Offa’s Dyke Walk Day 2
by Sunita
We said goodbye to Tintern and set off for our next destination, Monmouth. The first little bit was on the road because we had to make our way back to the path. The path split at Brockweir and we took the lower path along the Wye for three miles, disturbing sheep along the way and passing the village of Llandogo.When the paths converged again we started up the road into the hills. The uphill wasn’t too bad and we passed through several woods as well as farm fields. The foliage and flowers were gorgeous, and the rain had made the undergrowth especially rich. We are seeing these flowers everywhere:
We only made one wrong turn, going down when we should have gone across because the acorn sign was unclear (there are lots of marked footpaths which aren’t the Offa’s Dyke Path and they converge as well as intersect). But it was short and easy to recover.Today had some major ups and downs in the path. We went down sharply for a good mile to enter the village of Redbrook, which rewarded us with a delicious pub lunch. But then we had a two-mile ascent to the top of the ridge. There we reached the Kyrim, which overlooks Monmouth and offers spectacular views of the Wye Valley. It also features a monument to British Admirals in the Napoleonic Wars (readers of historicals will recognize several names!):
And a round white house built in the Georgian era:
From there it was all downhill to Monmouth for a couple of miles. The path we excellent and it would have been straightforward except for the mud. So much mud. But we went slowly and our shoes (and gaiters) could manage it. Nevertheless, we were so happy to see the end of the path, and lo and behold, our hotel was at the end of it. It was a pub with recently remodeled, very comfortable rooms.We went into Monmouth for dinner, thinking that Friday night would give us a range of options. But many of the Central City restaurants had already stopped serving. We found a Chinese restaurant down a little passageway, though, and struck gold. Everything fresh and made to order. We had a kimchi pancake for starters and then shared shredded pork with chiles and kimchi fries rice. So, so good, and a lovely couple running it.I leave you with the day’s map. Notice our wrong turn was much smaller this time!Q
Today’s mileage: 11.6 or 11.9, depending on whose Garmin you ask.
Great post 🙂
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Those are foxgloves I think!
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(The flowers!)
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Yes, they are. There are so many of them in our botanical gardens. Their a source of digitalis and poisonous!
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Oops! Wonderful pics, Sunita!
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Yes, I have those foxgloves in my garden (not planted, just sprung up of their own accord). You are definitely seeing our green and pleasant land at its greenest!
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I’m finally catching up on responding to your comments. I knew you’d come through on the flowers, ladies! Foxgloves, ha. They are everywhere on our walk, by the way.
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