Our itinerary:
Slight change to the itinerary - the original plan was to walk 9 full days - problem is, we haven't really got enough leave to travel on separate days any more. Consequently, we intend to walk for 8 full days and two half days (if that makes sense) travelling from Rugby to Prestatyn on the morning of day one and travelling from Chepstow to Rugby on day 10. Consequently, the itinerary now looks like this:
Slight change to the itinerary - the original plan was to walk 9 full days - problem is, we haven't really got enough leave to travel on separate days any more. Consequently, we intend to walk for 8 full days and two half days (if that makes sense) travelling from Rugby to Prestatyn on the morning of day one and travelling from Chepstow to Rugby on day 10. Consequently, the itinerary now looks like this:
Day One - Friday 20th May 2011:
Travel by train from Rugby to Prestatyn and then:
Travel by train from Rugby to Prestatyn and then:
Prestatyn to Bodfari - 12 miles
This section begins with a gentle amble out of the coastal resort of Prestatyn (of course it's traditional for any ODP walkers to skinny dip in the sea first and collect a pebble from the beach which you can chuck into the Bristol Channel from the top of Sedbury Cliffs some 177 miles later!) but will then present us with our first major challenge - the foothills of the Clwydian Hills.
We're camping at Station Caravan Park, Bodfari.
This section begins with a gentle amble out of the coastal resort of Prestatyn (of course it's traditional for any ODP walkers to skinny dip in the sea first and collect a pebble from the beach which you can chuck into the Bristol Channel from the top of Sedbury Cliffs some 177 miles later!) but will then present us with our first major challenge - the foothills of the Clwydian Hills.
We're camping at Station Caravan Park, Bodfari.
Day Two - Saturday 21st May 2011:
Bodfari to Llandegla - 17 miles
Bodfari to Llandegla - 17 miles
The Clwydian range stretches for some 20 miles in a series of whaleback ridges - the highest of which is Moel Fammau (1442ft) on top of which is the Jubilee Tower built in 1810 to mark the jubilee of King George III.
We're camping in the garden of Llandegla Memorial Hall.
Day Three - Sunday 22nd May 2011:
Llandegla to Racecourse Common - 21.5 miles
This section takes us down to the foothills of the Clwydian range and through the town of Llangollen before climbing again through woodland towards Castle Mill. En route we will cross the Pontcysyllte Aquaduct, built by Thomas Telford in 1795. Walkers get a great view from the 126ft drop!
We're camping at Carreg-y-big Equestrian Centre, near Bakers Hill.
Day Four - Monday 23rd May 2011:
Racecourse Common to Buttington - 20 miles
This section takes us through the town of Llanymynech and then on to the Breidden Hills, a volcanic outcrop of dolerite rock rising to 1198ft above sea level that was used by Caractacus against the Romans in AD43. Caractacus held out against the Romans for 9 years until finally defeated by Claudius in AD51 when he was taken to Rome in chains. If we get attacked by Romans we'll offer them Richard as a sacrifice!
We're camping on the lawn of the Green Dragon pub in Buttington.
This section takes us through the town of Llanymynech and then on to the Breidden Hills, a volcanic outcrop of dolerite rock rising to 1198ft above sea level that was used by Caractacus against the Romans in AD43. Caractacus held out against the Romans for 9 years until finally defeated by Claudius in AD51 when he was taken to Rome in chains. If we get attacked by Romans we'll offer them Richard as a sacrifice!
We're camping on the lawn of the Green Dragon pub in Buttington.
Day Five - Tuesday 24th May 2011:
Buttington - Newcastle - 19.5 miles
This section takes us through the towns of Montgomery and Bishop's Castle via a path called the Kerry Ridgeway - an ancient trackway that, of all the drover's roads, has survived more or less intact. Nearby Bronze Age and Iron Age burial sites and stone circles are evidence that the trackway had a symbolic purpose in ancient times as well as a practical use as a line of communication.
We're camping at Clun Valley Camping in Newcastle.
This section takes us through the towns of Montgomery and Bishop's Castle via a path called the Kerry Ridgeway - an ancient trackway that, of all the drover's roads, has survived more or less intact. Nearby Bronze Age and Iron Age burial sites and stone circles are evidence that the trackway had a symbolic purpose in ancient times as well as a practical use as a line of communication.
We're camping at Clun Valley Camping in Newcastle.
Day Six - Wednesday 25th May 2011:
Newcastle to Kington - 21 miles
This section is characterised by a challenging series of ascents and descents to navigate the hilly country known as the 'switchbacks'. It makes for a challenging day's walk made to feel longer by the constant ups and downs but the country is quintessential Borders, secretive, remote and populated only by cows, sheep, mewing buzzards and three limping and sweaty idiots.
We're camping in Mrs Rolls garden - 9 Duke Street, Kington.
This section is characterised by a challenging series of ascents and descents to navigate the hilly country known as the 'switchbacks'. It makes for a challenging day's walk made to feel longer by the constant ups and downs but the country is quintessential Borders, secretive, remote and populated only by cows, sheep, mewing buzzards and three limping and sweaty idiots.
We're camping in Mrs Rolls garden - 9 Duke Street, Kington.
