Day 32 - Hay-on-Wye to Kington - 16.9 miles
As I repacked the rucksack I made the mistake of listening to Radio 4 and Gove being asked about the Tory's likely failure to meet their manifesto pledges on house building. He squirmed around......
- communities have resisted new housing because it's not beautiful enough
- new house building shouldn't be measured by an arbitrary arithmetical target and
- he didn't want " to be tied to a Procrustean bed".!!!
I hadn't realised R4 had a comedy slot so early in the morning.
Not a good way to start the day.
Hay-on-Wye Butter market in the rain.
Because of the weather I decided on a later breakfast and met Tim and Eleanor
who were planning the next stage of their walk southwards on to the Hatterall Ridge and were wisely delaying their start.
We walked on through showers and sunshine.
Having seen the weather forecast for the day, the prospects weren't good with heavy rain all morning. This was going to be the first day of walking in the rain since I'd started.
Because of the weather I decided on a later breakfast and met Tim and Eleanor
Eventually, I got going and in the continuing rain, my route northwards led over the Wye bridge
and then along a pleasant woodland track following the line of the river.
I got talking to a guy with a wool shirt and ponytail riding a quadbike. He mentioned that some of the churches along the way would be open for hot drinks and with honesty boxes. A hardy soul, he was convinced we'd seen the end of the rain. As we were talking and blocking the track we met Ginny who, like me was dressed for the rain.
Ginny is taking a week's holiday to walk Offa's Dyke and then return southwards to visit her ma and pa in Chepstow. She's been camping all the way and described the challenges of pitching a tent in the rain and in the morning dismantling and packing away a damp tent and then carrying it for the day. Despite a very soggy start to the day, she was still smiling.
The track eventually leaves the river and climbs up Bettws Dingle where the path was almost blocked with broom in full beautiful bloom but without the wonderful perfume of gorse. That was still to come.
At Newchurch, there was a welcoming sign at the gate offering coffee and biscuits, the doors were open and we took the opportunity for a picnic lunch and were soon joined by other grateful walkers. It was difficult to resist the chocolate digestives.
As we left Newchurch, we met Joyce and Maureen. We could tell from the important clip-board ....
that Maureen was arranging a village meeting and in the process of mustering the troops.
Rising up on to the ridge we met more beautiful wild horses
again it felt a privilege to be in their domain.
Hergest Ridge has a very special almost spiritual feeling to it.
After a long descent off the ridge, we finally arrived at Kington.
It had been a really enjoyable day walking and talking with Ginny.
Kington knows where its competition lies !!!
104 reg
Paleoarchaeolgist studied in Sheffield then worked for a while in oregan, utah before following other interests to Hong Kong
Newchurch
I feel as though by luck, on this walk I keep meeting experts. Ginny studied Paleo-archaeolgy at Sheffield then worked for a while in Oregan and Utah before following other interests to Hong Kong.
At Newchurch, there was a welcoming sign at the gate offering coffee and biscuits, the doors were open and we took the opportunity for a picnic lunch and were soon joined by other grateful walkers. It was difficult to resist the chocolate digestives.
As we left Newchurch, we met Joyce and Maureen. We could tell from the important clip-board ....
She mentioned that her surname was Lloyd and a popular Radnorshire name. She humourously described the historical claims and counterclaims over the contrasting qualities of the girls of Breconshire and Radnorshire.
By Disgwylfa Hill, the clouds had dissipated and in bright sunshine you could see for miles in all directions with the sound of skylark, stonechat and yellow hammer.
Before long we had our first sight of Hergest ridge in the sunshine.
After a long descent off the ridge, we finally arrived at Kington.
It had been a really enjoyable day walking and talking with Ginny.
On the way into town, the first poppies of the summer.
Kington knows where its competition lies !!!
Total distance so far = 396.4 plus 17 miles
Total ascent so far = 51 809 feet
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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/
- 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/
104 reg
Paleoarchaeolgist studied in Sheffield then worked for a while in oregan, utah before following other interests to Hong Kong
Newchurch
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