Offa’s Dyke Path 2007 – Comments Page

This is the comments page for my Offa’s Dyke 2007 Journal.

Please feel free to leave whatever comments, questions or feedback you may have.

5 thoughts on “Offa’s Dyke Path 2007 – Comments Page”

  1. Hello Lonewalker. I’m an American from California who has been doing the National Trails in Britain over the last few years and just discovered the website. I did Hadrian’s Wall this year, Offa’s Dyke in 2012, Cleveland Way in 2010. I must say, I think it is too bad that you had such a miserable time on the OD, in part because of the three, I enjoyed it the most. Your journal captures the first couple of days of the walk pretty well — the rotten portion south of Chepstow, Wye portion, the tough first two days, etc. — but I enjoyed then much more than you did, certainly. I agree the first two days were long and tough. I stumbled into Pandy, too, exhausted, but I stuck to the path and didn’t go after tri points. Most importantly, I negotiated with the B&B’s to get my pack to the next spot and found (this is in 2012, mind) that it was usually 12 to 15 pounds for someone to take the pack. Only carried the full pack one day, when they wanted to charge me 20 pounds and I declined. But overall, I thought this was a great walk and the two days north or Hay — from Hay to Kington and Kignton to Knighton — are spectacular. Carry on, and thanks for the nice read. TF

  2. Colin Walford

    Mr Lone Walker,

    Hmm, funny one this and I guess it just shows how different we all are and how varied our individual experiences are, even on the same walks.
    In short, I loved my walk on the Offa’s Dyke route. Intrigued by your written account, I’ve re-read my brother’s and mine own walking journals covering the OD walk (he wrote the first half up to Knighton and I completed the second half to Prestatyn, which I walked the following year). I agree – we all commented on the exasperating amount of stiles along the whole route and there ARE a lot of fields to cross, but I actually enjoyed the fields as they gave us loads of great views around us. I also agree with you that you took too much on with those first two days. You tackled a lot of miles and climbs in that time. We stopped at Redbrook on that first day and even then, we were knackered! The second day ended at Llantilio Crossenny and the third at Llanthony Priory.
    Additionally, you were a tad unlucky with the ferocity of the weather. God knows, we all enjoy walking on a fine day, but you were trudging along in fierce heat! I created my own walking route from my front door to the south coast in as due south a line as I could manage (called it ‘Postcode South’) and I also had to abandon my first attempt in June of last year. I walked through the Forest of Dean area during a heat wave and also carrying an insanely heavy backpack (17kgs!) and my feet had blistered and bled me into submission by day three, so that I had to jack it all in just after Chepstow on the old Severn Bridge. A lighter pack (13kgs which got lighter every day, as I posted used OS maps back home – old fashioned, me!) enabled me to complete it on the second attempt last September, although I still got hammered by hot weather during the first two days. Hot weather coupled with miles of 20 plus, as you did, will challenge anybody.
    Finally, I’ve hankered to do the Southern Uplands way for a few years and have just read your attempt at it a couple of months back. Damned unlucky with your injuries there – sorry to hear it. Those early paths have dampened my enthusiasm a bit, too! But, when you have another go, I’ll be reading with interest, so be aware that another fellow walker will be following you on Twitter and blog and thanks very much 🙂

    Colin.

    1. I approached the Offas Dyke walk all wrong, I realised that once I got home and analysed the failure. I had the wrong expectations and I had an inaccurate view of my own abilities to cope with three long days. The weather didn’t help, but I think I would have still felt the same about the first couple of days. I will do it again, but probably use paths on the other side of the river for the first couple of days.

      Each to his own though, and thank goodness we’re not all the same, so we’ll all take away different things from the same walk.

      The SUW was mostly excellent, the only downside was the squelch factor on a couple of stages and one or two lengthy stretches of Tarmac. I’m hoping to finish that this year of I can. The foot is healed and the path is laughing at me for quitting!

      Thanks for reading and following along 🙂

  3. Well Mate I got to Day 3 and just had to comment.The only people to say ‘Look you’are English who try to stereotype the Welsh. ‘Hay on Wye the book capital of England’ Try again the postcode may be Hereford and it may be full of pretentious English ,but I can assure you it is in Wales and the county of Powys. Rant over. Onwards and upwards.
    Mike.

    1. Ahhh, irony – it’s becoming a lost art – I put it down to the increasing cynicism of the modern age. I will however, apologise for the howling geographical error of placing Hay in England – that was just sloppy.

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