Chirk Castle

I spent Sunday(after the concert-but more on that later)at Chirk Castle. The Castle is about 1000 years old, and is just 2 miles from my B&B, so I walked it.

I had never seen a castle before! I loved all of this-spent the day, ate dinner at the tea shop, took a sandwich home for later, got back to the B&B and watched the end of the British Open. Poor Tom.

The Dreaded Switchbacks of Offa's Dyke Bugger Offa!

Well, this was the day-the switchback day. It was like climbing a mountain-but in several parts. I mean, we climbed at least five different 300+ foot hills-almost vertical-then stumbled down the other side. Then, for fun walked and walked and walked-and walked an extra two miles to make it to Montgomery to meet our van.

My feet hurt, my knees hurt, my arse hurt. (I fell once) I did not go the next day. I do need to train more on hills for next year's walk-and to be more mentally ready for the distance.

But, when the sweat wasn't dripping in my eyes, and I wasn't stopping to breathe-it was stunning. And I gelt a great sense of accomplishment that I did this day.

I am amazed at the good condition of the Dyke in this stretch-after over a thousand years of being there. Oh, this was the day I learned to watch for stinging nettles when I took a "comfort stop". Yeah.....

So, you Want to Walk Offa's Dyke.......

These pictures are from our Travel day, Saturday, and Sunday's walk from Kington to Knighton. here we see the actual Dyke for the first time since Chepstow. It wasn't easy to walk on the Dyke because the earth is not packed-so the path is very rutted, rocky and unstable.

There were a few good climbs, and the scenery was the best yet.

The room is my room at Old Time in Bishop's Castle-lovely B&B. The eggs were from her chickens, the bacon was delicious...and the toast was good! The place was built using beams from the original Bishop's Castle, which was torn apart during the English Civil War. Old, old place. I had the room in the back-very quiet. We got there at the tail end of the Beer festival. This is where I ate fish and chips every night for two pounds 50.

There is a spar and a co-op down the road.

Walking Offa's Dyke

Offa's Dyke from Hay

Walking Offa's Dyke from Hay-on-Wye