Wales has so much to offer dog-walkers and explorers, we are yet to truly experience it beyond the Brecon Beacons and the English border. It’s on the to do list and all recommendations welcome!
The (free to visit) Llanthony Priory is a 900 year old ruin that started as a church built by William de Lacy circa 1108. After a turbulent life, the residual priory was closed in 1539 in accordance with King Henry VIII’s dissolution of monasteries order. After that it changed hands and purposes a number of times (including being a house) and finally became a ruin in the 19th century.
The Hatterrall Ridge sits atop a hill formed of sedimentary sandstones and mudstones. There are dry pathways up and down the hill from various access points. The rest is grassland and vegetations that the vast wildlife enjoys, including wild horses, badgers, foxes, birds, rabbits, etc. It forms the border between England and Wales with Herefordshire (England) on one side and Powys and Monmouthshire (Wales) on the other – the Welsh side is part of the Brecon Beacons.
Our trip
Sash and I met with friends to explore Llanthony Priory and the Hatterrall Ridge. You can see the route that we took here on AllTrails. The trail is moderate but gives you and your pooch lots to explore and fantastic views from the Wales/England border.
Llanthony Priory
We started at the Llanthony Priory, which itself isn’t dog-friendly. You can tie your dog up outside and pop in to quickly explore the ruins and grab a coffee or bite to eat in the café.
Hatterrall Ridge
We walked the AllTrails route in the reverse order, starting from the end point, because we preferred to walk down the steep incline (at the beginning of the AllTrails route) at the end. The winding route to the top had some pretty impressive views , but the views from the top of the ridge were breath-taking. You could see for miles (see the picture at the beginning of this post).
During the walk top and from the top we came across wild birds and horses, so some on lead walking was needed. The horses were obviously used to humans and dogs as they kept a safe distance but were really calm and happy to stand for pictures.
Dog-friendly things to do
The best thing to do in this region is to explore the gorgeous countryside with your pooch. They will love the exciting smells, long-distance walks, and variety in landscape. You can read more abut the Brecon Beacons here.
Dog-friendly eateries
In Llanthony, you can take your dog to the The Half Moon Inn or the Llanthony Priory restaurant (not dog-friendly). Alternatively, you can travel to a dog-friendly eatery in one of the near-by villages or towns.
Dog-friendly accommodation
You can search for accommodation in all the usual places (e.g. booking.com, AirBnb, TripAdvisor). If you’re looking to stay close to the walk, try these places:
We weren’t able to verify whether or not Wild Wales Holidays was dog-friendly.
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The photos are stunning! I loved every one of them. The dogs looked like they were having a good time.
I’ll have to check my family history information. I think William de Lacy is an ancestor. I love y’alls posts! Thank you for sharing them.