“This section starts off alongside the Wye, last seen at Monmouth, before passing through the rolling territory of the Powys – Herefordshire border. This area is well known for the diaries written by the Victorian country curate Francis Kilvert who wrote about life in the rural parishes with his observations on country life. As a finale to the stage the Trail rises to over 400 metres on Hergest Ridge with dramatic 360 degree views. On a clear day Pen y Fan can be seen to the south, the Malverns to the east and the hills of Shropshire to the north. The summit of Hergest Ridge has an old racecourse which is exactly a mile around. This area was also the inspiration for Arthur Conan Doyle’s Hound of the Baskervilles and Mike Oldfield’s second album Hergest Ridge. The day finishes in the border market town of Kington, a very important livestock town being on the drovers route. [© http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk]“

For logistical reasons I had to leave my bike at a small village called Newchurch. I couldn’t see anywhere to leave it so went into St Mary’s church, where the vicar insisted that I prop it up against a pew, and have a cup of tea. And some cake. It was, of course, still there on our return a few hours later.