Round of the Priest's Nose.

Start. Manorbier.

Route. Manorbier - St James the Great Church - King's Quoit - Priest's Nose - Rook's Cave - Coomb - Presipe - Hill Farm - Manorbier.

Notes. Again we found ourselves in the pleasant coastal village of Manorbier (Manor of Pyr) under the walls of the imposing fortress. Truth is this is the other half of the walk to Swanlake Bay, the walk we abandoned due to heat exhaustion and thunder, the air was cooler today making for far pleasanter walking.

At the rear of the car park a stile allowed access to a narrow lane, this grey ribbon ascends to a Norman church, St James the Great Church stands on a earlier monastic site, the West Tower is the oldest part of the building, other extensions date from 13th and 14th centuries, the Victorians remodeled the church as they did with so many buildings across the British Isles.

After a look round the church we climbed through the cemetery to access a sunken path (hollow way), this guided us towards the coast, on reaching an obvious path junction we descended to King’s Quoit, a Neolithic burial chamber. The cromlech is on steep ground overlooking Manorbier Bay, the capstone 13ft-8ft is supported partly by two upright stones partly by the steep sloping ground. From the monolith we followed a narrow path passed a startling chasm that looked like it had been cut by a giant knife, we round the Priest's Nose, greeting us a seascape of churning water, shattered rock, gullies, cliffs and caves, all looked to be painted blood red, the colour of the sandstone. Ahead the high promontory was Old Castle Head the site of an ancient hill fort, now home to an artillery training school.

A couple of steep ups and downs followed, once above Presipe a gate greeted us, we passed through said gate then left the coast path, another trod rose through pastures in the company of a dry stone wall, this we followed over the hill and down to Hill Farm. We passed to the right of the farm buildings stiles aided our crossing of field boundaries, we soon stepped into a narrow tree lined lane to be confronted by a large lime kiln. To the left the track passed a lovely cottage to access a narrow tarmac lane, this we followed back into Manorbier, straight to the castle tea room.

view route map.

home.

Guarding this narrow valley covering all routes from the sea, the imposing Norman Castle at Manorbier.

Another Norman building, commanding a fine position on the hillside St James the Great Church.

Leaving the church yard this hollow way guided us to the coast.

View taken over the beach at Manorbier Bay, the lower building is The Dak past the other day, also passed the other day Atlantic View stands proud on the skyline.

Cromlech known as the King's Quoit, a Neolithic burial chamber commanding stunning views.

Terrifying slit mentioned in the text above.

Sue strides out above the sandstone rocks below Parson's Piece.

Looking over Coomb with Old Castle Head in the distance.

Dramatic rock scenery along the jagged edge where land meets sea.

Looking over Presipe and the oddly named Cinigar Pit to Old Castle Head, and yes that is a bloody great gun on the summit.

Descending to Hill Farm looking to the two Norman buildings dominating Manorbier, St James the Great Church and Manorbier Castle.

Tucked away in the woods, a perfect example of a lime kiln.

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