W10 - Welshpool to Llanymynech

Summary
This was a blatant rest day: a mere 10 miles on the flat flood plain of the Severn, oh and next to a canal. I think the total climbing was less than 100ft and we finished at 2.15. Bliss. The one thing you can see on this stretch is cows, lots of cows. There is the Dyke but its probably only 3 ft tall rather than the drama in the uplands. Most of the walk is on the Severn flood defence bank, the aim of which is to push the flood water further down the valley rather than flooding the flood plain - a decision of genius here but maybe not for Tewksbury etc further down the Severn 😒

Longer version
We set off on a lovely overcast day full of the great breakfast (and previous evening meal ) at Tynilwyn Farm - Jane is certainly a good cook. I say overcast is lovely because frankly its been at times too hot to walk miles
The day starts with crossing yet another single track railway line - what is around here. Maybe the line from Knighton ends up in Welshpool

This was the most dangerous part of the trip so far. This Cefn bridge is the A458. It is built on a bend, it also has no footpath. The road could have been busier than normal because it was Market day - Welshpool is the largest sheep market in Europe !!


After a short 2 mile walk by the Severn we then walked up to the Montgomery Canal (not that it ever went to Mongomer). The Monty, as it is known, is navigable but does not connect to the national waterway. After a breach in 1936 it was officially closed in 1944. The local council were going to build the Welshpool road bypass on it but the locals rallied and it was saved (even though it goes no where): cute but pretty pointless in my opinion.


After 2 miles we were back on the Severn - well on a relatively huge bank to protect the cows. Most of the walk at this stage was one of avoiding cow pats. It is a huge milk producing region with a great focus on agriculture. One enterprising house was selling cake ! I have to say their Date and Walnut cake was excellent. After a walk through Four Crosses (where the pub has closed) we ended up on the canal again. I have never seen such a neglected canal - it doesn't connect to the earlier part btw - but we did see an otter swimming along and hiding in the weeds !!! Alas I couldn't get the camera out quick enough so I took these swans instead


The council found it cheaper to build their roads through the canal rather than repair bridges so the Monty around Llanymynech is chopped into further sections. A better stretch of this canal had a lovely old building that had been restored.

I am sure they will eventually restore the canal but this aquaduct needs a lot of work. 
To connect to the national waterway, they need to buy / rebuild a six mile stretch from near Oswestry. It seems like a laudable target. For us however the best thing about the whole walk was it was flat and easy. Tomorrow we are back to the climbs.

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