OFFAS DYKE Apr 2010
This was my longest walk so far - 180 miles walking pretty much the length of Wales from Chepstow in the south to Prestatyn in the north. I'd walked the first two days worth a few years ago when training for Kilimanjaro which was just as well as this time they were spent swathed in cloud and torrential rain. The second night was spent at fabulous campsite in Pandy run by what could only be described as a "character" - a superb chap called Bill. He could talk the hind legs off a donkey but as long as you're not a donkey he's well worth listening to! I've promised to go and fly over next time I'm in the area.
The walk through the Black Mountains was "invigorating" although as it was a Sunday the place was teeming with day walkers - not a bad thing although I do enjoy the solitude one gets during the week. The trail took me back through Knighton and had I bothered to read the guide book (!) I might not have pressed on past it that day. The only relief from the subsequent continual steep undulations was that they were swathed in thick cloud so at least I couldn't see what was coming! Fortunately the wind waited until I started pitching my tent in the dark before it really got up...
The trail becomes a little less emotional for a couple of days as it crawls past Welshpool up to Llangollen. There then follows a few days of relatively steep ups-and-downs along the Clywdian Range where I met a chap going the other way who I believe was carrying everything he owned along with some spares. By his own admission he was carrying way too much kit and was unsure he'd make it to Chepstow. Seemed to be enjoying himself mind - although he yet to start the interminable ups and downs! I finally made it to Prestatyn at about 5 in the afternoon suffering some fairly tremendous pain in my hip - bursitis apparently. It's gone now so I can start planning the next bout!
