Month: August 2017

Total miles: 18.6

Elevation gain: 1,037 ft

Time walking: 9am – 6pm

Miles to date: 559.5

Today was a nice day. It wasn’t remarkable as far as days walking go, but there were some lovely bits, my body survived the third long day in a row, and I got to meet up with some old university friends for an early lunch en route.

I made an earlyish start from Chester, a little sad that I didn’t have more time to explore but given that the reason I’d moved my rest day (originally planned for today) was so that I could spend tomorrow afternoon and evening with one of my dearest friends, it was a sacrifice worth making!

I don’t go through many big towns and cities on this route but when I do there is always an art to finding the prettiest route in and out. For Chester, this was the canal. I dropped back to the spot where I’d left it last night and followed it for another mile or so before cutting up along some suburban streets to pick up the Longster Trail. Along the way a friendly postman came over to chat, it turns out he is a keen backpacker too and we had a nice conversation, with him wishing me well as I headed on. I always find people’s reactions interesting. Some people are utterly amazed at what I’m doing, some think I’m bonkers, others think it’s pretty cool and are a little envious. You can always tell fellow hikers though, there is a sense of respect, understanding, shared passion and support. We are a crazy bunch, us hikers!

I picked up the Longster Trail – which disappointingly has a very uninteresting waymarker – just an arrow with “longster trail” written on it (I think it’s a Cheshire thing, I followed three different trails and they all had the same style waymarker!) – and followed it across pretty farmland up to the village of Great Barrow. There is a gorgeous little cafe called the Bluebell Cafe on the Barrowmere Estate where I met up with Jo and Rich who I hadn’t seen since Durham! Kudos to them on logistics – they were returning to Durham from the Isle of Man via Rich’s parents in Liverpool and managed to work in meeting me en route! We had a lovely early lunch together (a huge tuna melt jacket potato, scrumptious lemon curd cake and a latte) and I could have curled up and snoozed afterwards! Alas I had another 13 miles to go so I had to get a wriggle on!

Soon after Great Barrow I left the Longster Trail to cut across farmland on other footpaths until I picked up the Baker Way. As I faced overgrown field edges I thought longingly back to the lovely clear Offa’s Dyke and Coast paths! The first field was the worst (pushing through waist high broad beans tangled with brambles, thistles and nettles….) and then thankfully it got a bit easier. The plus side was that there were soooo many big fat juicy blackberries today. I wished I could have collected some…not that I could have eaten any more…!

My route took me to the edge of Delamere Forest and once there I took a big deep lungful of the pine-filled air. Ahhhh. This was heaven! Soft walking along pine needle-coated paths, muffled footsteps and the sound of the breeze high up in the tree tops. I love walking through forests with pine trees, the smell takes me right back to when we used to go camping at my favourite campsite, where my friends and I would run around for hours through pine forests. I followed a slightly circuitous route as I wanted to head to some toilets marked on the map. Frustratingly they didn’t exist so I looped back to the next promising spot – Delamere train station, where I knew I could also stop for some ice cream (recommended by Rich). The path took me around Blakemere Moss, a lake in the middle of the forest, but you only got a few glimpses of it through the thick trees that lined the shore. Great for the wildlife, not so great for people wanting to see the wildlife! The route also went under the Go Ape course which looked really fun. It’s still something I’ve never done! One for the bucket list. Arriving at the station I saw the cafe but couldn’t see any ice cream. Ah well, I needed a break so I had a pot of tea and a lovely apple and cinnamon scone while I took my boots off and had a look at the rest of my route. I was pleasantly surprised to find I only had another 4 or 5 miles left! My feet and legs were starting to feel it though, so I was pretty glad.

When I re-booted, loaded up and headed off, I finally spotted the ice cream just around the corner from the cafe. Doh! Still…it only took me a couple of seconds to decide to have an ice cream too! It was delicious!

I followed the Delamere Way out of the forest and caught up with a woman out walking with two boys who were sword fighting with sticks. We chatted as we walked together for about half a mile, before I suddenly realised I had missed a turn while we’d been chatting! Feeling rather sheepish, I said farewell and made an about turn, picking up the right route once more. I had a long stretch along the mostly quiet road to Crowton before picking up a nice bridleway for the last mile or so to my stop for the next two nights, Ash House Farm B&B. Oh my goodness this place is beautiful! I am staying in one of the rooms in the converted fruit store and it is luxurious compared to my hostel and camping nights! I even have a bath!

