Day 30 - Pandy to Hay-on-Wye - 17.7miles

It must have taken some planning!!! I'd arranged to walk with Pam and Jon only a day after they'd both successfully completed The CamTen 100 - a 107 mile bike ride from Cardiff to Tenby. 
Having travelled up this morning from Swansea they both looked in showroom condition as they climbed out of their smart new campervan.
Sensing a meeting of minds and shared interests with Alan and Liz from yesterday, I'd suggested we all met up for breakfast.
Numerous cups of coffee, bowls of porridge and vegetarian Glamorgan risolles later, we were ready for the off!


Having dropped the van off at Llanfihangel Crucorney we rejoined the Offa's Dyke path. The plan being for us to walk until lunch, Pam and I would continue,  Jonathan would return to the van and drive to Hay and await our arrival before they'd then continue home to Birmingham.

Pam and Jonathan have always set a cracking pace when walking and it wasn't long before we started on the steep ascent 
up on to the Hatterall Ridge.....and on the way met up again with our friends from Cockermouth......
.........and just before the Fort at Upper Pentwyn, our friends from Holland.
Both groups were on their way to Longtown so accounting for my rest day, we discussed the likelihood that we'd all meet up again in a few days time, possibly for a few Butty Bachs in Hay!!

From the start of the ridge, the views in all directions are amazing...for miles....
 and miles....
...and miles!

The ridge rises gradually with the first of  trig points at 1500 feet and then rises easily but constantly towards Hay Bluff.
It was perfect, easy walking with great views.
Despite their CanTen 100, they were still feeling fit at the top, there was no dispute as to who got the Snail or Tortoise trophy! 
 
Along the way we met a number of what seemed like families of wild horses 
all of them seemingly content to be close but not too close to humans.

...that is until they met Jonathan and his patient Horse whispering! 
As it was on the Quantocks a few weeks ago, it feels so special to be up here in their environment.

Wonderful ! 


After about 7 miles, we stopped for our picnic lunch 
....before Jonathan headed back.

The ridge is exposed with no shelter - we were grateful to be walking in such kind conditions. The ground cover is made of low heather and short grass and not a tree in sight. It's not a place you'd want to be in cold or wet weather.

The wind picked up during the afternoon and became quite blustery along the ridge. We were glad not to be walking into the wind. To stand still we would have quickly got cold and though we met a handful of walkers on the path, no one was interested to stop - everyone keen to get off the top.

The views remained fantastic, overlooking Llanthony Priory and the Vale of Ewyas towards Capel y Ffin until we eventually (and by now we both thought thankfully) reached the turning point for Hay Bluff at just a smidge over 2300 feet
 and started our descent towards Hay on Wye
Just outside Cusop, we caught up with Jonathan who'd found a quiet spot to park up and had the most welcome and tastiest cup of tea and biscoff biscuits while luxuriating in their new van. 
I declined the kind offer of a lift, so Pam and Jon continued homewards to Birmingham and I took the short walk to my accommodation - The Seven Stars in the middle of Hay.

 

I don't think they needed to put up 
flags for me but the view from my hotel window feels good.

Glad to be having a day off tomorrow.

Total distance so far = 379.4 miles
Total ascent so far = 49 476 feet

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If you're tempted to contribute to any or all of the great charities I'm supporting, here are the relevant links.

Just Wheels UK  - this is a small charity set up to provide wheelchairs in a rural community in Tanzania. It does this through funding training, education and the local fabrication and servicing of bespoke wheelchairs. My nephew uses a wheelchair and as he grows I can see the life changing freedoms that proper wheelchairs can bring to both users and their families.- 

Parkinsons UK   - My dad had Parkinsons in his latter years and the research work this charity funds and the support it provides to patients and their families is invaluable. - https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/david-thomas215

- RNLI   - these are the brave guys who selflessly head out to sea to help others. I volunteer at Littlehampton RNLI shop and often meet families of those who’ve had first hand experience of their loved ones being saved from the sea. Having sailed for years I can say thankfully we’ve never had to call on the RNLI's services but it’s amazing what it does to know they are there 

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/david-thomas216

    

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