Day Seven - Thursday 26th May 2011:
Kington to Hay on Wye - 14.5 miles
This 14.5 mile walk includes possibly the best part of the trail, over Hergest Ridge, which has lovely views of the Shropshire Hills, Hay Bluff and the Black mountains, the next day's challenge. This is the area known as the Marches derived from the Anglo-Saxon word mearc meaning simply, a boundary. It was William the Conqueror who resolved to sort out the lawless Welsh once and for all by granting 'Marcher' Lordships to his followers. They were virtually independent fiefdoms with the authority to do pretty much what they wanted as long as they kept the Welsh in check.
We're camping at Radnor's End, Hay.
This 14.5 mile walk includes possibly the best part of the trail, over Hergest Ridge, which has lovely views of the Shropshire Hills, Hay Bluff and the Black mountains, the next day's challenge. This is the area known as the Marches derived from the Anglo-Saxon word mearc meaning simply, a boundary. It was William the Conqueror who resolved to sort out the lawless Welsh once and for all by granting 'Marcher' Lordships to his followers. They were virtually independent fiefdoms with the authority to do pretty much what they wanted as long as they kept the Welsh in check.
We're camping at Radnor's End, Hay.
Day Eight - Friday 27th May 2011:
Hay on Wye to Pandy - 17.5 miles
As we leave the second-hand book capital of the world, we embark on one of the most demanding days of the trip with a slog along Hatterrall Ridge and the highest point along the ODP (2296ft). This section is described in all the guidebooks as a 'real endurance test, with hardly any shelter and no escape route options'. Oh dear! Dominating the view southwards as we approach Pandy will be the long whale-backed ridge called the Skirrid, also known as St Michael's Mount or Holy Mountain. Rising to 1595ft, the summit is encircled by an Iron Age hill-fort. Two square stones and a shallow depression mark the site of St Michael's Chapel, once used by persecuted Catholics for secret worship.
We're camping in the garden of the Rising Sun pub, Pandy.
As we leave the second-hand book capital of the world, we embark on one of the most demanding days of the trip with a slog along Hatterrall Ridge and the highest point along the ODP (2296ft). This section is described in all the guidebooks as a 'real endurance test, with hardly any shelter and no escape route options'. Oh dear! Dominating the view southwards as we approach Pandy will be the long whale-backed ridge called the Skirrid, also known as St Michael's Mount or Holy Mountain. Rising to 1595ft, the summit is encircled by an Iron Age hill-fort. Two square stones and a shallow depression mark the site of St Michael's Chapel, once used by persecuted Catholics for secret worship.
We're camping in the garden of the Rising Sun pub, Pandy.
Day Nine - Saturday 28th May 2011:
Pandy to Monmouth - 17 miles
Another challenging section, this time over the Black Mountains, part of the Brecon Beacons National Park. This is 'Longbow' country, the weapon of choice for the Welsh archers. Longbows were 5ft long and traditionally made of yew. They had an accurate range of 300 yards and 6-10 arrows could be fired in a minute, sometimes with devastating effect. In 1182 at Abergavenny a Welsh archer fired an arrow through a 4 inch thick oak door. Perhaps we'll get Simon to walk in front for this bit.
We're camping at Monmow Campsite, Monmouth.
Another challenging section, this time over the Black Mountains, part of the Brecon Beacons National Park. This is 'Longbow' country, the weapon of choice for the Welsh archers. Longbows were 5ft long and traditionally made of yew. They had an accurate range of 300 yards and 6-10 arrows could be fired in a minute, sometimes with devastating effect. In 1182 at Abergavenny a Welsh archer fired an arrow through a 4 inch thick oak door. Perhaps we'll get Simon to walk in front for this bit.
We're camping at Monmow Campsite, Monmouth.
Day Ten - Sunday 29th May 2011:
Monmouth to Sedbury Cliffs, Chepstow (and then the nearest pub!) 20.5 miles,
and then travel by train to Rugby.
The final section of our hike, arduous but with plenty of rewards as we make our way through the Wye Valley. One of the highlights of this section is Tintern Abbey, founded in 1131 by Cistercian monks. The Abbey itself fell into ruin following the Dissolution of the Monasteries by Henry VIII. Wordsworth came here twice as a tourist and wrote a poem called, 'Lines Written a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey.' The Abbey wasn't actually mentioned in the poem, but Wordsworth clearly loved the scenery:
and then travel by train to Rugby.
The final section of our hike, arduous but with plenty of rewards as we make our way through the Wye Valley. One of the highlights of this section is Tintern Abbey, founded in 1131 by Cistercian monks. The Abbey itself fell into ruin following the Dissolution of the Monasteries by Henry VIII. Wordsworth came here twice as a tourist and wrote a poem called, 'Lines Written a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey.' The Abbey wasn't actually mentioned in the poem, but Wordsworth clearly loved the scenery:
How oft in spirit have I turned to theeMmmm...nice. Now where's the pub?
O sylvan Wye! Though wanderer through the woods
How often has my spirit turned to thee?
Total: 180.5 miles (yes, I know the path is only 177 miles long, but we do the extra 3.5 miles walking off the path to the campsites in the villages)
