Discover the Kymin walk
Tread in the footsteps of Lord Nelson and Lady Hamilton, who came here to see the fine views of Wales and England more than 200 years ago.
Admire the Georgian banqueting house at the Kymin
This walk visits two interesting Georgian buildings - the Naval Temple, a monument to Admiral Lord Nelson, and the Round House, a circular, castellated Georgian banqueting house.
Map
Start:
The Kymin car park, grid ref: SO528125
1
From the car park head toward the white building you can see to the north. This is the Naval Temple.
Naval Temple
Have a look around this first monument to Admiral Lord Nelson and other Admirals. It was erected during the Napoleonic Wars. Surrounded by a low wall with ornamental iron gates, the Naval Temple is a quirky, important (albeit small) and unique building. Finished in 1801, and built by public subscription, it's Britain's oldest monument to the Royal Navy.
2
Walk to the Round House. This quirky Georgian building was built by a group of local gentleman who met here to dine. Emerging on your left is a spectacular view over Monmouth and beyond. You may spot buzzards and peregrine falcons soaring here. You are likely to see Sugar Loaf Mountain, which looks like a pointed volcano from this direction. On a clear day you will see Pen y Fan in the far distance, the highest point of the Brecon Beacons.
The Round House
The Kymin was both created for, and inspired by, picnics more than 200 years ago. A group of local gentlemen formed a picnic club and visited The Kymin every Tuesday. Not wanting to stop when the weather grew colder - they decided to club together and build a little picnic house. This gave rise to the Round House, which they completed in 1796.
3
From the Round House, keep going along the drive. In front of you is Beaulieu Grove, an ancient woodland once used particularly for charcoal burning. Enter this woodland and follow the well-worn track along the top of the ridge until you reach the viewpoint with a bench and information board to the left of the path. Carry on for approximately 150m and take the steep winding path downhill on the left, just before the end of the ridge. This can be slippery and difficult to find at certain times of the year. Follow this path downhill for about 250m until it joins a wide vehicular track. Turn right following the track for 600m until you reach a kissing gate signed 'Kymin'. Go through the gate and follow the path through the middle of the field. Continue uphill through a few trees, then cross diagonally through a second field to a kissing gate to re-enter the Kymin ground.
The Cathedral in the Forest
Just before you get to the last kissing gate, look left towards the Wye Valley and you can see the tower of Newland Church, otherwise known as the Cathedral in the Forest.
4
Go back through the kissing gate, and keeping The Old Stable to your left, walk straight ahead until you come to the Bowling Green. This was landscaped by the same people who built the Round House and is a lovely spot for a picnic or a game of croquet. If you're not stopping, then it's a short walk back along the drive to the car park.
End:
The Kymin car park, grid ref: SO528125