After making the most of the bath I headed out for the 1 mile stroll to the nearest pub for dinner. It probably seems a bit daft to walk another mile after walking so far already, but it’s amazing how different it is walking without the bag and in different shoes. Not that flip flops can really be called shoes, and they aren’t exactly ideal walking attire, but they make a change for a gentle stroll! It was a stunning golden-sun evening and it was pleasant to stretch the legs and meander leisurely. The food at the pub was basic but delicious and everyone was so friendly. A local couple donated £10! By the time I was done it was mostly dark, but there was enough light in the sky to find my way back and it was incredibly peaceful (other than when the trains came whizzing though (it’s on the west coast mainline!)). The moon was just past full and was just rising, a beautiful and slightly eerie orangey yellow. It would have been a stunning night to camp. Still, I’m incredibly happy to be curled up in my nice comfy bed…!

Tomorrow is my rest day which is definitely needed after three days of 17 mile plus days in a row. In fact, in the last 7 consecutive days of walking, only two days have been shorter than 17 miles! I have a couple of long days coming up too, so I’m going to make the most of putting my feet up. Eunice (my housemate and one of dearest friends) is coming up tomorrow for the night and bringing me hugs and more supplies. Can’t wait!

Total miles: 19.2

Elevation gain: 451 ft

Time walking: 8:30am – 5pm

Miles to date: 540.9

Today was a day of three distinct sections, and although I finished relatively early compared to some of my long days, it felt loooong!

The day started off perfectly, with an early start, making a cup of tea and munching on some granola as the sun rose all hazy over my campsite. There was a very heavy dew which meant my tent was rather damp but it was so fresh and peaceful that it didn’t really bother me. I packed up and made a move, supplementing my breakfast of granola and welshcakes with the numerous blackberries growing along the path.

My plan was to make it to Flint, about 4 miles along the coast, for a second breakfast and to pick up some water (I didn’t really bring enough with me last night). I didn’t go as quickly as I’d planned as it was just so beautiful! I remembered how much I love walking in the early morning and decided I would try to have a few earlier starts. The estuary was incredibly calm and peaceful, the water was so still it reflected the clouds nearly perfectly. The only life seemed to be a handful of seabirds flying along, suddenly plummeting into the water to catch fish, then rapidly rising and continuing their flight, leaving only the slow circular spread of ripples to mark their dive. I made my way along fairly slowly, just enjoying the peace, feeling incredibly happy and lucky to be doing what I’m doing. I wanted to make the most of the wide, calm estuary and fresh air as I knew soon I was heading towards the much more industrial section of the Dee!

As I neared Flint I kept an eye out for the castle. It is one I’ve wanted to see ever since I saw Shakespeare’s Richard II, one act of which is set in Flint Castle. I was surprised that it only made an appearance as I rounded the last bend, past the old Flint dock. It was tucked away much more than I expected, from the seaward side at least. It’s much more prominent from the other direction which seemed the wrong way around to me. The castle itself isn’t huge, but the four corner towers and connecting walls are all there, albeit in a state of ruin. I learnt that the castle was deliberately ruined after the civil war, when the new parliament didn’t want to risk it being used in future conflict as it had been by both sides during the war. There was a picture suggesting what it might have looked like before it was ruined and it did look quite impressive with the water coming right up to the walls (which it no longer does).

The short detour into Flint itself was a bit of a shock to the system after the quiet of the estuary – busy roads and bustling with people – but civilisation does bring the benefits of coffee and loos! I came across the characterful Court House Cafe which claims to be based in the second oldest building in town. After thoroughly enjoying my soya latte and breakfast panini a family stopped to talk to me and ask me about my trip, making a donation too. Then the owner of the cafe came over and gave me some bottles of water and juice for free to take with me. People really are so lovely!

Leaving Flint, the path soon left the estuary and followed the main road for a number of miles, into Connah’s Quay. It wasn’t the nicest section of the walk, but it was interesting to see all the massive power stations, factories and other big industrial plants which was a first for this journey. My feet didn’t enjoy the miles of tarmac, but there was plenty of that still to come!

At Connah’s Quay the path rejoins the Dee, which is just a wide brown river now, with no hint of the lazy, expansive estuary it becomes a mile or so downstream. There is a good view of the Flintshire Bridge from here, which I had been able to see since yesterday. It’s the largest asymmetrical cable-stayed bridge in the UK and it is quite beautiful, in a modern architecture way. It reminded me of a smaller, asymmetrical version of the old Severn Bridge.

