W2 - Chepstow to Lower Redbrook
Summary
Forget the guide book that says a moderate day, forget the city dwellers target of 10,000 steps, this is a big intro to a long walk. Made worse by hot humid conditions that made us both glow a tad 😓 Ok it was officially only 14 miles, but that included 90 floors of climbing and nearly 40,000 steps, mainly through old wood lands. But after 1,200 years you can easily see in parts the dyke that defended Mercia from the "Welsh". I kept expected to see Ned Stark or Aragon to come walking out of the mists. At the end we ended up in Inglewood B&B with marrow cake (surprisingly nice)
Longer version
The BBC weather forecast predicted a full day of rain. We therefore chomped our way through a good hearty breakfast at Woodfields before setting out in full wet weather gear. Be warned if you expect a shop to be open early in Chepstow on a Sunday then think again. We found the glamorous Tesco's garage and amused the customer whilst struggling to take off our over trousers. After all of this, we did not leave Chepstow until 9.30 and then it is straight up (and back to England).
The bridge gives a good view of Chepstow castle - which must have been very impressive before it was destroyed after the Civil War in the 17th century. It's still worth a visit btw
Offa planned his dyke on the basis of height, so if you are thinking of doing it, prepare to climb. You climb so high that at the start you look down on the Severn Bridge (honest it is there). Later on you wander through numerous woods with the dyke very obviously next to you. The canopy is so dense that you only occasionally get a glimpse of the Wye (which is 5th longest river in the UK - I didn't know that either).
On such a hot humid day the forest was full of mists. As you can see photos were blurry. I kept thinking it would make a great set for the Games of Thones or even Lord of the Rings. You really could imagine Ned Stark trudging along the by-ways of Offa's Dyke.
Our legs were not use to 25,000 steps so when we hit 30,000 then we started to feel quite tired. Andrea now has the bruises to prove it as she unfortunately fell over (not badly). BUT eventually after 8 hours or so of walking we ended up at Inglewood House,: a great bed and breakfast with a lovely home made marrow cake care of Siobhan and Michael.
Lower Redbrook
It is down next to the Wye and although small, has 2 pubs and a village shop.
Over the day we climbed over 3,000 feet and walked 38,500 steps. Quite an introduction to Offa's Dyke.
Oh and the rain never really materialised, to the point that we were eventually in T-shirts.
Lesson learnt: Tomorrow we will not be avidly watching the weather forecast - staring out the window seems far better. Tomorrow is longer but easier: less climbing.
Forget the guide book that says a moderate day, forget the city dwellers target of 10,000 steps, this is a big intro to a long walk. Made worse by hot humid conditions that made us both glow a tad 😓 Ok it was officially only 14 miles, but that included 90 floors of climbing and nearly 40,000 steps, mainly through old wood lands. But after 1,200 years you can easily see in parts the dyke that defended Mercia from the "Welsh". I kept expected to see Ned Stark or Aragon to come walking out of the mists. At the end we ended up in Inglewood B&B with marrow cake (surprisingly nice)
Longer version
The BBC weather forecast predicted a full day of rain. We therefore chomped our way through a good hearty breakfast at Woodfields before setting out in full wet weather gear. Be warned if you expect a shop to be open early in Chepstow on a Sunday then think again. We found the glamorous Tesco's garage and amused the customer whilst struggling to take off our over trousers. After all of this, we did not leave Chepstow until 9.30 and then it is straight up (and back to England).
Offa planned his dyke on the basis of height, so if you are thinking of doing it, prepare to climb. You climb so high that at the start you look down on the Severn Bridge (honest it is there). Later on you wander through numerous woods with the dyke very obviously next to you. The canopy is so dense that you only occasionally get a glimpse of the Wye (which is 5th longest river in the UK - I didn't know that either).
On such a hot humid day the forest was full of mists. As you can see photos were blurry. I kept thinking it would make a great set for the Games of Thones or even Lord of the Rings. You really could imagine Ned Stark trudging along the by-ways of Offa's Dyke.Our legs were not use to 25,000 steps so when we hit 30,000 then we started to feel quite tired. Andrea now has the bruises to prove it as she unfortunately fell over (not badly). BUT eventually after 8 hours or so of walking we ended up at Inglewood House,: a great bed and breakfast with a lovely home made marrow cake care of Siobhan and Michael.
It is down next to the Wye and although small, has 2 pubs and a village shop.
Over the day we climbed over 3,000 feet and walked 38,500 steps. Quite an introduction to Offa's Dyke.
Oh and the rain never really materialised, to the point that we were eventually in T-shirts.
Lesson learnt: Tomorrow we will not be avidly watching the weather forecast - staring out the window seems far better. Tomorrow is longer but easier: less climbing.
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