Day 12. Llandogo to Chepstow 16K

Last day on the Offa’s Dyke, a bit sad that the walk is over but looking forward to the next one. Also sad to say goodbye to Janet, the landlord gave her a lift to Monmouth where she caught the bus to Abergavenny and then a taxi back to Pandy and drive home. Turns out she got home just as I arrived in Chepstow at about 2pm.

I decided not to walk back the mile along a busy road to get to the Offa’s Dyke, but instead continued along the river Wye along the Wye Valley Trail for a couple of miles. An easy walk, just fly fishermen nearby.

I then rejoined the ODT in Brockweir and of course it was a climb into the woods for the last stretch before descending into Chepstow.

Wye River

Into the woods.

The views are usually worth the climb and this time was no exception.

Although a little hazy.


The last stretch into Chepstow was my least favourite, part of the entire walk, sometimes along busy roads, surprisingly poorly marked and fields that were being sprayed with a black smelly sludge!

A selfie to celebrate the end of 140 miles! 

This last stage took me about 4 1/2 hours.

Accommodation was at the Green Packers Hostel, great location - new with excellent facilities including a self service continental breakfast and nice people. This is in the top 4 places that I stayed along the trail.

Overall a really lovely walk! I was so lucky to be joined by 3 very special Ramsgate girls. We all spent our teenage years in Ramsgate, fantastic to be able to catch- up and enjoy the Welsh and English countryside.

Meanwhile my girls and son-in-law were enjoying Chester with my sister.

Now I have to make my way to the wedding!

Day 11. Monmouth to Bigsweir 16K

This walk today seemed like a piece of cake.  We spent an hour or so mooching around monmouth. Stocked up at waitrose on lunch supplies that have been oatcakes, cheese and tomato and a piece of fruit everyday. I have so enjoyed the English cheeses like Wensleydale and mature welsh cheddar. They travel well too.

Visiting the tourist info center trying to figure out how Janet could get back to Pandy from Bigsweir where she had left her car.  Well it would take 3 bus and numerous hours because one bus leaves 5 mins before the other one arrives..... not easy to make connections. So it would be a combo of taxis and buses. 

As we set of on the ODT a cricket match was starting.

Pristine lawn. I realized that I had left my trusty odt guide book somewhere. I left my backpack with Janet by the cricket match and ran through the town until I found the book at the tourist info, despite the fact that we phoned and the chap said it wasn’t there! It amazing how fast I can move sans backpack in the morning.

Once we really got going the walk took us about 4 1/2 hours. The sloop inn where we were staying was off the offa’s, the directions said just half a mile up the road, but it felt more like 1.1 miles, the last stretch always seems to take longer. 

We had the fish and chips and a drink for 7 pounds deal. The fish and chips and peas ) not mushy) were yummy, my first on this trip. It made a really nice change not to be wondering around looking for a place to eat like last bought in Monmouth in a Monday evening after 8 pm we tried 4 places until l finally the Italian restaurant was still arriving food after 8pm. 

Day 10. Pandy to Monmouth 34K

A really long walk today, took us about 91/2 hours including a few stops and getting lost a couple of times. Way to break in my friend Janet, she’s still talking to me, so that’s great.

It was more fields and gentle countryside today with lovely Engkish and Welsh gardens. Not many walkers today, but there ones we chatted to were very friendly.

A few pics of the day.

Day 9. Hay on Wye to Pandy 29K

Sad goodbye to my darling sis this morning, I left her waiting for the bus to Hereford, the start of  her longish journey home. 

Today was a spectacular walk and I was thrilled that I completed it in just over 8 hours. It took almost two hours to get to the crest of Haterrall ridge, spotted some field orchids en route. 

It was somewhat of a shock to come upon this sign after  2 hours of tough walking.

Still 16 miles to go, but they were mostly exhilarating miles.

Only about 6 stiles and 2 kissing gates. The majority of the walk was on the crest accompanied by wild ponies.

And lots and lots of para sailors. 

At times I felt like I was waking in top of the world.

There were quite a few walkers out today, partly because it was Sunday and two trails meet on the ridge, the Offa’s Dyke and the Breacon Ridge trail. For a while I walked with a large group of ramblers who are collecting  trig points over 200m, I think they collected 5 today. So in fact this stretch is the highest point on the ODT at 703m.

A truly spectacular walk today.  I was loving it so much that I walked about half a mile too far and had to turn back to find the B&b. The third of a mile driveway up a hill was rather daunting though, I made it about 10 mins before my dear friend Janet, Ramsgate girl number 4 arrived. This is another rather odd “ establishment” as it refers to itself and so we went to the local pub for dinner and a chance to catch- up. Luckily they were serving food on a Sunday evening, which seems to be unusual in these parts, usually they do Sunday lunch and stop serving food at 3pm.