At Queensferry, after a quick detour into the Asda there (once again feeling rather out of place in all my hiking gear when everyone else is just going about their daily business!), the path shared the cycle path along the River Dee into Chester. It was four miles of perfectly straight, flat walking and it was dull and painful! For some reason (I suspect human intervention) the river here is dead straight. It was plod plod plod, with no real landmarks by which to judge distance, and by this point my legs and feet are aching. Flat walking might be quicker but it can be just as hard on your muscles as it is so repetitive, there is no alteration to gait or pace, and my legs and butt started to seize up. I had to keep stopping to stretch out and to relieve the monotony with some chocolate or sweets! The weather kept me on my toes with big black clouds all around – I could see the sheets of rain coming down – but I willed it to go around me, not over me, and remarkably other than a little drizzle I stayed dry!

Reaching the first bend in the river was a relief as past here it was only a mile to Chester, with the Welsh/English border to be crossed for the final time this trip. The border is marked by two standing stones and a “Welcome to Wales” flagstone. Interestingly, no welcome into England! On the edge of Chester I joined the Shropshire Union Canal and watched some boats going through the locks, then followed the canal along a section of the city walls before heading off to find my hostel, not far from the canal itself.

Remarkably, despite my long day, I managed to arrive at 5pm! If I hadn’t have been so tired it would have been the perfect opportunity to explore the city a little but after a couple of long days in a row I was exhausted. So my evening consisted of doing some much-needed washing, having a shower, drinking tea and stuffing myself with an amazing Indian takeout! Thankfully I have visited Chester before, so I don’t feel too bad about not going out. One more long day tomorrow and then a rest day, and I’ve found a nice b&b to stay in near Acton Bridge so it’ll be a little bit of luxury for two nights!

Total miles: 13.6

Elevation gain: 2,353ft

Time walking: 12pm – 7pm

Miles to date: 504.2

Last day of Offa’s Dyke! I can’t quite believe it’s over, it is a path I have wanted to walk for so long and now I’ve gone and done it! I have to say I’m glad that this isn’t the finishing point for me, as it is for most people, as I don’t think I’d be ready to stop!

Today wasn’t an easy day, despite the shorter distance, for a number of reasons. Firstly, it was goodbye to Aurelie and the girls all too soon 🙁 thankfully before we said goodbye we had a wonderful breakfast together in Dyserth (after I’d carefully repacked my bag with all the new supplies they had brought with them, and re-waterproofed my jacket, trousers and boots!). Secondly, my bag was heavy again, thanks to the replenishment of supplies. Thirdly, it wasn’t the most interesting of days, after yesterday’s epic. Fourthly, the rain…

It seems a bit unfair to call the walk uninteresting as it certainly wasn’t really, in the grand scheme of things. But after two weeks of stunning walking, there’s something about the final day that just makes you want to get it done! There were a couple of hill forts, but none as spectacular as the previous day, there were some good views, although the sea never seemed to get any closer, and there were some great blackberries and raspberries! But it felt like a bit of a trudge. It didn’t help that the rain was threatening again and I put up with drizzle for a while before finally donning the waterproofs as it got heavier and heavier. For the first time on the walk the wind and rain combo actually made me feel cold and I wondered whether I should have worn the long-sleeved top that Aurelie had brought up for me! Thinking of the rain over the last couple of weeks I worked out that in the two weeks of Offa’s Dyke I had only had four days where it hadn’t rained. A little different to my first three weeks when I only had three days where it did rain! I guess my weather luck had to run out at some point. Still, I guess it’s a good sign that even with the rain I still loved Offa’s Dyke! The other good news is that my boots appear to be waterproof again, having treated them this morning. Whoop!

To make the walk a little easier I kept playing silly games with myself. Up the first hill (and a stretch along a road) it was the blackberry game. Basically, head to the next promising looking blackberry  bush and reward myself with a few blackberries. It was slow but steady progress! The second was splitting each hill into little sections of 10 or so steps. “It’s all miles”, I kept repeating to myself. Every step is one less step to do!

About 7 miles in I paused on a wall for a break and to munch on the bakewell slice Aurelie bought for me from the cafe that morning (yuuum!) as the rain came down, and that cheered me up a little. I was also cheered by the fact I didn’t have to climb the impressive looking Y Foel but could admire it from below.  Same for Graig Fawr which on another day would probably have been quite appealing!

