28/12/14 - Welsh Rarebit

Walk Inspiration - Walk 1317 from Walking World
Distance - 7 Miles
Geocaches - 2



As traditional as Turkey on the 25th and a huge credit card bill in January, I head down to Tintern for my annual Christmas Walk.  This is the tenth Xmas walk on the bounce in this area, with the route selection this year from my perennial favourite resource, www.walkingworld.com.

Sonia digs out her gloves and my scarf and accompanies me after the chilliest night this Winter.  It has to go some to beat 2010 when there were iceflows coming down the Wye.

Park up at the Anchor Inn pub, after I realise I get my parking money back if I spend money at the bar, post walk.  There is a reasonable chance that this could happen, so worth the risk.

Sonia with a Frozen Grimace.  And my work scarf.

Over the road and a stiff climb up the Wye Valley Walk Path, which is the bed of an old stream.  Sonia is distracted by an emergency phone call regarding a 91 year old's toes.  A woman's work is never done.

Wye Valley Walk - An Old River Bed

We are on our way to the isolated Penterry Church.  First, we have to negotiate a field of bulls.  They are ok but do follow us, bellowing menaces.

This is our Field

Penterry Church - Middle of Nowhere

After checking if we can look inside the Church (we can't - no faith anymore), we head on up to the Weather monitoring pylons.  We walked these fields a couple of years ago and it was like the Somme.  We are most happy with the frozen ground.

The views from the top of Gaer Hill are extraordinary but unfortunately into the sun.  Look closely at the picture and you can pick out the Severn Bridge.

Weather Station

View into the Sun towards the Severn Bridge

The walking back is wonderful although the dense Fedw Woods offer no photo opportunities.  Shame I wasn't quicker on the draw as we missed an owl and a deer on our journey.  The 1091ft ascent becomes apparent on a never ending drop down through the woods.

The chance of a geocache warrants a slight diversion from the route and the road brings us back into Tintern.  Its 11:40am and we decide to hang on for the pub by finding another cache (great hide and a TB) and taking a few photos.

The River Wye - Downstream

Santa - Below the Devil's Pulpit

We de-gaiter and change footwear before entering the Anchor Inn.  It's a wonderful pub - endorsed by the 2014 Pub Guide for good reason.  Unfortunately, they are only doing Sunday Lunches.  Surely the world has had enough of these by this stage of the holiday period.

Liquid Lunch?

We are saved from starvation by the White Monk Cafe over the road.  The cooked breakfasts in these parts come with Welsh Rarebit and believe me, as a culinary experience, it works.

I'll be back for another in 2015.