he invested in the railways down here in south Wales

0:19:100:19:13

in the early 19th century. And he wanted this building.

0:19:130:19:16

It's grand because he wanted a building that would be grand,

0:19:160:19:19

to make a statement. In fact, it was called

0:19:190:19:21

the Versailles Palace of Wales.

0:19:210:19:23

It was built around about 1827 to 1830.

0:19:230:19:26

He brought one of the top architects in the land to design it,

0:19:260:19:29

a man called Thomas Hopper, employed by the royal family.

0:19:290:19:32

He was the richest man in Britain not to have an aristocratic title,

0:19:320:19:35

and he wanted to make a statement to show that success

0:19:350:19:38

didn't just come through having titles.

0:19:380:19:40

You mentioned Christopher Talbot earlier on.

0:19:490:19:51

Is there a link to the town, Port Talbot?

0:19:510:19:53

Yes, there is, absolutely.

0:19:530:19:55

The town Port Talbot is named after the family.

0:19:550:19:57

They invested in the port,

0:19:570:19:59

they invested in the town's growth as well,

0:19:590:20:01

so it's only natural that eventually it took their name.

0:20:010:20:04

I'll tell you what I do like about the building

0:20:040:20:06

is the chimneys and the design of the windows.

0:20:060:20:09

Well, funny you should say that,

0:20:090:20:11

because the style of this building is called Tudor Gothic,

0:20:110:20:14

and those are the two styles you see in the windows and the chimney.

0:20:140:20:17

If you look at the windows, you've got these lovely arched tops

0:20:170:20:20

to the windows there. That's very much the Gothic style.

0:20:200:20:23

And the Tudor style comes from the chimneys.

0:20:230:20:26

These chimneys with their wonderful designs

0:20:260:20:28

first were seen in Britain in the Tudor era.

0:20:280:20:31

So they combined those two styles in a 19th century building

0:20:310:20:34

to make it look much older than it actually was.

0:20:340:20:36

-They did a good job.

-They did a wonderful job.

0:20:360:20:39

-Can we go inside?

-We can go inside. You'd be a little bit disappointed

0:20:390:20:42

if you were expecting to see the palace that I described, though.

0:20:420:20:45

1977, this place was hit by a massive fire.

0:20:450:20:49

In just five hours, all the interiors were destroyed.

0:20:490:20:52

What you see inside now is just a shell

0:20:520:20:54

and a glimpse of what it might have been like in its heyday, sadly.

0:20:540:20:58

It's a shame about the interior,

0:20:580:21:00

but Margam Castle is still a magnificent building,

0:21:000:21:04

and right on the doorstep of Port Talbot.

0:21:040:21:06

Hang on a minute, James. I just want to take a photo for my mum.

0:21:060:21:10

Well, you're in good company doing that here,

0:21:100:21:12

because it's believed where we're standing right now

0:21:120:21:14

the first ever photograph in Wales was taken, way back in 1841.

0:21:140:21:19

Reverend Calvert Jones took this photograph of Margam Castle.

0:21:190:21:24

-It hasn't changed much at all over the years.

-This angle, barely at all.

0:21:240:21:28

But there's another historic connection here as well.

0:21:280:21:30

Talbot family lived in Margam Castle,

0:21:300:21:32

related to Henry Fox Talbot, the pioneer of British photography,

0:21:320:21:36

who also visited this place in the 1840s to photograph it.

0:21:360:21:40

But anyway, I've got more history to show you. Come with me.

0:21:400:21:43

We're leaving the house behind now.

0:21:450:21:47

We are, but don't forget, this country park is 850 acres,

0:21:470:21:51

so it's a maze of different walks and paths.

0:21:510:21:54

So I'm going to take you on one of them right now.

0:21:540:21:58

It's really different up here, isn't it? Green and wild.

0:22:030:22:07

Absolutely. Just over that hill,

0:22:070:22:09

the manicured landscape of the castle grounds.

0:22:090:22:11

Here is a much more primitive landscape.

0:22:110:22:14

This is how it was for many, many thousands of years.

0:22:140:22:16

And just around the corner is a trace of Margam's ancient past -

0:22:180:22:22

the remains of an iron age hillfort.

0:22:220:22:24

So we're actually walking through the hillfort now.

0:22:270:22:29

Yes, we are, and remember, it was seven acres in size,

0:22:290:22:32

so quite a substantial hillfort,

0:22:320:22:34

and while you can't see anything of the hillfort apart from

0:22:340:22:36

the odd mound of earth which could have been a defensive line,

0:22:360:22:39

the most important thing is the position that we're in.

0:22:390:22:42

Cos an enemy would have to climb the hill to get inside the fort.

0:22:420:22:45

There's not much to see of the iron age fort,

0:22:450:22:48

but at the top of the hill, there is something that's worth a look.

0:22:480:22:52

What's this? Don't tell me - it's an iron age swimming pool.

0:22:520:22:55

Yeah, they should be so lucky.

0:22:550:22:57

This actually dates from around about 1890.

0:22:570:23:00

Emily Talbot inherited the house from her father Christopher then,

0:23:000:23:03

and she was quite an innovative lady. She introduced electricity.

0:23:030:23:06

And she used this reservoir that she created here

0:23:060:23:09

to create a hydroelectric scheme to power the house.

0:23:090:23:12

She also introduced telephones to the house as well.

0:23:120:23:14

And a great view of the steelworks from here.

0:23:140:23:17

Commanding view of the area, as they say. Now, let's leave the iron age.

0:23:170:23:20

I want to take you to the 15th century.