I didn’t escape the climb up to the Prestatyn Hillside but happily it wasn’t too arduous a climb considering the views and the steep drop down into the town the other side! Perhaps it was just that I got distracted by the huge patch of raspberries on the way up…! As I walked along the (rather overgrown and therefore wet) path along the top of the hill I could hear a bell tolling in the village below (the call to Sunday evening prayer I’m guessing) and a line of John Donne’s poem came to me – “Ask not for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee”. I can’t remember the whole of the poem but I knew it at one time, it is the “No man is an island, entire of itself” poem. It seemed quite fitting, for it to come back to me now, as I walk alone, but not on my own (see my second post way back before I started this walk!).

This proved to be a walk that keeps giving right up to the end and just when I thought the hills were over, even on top of the hillside there was another final climb before the descent at last into Prestatyn. Even then it was another mile to the actual finish, right down along Prestatyn high street! Being Sunday evening most things were shut except some bars and restaurants. I’m tempted to stop for dinner there and then so I don’t have to come back out in the rain, but part of me really wants to just finish, get in, dump my pack and have a hot shower! So I keep heading down to the beach (up and over the railway station which confused me a bit!) and the restaurants etc peeter out. The beach is deserted, hardly surprising I suppose, but there is the official finish point, complete with sculpture representing the rising or setting sun (depending on whether you are starting or finishing). I found it amusing that on the signpost it says “Chepstow 182 miles” when every single bit of literature everywhere states that Offa’s Dyke path is 177 miles long, and even the halfway sign is 88.5 miles each way. Not sure where the extra 5 miles came from! Still, I know I’ve done more than 177 miles anyway by the time I add in all the diversions to accommodation etc, so who’s counting… 😉

Apparently it is tradition to finish the walk by taking your boots off and walking into the sea. With the rain and the tide being out I was tempted to skip that bit, but tradition is tradition so I headed down towards the waves, getting incredibly sandy in the process, and stripped off my boots and socks to have a quick (and cold!) paddle. Offa’s Dyke officially completed! Which also marks 500 miles of my journey complete – I can now officially start singing the Proclaimers’ song….!

Now both wet AND sandy I headed off to find my accommodation which thankfully was right on the sea front about 500m from the finish point. My lovely Airbnb host Anne quickly took all my wet gear and hung it up to dry then made me a cup of tea and fed me some biscuits, exactly what was needed! My plan was to shower and head out to find some food but as the rain showed no signs of relenting Anne and her friend Mike refused to let me go back out and instead very kindly made me some (delicious!) dinner from bits and pieces they had in the house. So sweet! They also made me a hot chocolate and we sat in front of their cosy wood burner sharing stories. Eventually I had to excuse myself so I could head upstairs and try to find accommodation for tomorrow night, as unfortunately it turned out the campsite I thought was in Holywell is actually nowhere near it! The search has been unsuccessful so far, so not quite sure yet where exactly I’ll be staying, but I’m sure I’ll find something…

Anyway, tomorrow is the start of leg 3, probably my least planned leg…who knows what it will bring!

Miles walked: 0

Sleep, eat, rest, eat, sleep, plan, eat, pack, sleep!

Total miles: 12.4

Elev gain: 518 ft

Time walking: 9am – 2pm

Miles to date: 438.8

A lovely short(ish) and flat day today, which I was glad of given the weather! I had an earlyish start as the friend I was staying with had to head to work, but this was pretty good as it meant I’d end up with a rest afternoon as well as a rest day!

Today’s route took me across the Severn plain. The river here is pretty small and lies low beneath deep banks, quite different from the Severn I crossed just over a week ago! Apparently it can flood here though, so I was thankful that we hadn’t had an awful summer. Apart from a short stretch along the disused but pretty Montgomery Canal the first two thirds of the day followed the river through fields with views to the ever-nearing Breidden hills and the massive quarry that scars the western side. The banks of the river are quite overgrown so sadly I didn’t get too many glimpses of the river itself but there were a few wider stretches around lazy corners where I saw swans and flocks of geese. Lots of sheep and cows today. Thankfully none of the cows paid me too much attention so my faith in cows is starting to return!

The most exciting part of the morning was coming across lots of plum and apple trees right on the path! There were masses of small but beautifully sweet plums and I collected as many as I could carry and/or eat. Fresh fruit isn’t something I’ve had a lot of on this trip so it felt like such a treat! I collected a couple of apples too, and wondered if I’d find a good patch of blackberries to complement them in a hedgerow dessert.

