Walking The Blog

The Monmouthshire Way Day 2: Lower Veddw to Trellech

Date walked: 5th January 2022 Map used: Ordnance Survey Explorer OL 14- Wye Valley and Forest Of Dean (having downloaded the route onto my phone). Distance: about 6 miles – this is the second part of Stage 1 of the route as described on the website below Website for path: There is no written guide to the path but this website has the basics.  *********** This section of the path initially follows…

The Monmouthshire Way: Day 1 Chepstow to Lower Veddw

A gentle 8 mile walk on the Monmouthshire Way from Chepstow; walking in my own back yard (loosely) Date walked: 24th November 2021 Map used: Ordnance Survey Explorer OL 14- Wye Valley and Forest Of Dean (having downloaded the route onto my phone). Distance: about 8 miles. This is the first part of Stage 1 of the route as shown on the website for the Way (see below) Website for path: There is no…

Offa’s Dyke Path Day 13: Llanymynech to Castle Mill

A longish but very varied and enjoyable walk from Llanymynech to Castle Mill in which I encounter a two-headed horse. Date walked: 19th August 2021 Distance:  13.5  miles Maps used:  OS Explorer 240 Oswestry Guide used: Walking Offa’s Dyke Path by Mike Dunn published by Cicerone in 2016 *************** Bad news; despite a perfectly decent nights sleep my painful knee had not received any…

Offa’s Dyke Path Day 12: Buttington to Llanymynech

A not very exciting 10 mile trek across the Severn flood plain, but much improved by the Montgomery Canal. Date walked: 18th August 2021 Distance:  10.5  miles Maps used:  OS Explorer 216 (Welshpool and Montgomery) and 240 Guide used: Walking Offa’s Dyke Path by Mike Dunn published by Cicerone in 2016 ********* It had been my first night in my little Terra Nova tent for a very long time and I…

Offa’s Dyke Path Day 11: Forden to Buttington

Returning to Offa’s Dyke after a two year absence, a pleasant 6 mile hike From Forden over Beacon Hill near Welshpool Date walked: 17th August 2021 Distance: about 6  miles Maps used:  OS Explorer 216 (Welshpool and Montgomery). Guide used: Walking Offa’s Dyke Path by Mike Dunn published by Cicerone in 2016 ******** HAPPY NEW YEAR! This isn’t the most exciting post I’ve done so to add to its…

The Sirhowy Valley Walk (well, mostly the upland bit of it)

A winters walk  on the Sirhowy Valley path involving some challenging scenery, drugs and contact with the police.  Date walked: 22nd January 2020 Maps used: OS Explorer OL 13 and OS Explorer 166 Rhondda and Merthyr Tydfil Distance: around 9 miles *********** After such a beautiful walk for my last post I was wondering how I could make this next post special. And then I remembered a walk I did…

The Black Mountains circular walk from Partrishow, Powys

A super 10 mile walk on the Powys/Monmouthshire border with some fabulous views starting and ending with one of the sweetest churches at Partrishow. Date Walked: 21st November 2021 Distance: about 10 miles Map used: OS Explorer OL 13 – Brecon Beacons National Park (Eastern area), downloaded on the phone *************** This is my first post since my web guru, the excellent Gary – contact him via…

The Black Mountain circular walk from Llanddeusant

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Cambrian Way day 31: Cnicht circular

After a not too strenuous climb to the summit of Cnicht, a fascinating explore of two historic slate quarries. Date walked:  Wednesday  22nd April 2021 Distance: About 7 miles Maps used:  OS Explorer OL 18- Harlech, Porthmadog and Y Bala and OL 17 Snowdon (or Yr Wyddfa as a new campaign would have us exclusively name it) Guide used: Walking the Cambrian Way by George Todd and Richard Tyler…

The Cambrian Way day 30: Bronturnor Mawr to Croesor

A fabulous 7 mile hike through one of the wildest sections of the Cambrian Way, crossing Moelwyn Mawr, but taking in railways, power stations and quarries! Date walked:  Sunday, 18th April 2021 Distance: About 7 miles Maps used:  OS Explorer OL 18- Harlech, Porthmadog and Y Bala and OL 17 Snowdon (or Yr Wyddfa as a new campaign would have us exclusively name it) Guide used: Walking the Cambrian…

The Cambrian Way Day 29: Moelfryn to Bron Turnor Mawr

A very relaxed and easy 5 mile stroll from Moelfryn on Llyn Trawsfynydd to our accommodation near Maentwrog, during which Charles discovers his compass Date walked:  Saturday, 17th April 2021 Distance: About 5 miles Maps used:  OS Explorer OL 18- Harlech, Porthmadog and Y Bala Guide used: Walking the Cambrian Way by George Todd and Richard Tyler (Cicerone Press) ******** Paul and I had arrived at…

The Cambrian Way day 28: Cwm Bychan to Moelfryn

Theoretically a relatively easy 5 mile trek over some of the smaller summits of the Rhinogs. But then there’s theory and there’s practice. Date walked: 16th April 2021 Distance: according to my map as traced out on my phone, 7km, in reality quite a bit more Maps used:  OS Explorer OL 18- Harlech, Porthmadog and Y Bala Guide used: Walking the Cambrian Way by George Todd and Richard Tyler (Cicerone…

A stunningly beautiful three mile climb up The Skirrid in Monmouthshire

Date walked: 27th November 2020

Distance: about 3 miles

Map used: none but  I had with me OL Explorer 13 Brecon Beacons National Park, Eastern Area (just in case).

Conversational topics included (amongst others): pressures on front line NHS staff, do animals recognise beauty in the way that humans do – or at all,…

Men’s Waterproof Walking Trousers: DLX “Ultimate Golf Putter” from Trespass

Generally speaking, I try to avoid walking in the rain. So given a forecast of rain and a choice I’m likely as not to stay at home. But sometimes wet-weather walking is unavoidable as many a day on the Cambrian  Way or Offa’s Dyke or just about any other long-distance path walking over several days has proved. So having decent waterproofs is essential.

I last looked at these on this blog almost…

Cambrian Way day 27: Circular walk over Rhinog Fawr

A six mile clamber over the remote and rocky peak of Rhinog Fawr in Snowdonia

Date walked: 10th September 2020

Distance: about 6 miles

Maps used:  OS Explorer OL 18- Harlech, Porthmadog and Y Bala

Guide used: Cambrian Way by A.J.Drake (7th edition, 2016) , though a new guide has recently been published which is much better: Walking the Cambrian Way by George Todd and Richard Tyler (Cicerone Press)

Offa’s Dyke Path day 10: Cwm to Forden

A wet trudge over 7 miles of the Offa’s Dyke path, finishing by abandoning the walk at Forden near Welspool

Date walked: 11th June 2019

Distance: about 7  miles

Maps used:  OS Explorer 216 (Welshpool and Montgomery).

Guide used: Walking Offa’s Dyke Path by Mike Dunn published by Cicerone in 2016

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If you had read the post from yesterday’s walk you’ll recall that I had stayed last…

Offa’s Dyke Path day 9: Knighton to Cwm

Said to be the toughest section of the whole Offa’s Dyke Path, I have to agree. A long 13 mile day rather spoiled by being rained on for half of it.

Date walked: 10th June 2019

Distance: about 13 miles

Maps used: OS Explorer 201 (Knighton and Presteigne) and OS Explorer 216 (Welshpool and Montgomery).

Guide used: Walking Offa’s Dyke Path by Mike Dunn published by Cicerone in 2016

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W…