Day 40 Offa’s Dyke proper and I reach one million steps

Penny and I walked into Monmouth together this morning before heading our separate ways-she to catch a bus to Hereford and I to buy some sandwiches.

I walked over the Monnow bridge under the gate again and followed the Offa’s Dyke signs.

The views improved, I walked through fields, then uphill through the woods -no woodland path photos today you’ll be pleased to hear but a better orchid photo to make up for the rather poor picture in Cheddar Gorge. I’ve also got a photo of a pyramidal orchid that I’ll add in.

A few miles in I met up with a couple of other walkers. Harry was walking Offa’s Dyke path and Damian is walking to John O’Groats. Naturally we swapped routes, reminiscences etc and so the first 10 miles passed swiftly. We walked through well way-marked fields, and orchards (apparently they pick the apples mechanically from the ground said Harry who is from Bristol).

I left Harry and Damian to have lunch at a moated site-Hen Gwrt. It was built for the Bishop of Llandaff but now all that remains is a moat with some mown grass. Not even a dahlia. It was a great place for lunch.

After lunch the next landmark was White Castle which is the most amazing ruin. There I met Karen and Paul again, and chatted to some passers by.

By now, it wasn’t far to Llangattock Lingoed where I was staying at the Hunters Moon pub. At about 14 miles I started to feel tired but there was still a very steep hill to climb to the pub. It was with some relief I reached the top of the hill and the church where a local told me I could walk through the churchyard to the pub. 15.6 miles total-the furthest so far. I saw Damian having a drink before he set off again, and later, having showered and changed, looked out of my window and saw Karen sitting at a table so went to join her and Paul.

And yes, I have taken 1,028,245 steps. Impressive, huh? My feet definitely know it!