The rain was on and off for a while and it was back to the waterproof saga. It seems to be a pattern this week – the weather starts out dry and promising, then there are showers, then a period of consistent heavy rain. After the first shower I made it to Four Crosses and hoped the pub might be open for some lunch and a sit down but sadly, as is the case with most pubs I come across, it was closed, so it was a case of continuing on for the last few miles to Llanymynech. Just outside of Four Crosses I rejoined the canal and it was a very pretty stretch. It’s a shame it is no longer in use as it is getting covered in weed (which makes funny trails where the ducks swim through!) but there are some clear parts where the trees reflect in the water.

It was here that the rain started in earnest, after a good few rumbles of thunder! This was proper rain, the kind that feels like it’s starting to seep through even the toughest waterproofs. It didn’t help that it took me 20 minutes to realise that my pit-zips were still open…oops! There were a couple of pretty, but incredibly narrow, locks and a big beautiful house right next to them. It was very picturesque but it was so wet I didn’t dare get my phone out to take a photo!

I arrived in the little village of Llanymynech, where the English/Welsh border is the high street, soaking wet but pleased to see a post office – I can collect another official stamp! There are three pubs, an Indian restaurant and a takeaway (possibly Chinese) but of course none were open, however thankfully the shop with the post office was filled with all sorts of useful foods so I dropped my bag and went shopping! The prospect of two nights in accommodation with a kitchen was very exciting and I determined to make the most of it. Of course, a little convenience store doesn’t give masses of choice but I was still pretty impressed and managed to put together a nice basket of meat, veg, rice, eggs, tea, biscuits and cake. And a warm sausage roll! Heaven to a wet and hungry hiker who has survived on lunches of oatcakes and peanut butter for the last few days! I even bought a paper. Mainly for the purpose of stuffing my wet boots with, but I figured it would be interesting to see what was going on in the wider world and I could see if my brain was still on form with the puzzle section 🙂

Stuffing what I could into my rucksack, the rest went into a bag for life and I was glad I didn’t have far to go to my stop for the next couple of nights. I had a few options in terms of route and decided to continue to follow the canal along Wat’s Dyke Way (which I think I follow again when I head to Holywell from Prestatyn) which a) was flat, b) avoided the main road and c) went past some old Limekilns. Ok, so I didn’t know about c) when I took that route, but this area is famous for its history in limestone quarrying so it was interesting to see! The farm I am staying at is just beneath Llanymynech Rocks which is the old quarry and now a nature reserve. Earlier quarrying was for copper in the Roman times and silver later on, then limestone in the 19th and early 20th century. The canal was used to transport quicklime (the product of burning limestone) westward to the farmlands of the Severn plain, and limestone eastwards to be used in removing impurities in the making of iron and steel. The canal wasn’t in action for long before the railway came along and it fell into disuse. The railway is also now disused, but is much less obvious than the canal!

The last short burst of uphill was tough after a flat day and with the extra weight of my shopping but I soon made it to my farm. And what a spot! I’m staying in a converted bull barn (thankfully bull-free) on a tiny farm (Underhill Farm) that is being run as an eco-venue. The stables have been turned into a kitchen and a bathroom, and larger barns are used as meeting rooms or accommodation for larger groups. Everything has been upcycled, recycled or reclaimed so there is a higgledy piggledy air to the place and it is very peaceful. Aside from a tiny amount of road noise in the distance the main sounds are the sheep in the next field and the buzzards and peregrines! My room is basic but has plenty of room for me to spread my stuff around to dry out, including my tent which is soaking wet! I have a little wood burner which is making the room quite cosy, and I managed to Skype in to my Tuesday yoga class! I love how I can be in the middle of nowhere and still benefit from technology. The yoga is definitely needed, I’m getting a little stiff again! I’m hoping that in Chester, my rest stop next week, I’ll be able to find another sports massage!

My plans for my rest day are to sleep, eat, drink copious cups of tea (they have teapots!), do some stretching, plan the next week or so of accommodation and meet the lovely Chris and Karyl Iles for lunch. It’s a hard life!

Total miles: 14.3

Elevation gain: 1,670 ft

Time walking: 11am – 6pm

Miles to date: 426.4

Today started with an amazing breakfast! Always a good way to start the day! I slept so well last night after three nights of camping and some tough walking and I woke up to the gorgeous view over the Vale of Montgomery out towards the hills in the distance. After some tea in my room while catching up on my blog I headed down to breakfast and my, what a spread! Cereals, yoghurts, fruit, all sorts, and then a delicious full English. The most exciting thing though was the marmite and the Nutella! I probably ate a bit too much toast but yuuum! Ceinwen was a lovely host and I’d definitely stay there again, it was a little bit of luxury. I even got to meet two of her gorgeous granddaughters who were charming young girls with pretty Welsh names.

