Martin's Mag.

Lucy with stick in a field of wild garlic in the exotically-named Paradise Bottom, Leigh Woods, SW of Bristol.

“A steady climb from Pandy brings you to the first dramatic upland section of the Trail in the Black Mountains and the highest point of the route at 2300 ft (700m). This section straddling the national border on the Hatterall Ridge lies within the Brecon Beacons National Park. Once the summit has been reached the Trail follows a well-defined and improved ridge walk for about 11 miles to Hay Bluff, with stunning views to either side. You have the Vale of Ewyas to one side and the Olchon Valley to the other with distant views of the Skirrid, Sugar Loaf and much more from different points along the ridge. Many walkers break the journey across the ridge with an overnight stay at either Llanthony Priory with its 11th century Augustinian Priory or, on the other side of the ridge, Longtown with its 12th century Norman motte-and-bailey fortification. The whole of this upland section is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest with various management regimes in place to improve its condition. The final descent brings you into Hay on Wye, famed for its numerous bookshops, the town also has the ruins of two Norman castles. [© www.nationaltrail.co.uk]“

For time/location/access reasons we had to do this section in two stages. The first was from Pandy to Llantony Priory.

The second, twelve mile, section of this stretch started with quite a steep climb from the priory back up to Offa’s Dyke path. Fantastic views for miles across the Brecon Beacons.

A walk with Miles and Flo (and Lucy) around Burrington on the edge of the Mendips, ending with lunch at The Plume of Feathers in Rickford and watching the geese on the lake. Nice day.

Offa’s Dyke Path starts in England overlooking the Severn estuary which is designated as a Maritime Natural Area. The estuary has the second highest tidal range in the world caused by the 5 rivers that feed the estuary and its funnel shape. The Dyke itself is first met at the very start of the Trail, close to Sedbury Cliff. The Trail passes to the east of Chepstow with views of Chepstow Castle, the oldest surviving post Roman fortification in Britain. From here the Trail continues its journey north on the eastern side of the River Wye high on the tree lined escarpment with a number of classic viewpoints, one of the most iconic being the view of Tintern Abbey from Devil’s Pulpit. The Trail makes its first of many journeys across the border into Wales at Redbrook and continues on to the viewpoint at The Kymin, with its 17th century banqueting hall and naval temple. This section of the Trail finishes in Monmouth, a Welsh border town situated at the confluence of the Rivers Wye, Monnow and Trothy and perhaps best known as the birthplace of Henry V. One of the town’s best known landmarks is the 13th century Monnow Bridge, the only remaining Medieval fortified bridge in Great Britain, which the Trail passes under. [https://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/offas-dyke-path/routes]

Making the most of some record-breaking weather at the end of February we were joined on some of the journey by our friends, F&P.

We’ve decided, probably rashly, to walk Offa’s Dyke Path this year. And, I expect, next year too. We’ve made a start, going all the way from the Severn Estuary at the mouth of the River Wye, just east of Chepstow, to, er, Chepstow. Only 175 miles to go!

Risca, to the north-west of Newport in Wales, is not a tourist town by any means, but it is borded to the north by the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal, and to the south by the Ebbw River and the Sirhowy Valley, so it is easy to devise an interesting walk, in our case about eight miles.