0:23:200:23:23

# It keeps on raining

0:23:230:23:26

# Every day

0:23:270:23:29

# Just keeps on raining... #

0:23:310:23:33

Typical weatherman's luck.

0:23:330:23:35

The only hailstorm all day, and I get caught in it.

0:23:350:23:38

When it passed, we carried on walking,

0:23:380:23:41

and James had another hill climb in store for me.

0:23:410:23:45

We're just going to turn up here now, follow this road up,

0:23:450:23:48

because there are some 15th century ruins tucked away at the top.

0:23:480:23:51

Another view down on the castle.

0:24:000:24:01

Yes, we're never very far from the castle on this walk, are we?

0:24:010:24:04

No, not at all. Come on, let's move on.

0:24:040:24:06

It's a bit of a climb, but the view from the top was really worth it.

0:24:060:24:10

Well, this is fantastic. A wonderful little church. When was it built?

0:24:310:24:35

Well, built around about the 15th century.

0:24:350:24:38

It's got various names as well. Yr Hen Eglwys, The Old Church.

0:24:380:24:42

Capel Mair, St Mary's Chapel.

0:24:420:24:44

Basically, this place was built for the locals to worship.

0:24:440:24:48

They weren't allowed to worship in the abbey.

0:24:480:24:50

That was preserved for the monks.

0:24:500:24:52

But they had this wonderful spot here,

0:24:520:24:54

and I want to show you something.

0:24:540:24:55

You've got two wonderful contrasting views.

0:24:550:24:59

If you look over here,

0:24:590:25:01

there we have modern, urban, M4 corridor,

0:25:010:25:05

Port Talbot steelworks.

0:25:050:25:06

But look in this direction - uninterrupted countryside.

0:25:060:25:10

-Magnificent, isn't it? We can see for miles.

-Absolutely.

0:25:100:25:14

Now, you can also see the castle.

0:25:140:25:16

That's where we are going to go now.

0:25:160:25:18

Who knows what may be waiting for us inside?

0:25:180:25:21

So with the sun setting over the old church,

0:25:240:25:26

we retraced our steps back through the woods to Margam Castle.

0:25:260:25:31

James had special permission to go inside after closing time.

0:25:310:25:35

He takes groups here on ghost walks,

0:25:350:25:38

because he thinks it's one of the most haunted places

0:25:380:25:41

in the whole of Wales.

0:25:410:25:44

Right, then, Derek, this is it.

0:25:460:25:47

This is the central hallway and staircase of Margam Castle.

0:25:470:25:51

It's the centrepiece of the building.

0:25:510:25:54

It's also the centrepiece of the many ghost stories

0:25:540:25:57

that this building has.

0:25:570:25:59

Well, it's very spooky in here, but I'm not sure I believe in ghosts.

0:25:590:26:03

Well, I never try and convince people or convert them

0:26:030:26:07

to the idea that ghosts exist.

0:26:070:26:09

But all I can tell you are the many experiences that people have had

0:26:090:26:13

in this building at this spot,

0:26:130:26:14

including myself when I've brought groups in.

0:26:140:26:17

So if you just take a few steps up here with me,

0:26:170:26:19

I'll just share some of those experiences with you.

0:26:190:26:22

Well, this seems as good a place as any to stop.

0:26:270:26:30

Several things have been experienced at this very spot.

0:26:300:26:33

First of all, a white, misty, vaguely female form

0:26:340:26:40

has been seen for many years descending the staircase,

0:26:400:26:43

floating down, and there's some speculation

0:26:430:26:46

that it could be an echo or a ghost of Emily Talbot,

0:26:460:26:50

the lady who owned this building at one point, who loved this building,

0:26:500:26:53

and would have descended the stairs just like that to greet her guests.

0:26:530:26:57

Far more sinister, and rather more frightening than that, though,

0:26:570:27:01

is a face seen looking over the banister there.

0:27:010:27:04

Now, I've experienced this when I've had groups with me -

0:27:040:27:07

several people have claimed to have seen a face,

0:27:070:27:10

a very angry looking face, staring over the banister,

0:27:100:27:13

quite frightening.

0:27:130:27:14

Some say it could be the ghost of a murder victim -

0:27:140:27:17

the gamekeeper who was murdered here in 1898.

0:27:170:27:21

He was shot in the grounds by a poacher,

0:27:210:27:23

and it's said to be his spirit.

0:27:230:27:24

What do you think the chance is we'll see or hear something tonight?

0:27:240:27:27

Well, I never like to promise people that we will see or hear something,

0:27:270:27:31

but I always live in hope that something unusual happens.

0:27:310:27:34

But if anything does happen, Derek, don't look to me for help,

0:27:340:27:37

because I'm usually the most frightened person around. Come on, let's go up.

0:27:370:27:40

So with my heart in my mouth,

0:27:420:27:44

I walked around the castle with James.

0:27:440:27:46

I've got to say, it was pretty spooky there,

0:27:460:27:50

but I didn't see or hear anything strange.

0:27:500:27:52

There were some odd sounds,

0:27:520:27:54

but I think that was just my stomach rumbling.

0:27:540:27:57

DISTANT SHRIEK

0:27:570:27:58

Well, nothing spooky happened,

0:28:010:28:03

but thanks for a wonderful walk around Margam Park and Castle,

0:28:030:28:06

-and for showing me around.

-It's a pleasure, Derek.

0:28:060:28:09

Right, it's getting a bit dark now.

0:28:090:28:11

-I think we had better get out of here.

-I think so too. Come on.

0:28:110:28:15

MUSIC: Ghostbusters by Ray Parker Jr.

0:28:150:28:19

Download Subtitles

SRT

ASS