Geocaches - 1 (when we got back to Hay-on-Wye)
Walk Inspiration
Lord Hereford's Knob
Regular blog fans will know that I have been waiting since Christmas for the type of day that justifies a walk from my "Britain's Best View" book. Today, was that day and Sonia is up for coming along. Until she finds out it's 10 miles. So I hit www.walkingworld.com to find a suitable alternative - and this one takes in the main place I want to go and comes in at less than 7.
We awake. The dog gets excited. I don't want to take her, as I know the walk will be sheep bound and its quite a long drive to spend on the lead. Sonia talks me into taking her. Then she goes on hides (dog, not Sonia). I think she knew what we were in for. Canine Premonition.
The drive is stunning, although Sat Nav wants to take us over a Toll Bridge. Not sure if I have change, so we do the alternative and arrive at Hay for the obligatory toilet stop before picking up Gospel Pass to get to the walk start point. We now know why it is so named.
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| Say you prayers Mappiman |
It really is butt clenching time. The snow is banked up 3ft on either side and we drive most of the 5 miles to Capel-Y-ffin, fishtailing with the parking sensors screaming. Thank the lord we don't meet anything coming the other way.
It's a relief to park up and get out. We head up the dead end road, with the monastic ruins to our left, spy a frozen dead sheep that's too gruesome for the blog and arrive in the valley.
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| All Smiles |
This stretch is stunning walking. We are gaining height but all very gently, following a stream to our left before we arrive at the escarpement. Jaw dropping views in all directions
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| Stunning |
We turn right to reach the summit. Sonia gets a reception so she can check in and tell the world that she is "proudly positioned on Lord Hereford's Knob". Terry the reluctant dogger loads up his Fiat Punto with his oversized meercats to meet us.
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| Impressive Cairn on the Knob |
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| This could catch on |
We have gained all the height, and we have what should be a straightforward walk back along Darren Lwyd path on the high ground.
Unfortunately, this is under a lot of snow. The path has disappeared. We head off but about a mile in, its very tough going, with us disappearing up to my calves and Sonia's knees at an alarming rate. Sometimes, the snow will just about take your weight. Then you hear the crack and you are back sunk.
Very tiring and slow going, but we plough on - with no alternative escape route.
I know at the end, we will have a very steep drop. But first, we take the exceptional views - which are even better at this end.
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| Sonia is too angry with me to appear on this photo |
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| This makes it all worth it |
The path down is incredibly steep. You are meant to snake you way down gradually, but my fun loving walking colleague just plops on her backside and slides her way down. This is the first time in the walk that she is actually in front of me.
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| Sonia's Bum Scoot Hill |
At Capel-Y-Ffin we see two fellow walkers eating their lunch sat on the back of a hay wain. Sonia remarks that she has never been so happy to get back to the car.
I'm not so keen. I know that we have to tackle gospel pass again.
We survive, although at one point Sonia asks if "I am actually in control of this car". We make it back to Hay-on-Wye.... a fine pub, a castle, plenty of book shops and one geocache on the other side of the river.
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| Far less dramatic than Gospel Pass in the snow. |
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