After donning my now dry gear I headed off, for once downhill to start with! The path quickly joined the dyke itself again as it headed down past Mellington Hall. Just a note if anyone reading this plans to walk the route and stay or eat there… despite making a big deal of the fact they are right on the path there isn’t actually any access from the path (and some big signs warning you not to cross the fence!) except right at the end of a very long drive which would make it a very long round trip to get there and back! The path passes through pleasant woodland though and I was glad of the shelter of the trees as the first shower of the day passed overhead.

Crossing over the bridge at Brompton it was back into England, a crossing I’d make several times today as the path and the dyke follow the true line of the border for several miles. Often I’d be walking with one foot in England, the other in Wales, sometimes crossing from country to country when the path switched sides over the dyke. Aside from that amusement the path wasn’t terribly interesting for a few miles, it followed a very straight line through fields and although the level walking made a pleasant break from yesterday’s ups and downs it made for very few good views.

Passing the market town of Montgomery a mile to the west, with its ruined castle up on the hill, I decided not to take the detour into the town as I wanted to press on and I didn’t really need anything. Although I did see a sign advertising the official Offa’s Dyke path beer which would have been tempting had I been a beer drinker!

Leaving Montgomery behind and heading for the first tiny hills of the day the black clouds started to roll in, looking spectacular over the plain but indicating that I was probably going to get wet soon! Thankfully I made it halfway up the hill and to the shade of a big old oak tree before it came, and after 5 minutes of waiting to see if it would pass, when the raindrops started to make their way through the canopy, I finally relented and donned the waterproofs.

The waterproofs came off again half an hour later, only to be back on again 5 minutes after that. I keep thinking I should just put up with walking with the waterproofs on, but when it is not raining they quickly get hot and steamy, especially with a 20kg pack on your back!

The only real bit of note along that little section, other than the waterproof dilemma, was being chased across a field by a herd of sheep. I don’t think they were chasing me away, I think they were pleased to see me! Perhaps they thought I had food or something, but the moment they saw me they all pelted towards me baa-ing and ran right up to me, trying to come through the gate with me. I have to say, I much prefer being chased by sheep than by cows! They bleated after me longingly as I made my way into the next field, and I felt sorry that I wasn’t the bearer of food that day.

Half a mile out of Forden the path finally started to climb properly as it made its way into the woods of the Leighton Estate. It was pretty much a mile of forest paths which levelled out after the first climb. Approaching the head of a valley I spotted a young pheasant scuttling out of my way, and then another. Aww, how cute, I thought! Then I rounded the corner and was faced with hundreds of young pheasants all suddenly dashing for cover every which way. Like, seriously hundreds! There were pheasants everywhere! On the path in front of me, dashing up the bank beside me, scrambling up crumbling rock faces, diving down the bank on the opposite side, leaping off a bridge and attempting to fly away. I clearly had come across a pheasant farm but I have never seen so many in one place…it had the makings of some sort of low-budget, pheasant-themed horror movie!

Leaving the pheasants behind, the path continued past a serene little lake then out onto a tiny road where it started to climb up the remainder of the hill. Eventually the path comes out into the open and the tree covered Iron Age hill fort – The Beacon Ring – comes into view, shortly followed by stunning views to either side. At the top an information board informs me that one side of the view is England, the other is Wales. Amusingly, it is beautifully sunny in England and cloudy and rainy in Wales! In between rain clouds the mountains of Snowdonia are silhouetted on the horizon and they look very majestic. Part of me wishes I was headed that way as there is always something incredibly inspiring about walking towards something so visible  in the distance, and Snowdonia is somewhere I definitely haven’t explored enough yet! But, for now, that adventure will just have to wait for another day.

The climb of the day complete, it’s time to head down down down towards the Severn plain (I’m trying to figure out where I must have crossed the River Severn to get back to the eastern side, but haven’t worked it out yet!) to my finishing point for the day at Buttington. My toes and ankle are feeling the downhill and my boots are quite wet so I’m looking forward to getting them off.  I make it only a few minutes before I’m due to be picked up which is a good thing as the pub wasn’t open yet!

Staying with my friend Rhian tonight and she took me out for a massive pub dinner. I had roasted belly pork and mashed potato with a whole heap of vegetables. Amazing! Only a short walk tomorrow and then a rest day, yippee!

Night night x