29/12/15 - The Devil's Walk

Distance - 6.66 Miles
Geocaches - 1
Walk From - One Hundred Hill Walks Around Birmingham, Walk 61

Time for the annual (11th year running) Christmas visit to the prime walking country that is found on the Welsh/English Border at Tintern.

Every walk has been unique - this time upstream on the English side of the River Wye to Brockweir before looping back to the Devil's Pulpit.  You have to say that I pushing the limits of inspiration when I find this route in a book called "100 Hill Routes around Birmingham".  We're a good 90 miles from there.

And how's this for uncanny.  I check the GPX of the route when I get home.  The distance is 6.66 miles.  The altitude on the route where I checked the distance is 666 ft.

I've got a shiver running down my spine as I blog.

Park up at the £3, get your money back when you buy a drink at the pub, Anchor Car Park.

Take the same dawn-ish photo that I have taken for the last 11 years.

Never get bored 

A quick dash through the village and over the increasingly rickety old railway bridge to head north, upstream on the English side of the Wye.

The Rickety Old Railway Bridge - Don't Look Down

As is often the case, I have been a touch concerned about both flooding and mud.  In reality, we have nothing to worry about from either as we head out on fantastic paths to Brockweir.  Pick up Offa's Dyke path for the first time of the day.

Offa's Dyke Path

It's all uphill, as we climb to Beeches Farm, making friends with a family group of all ages for the first time on the walk.  Great views to catch our breath.

Everyone wants a Photo

Our new Rambling Family Friends

Once through Beeches Farm, the path turns into the wonderfully named Miss Grace's Lane.  This is the first time in my 11 years that I have been along this stretch and I am rewarded with the only unfound cache of the day.

That's Sonia - Not Miss Grace

At Tidenham Chase, we enter the woods - back on Offa's Dyke Path.  Wonderful walking, all the way around to the highlight of the walk - The Devil's Pulpit.

Everything is in order - the stone tree, The timeless views, the Geocache - that I complete a TB swap over at and then have to explain Geocaching to our friendly family who re-appeared from a short cut.

Hey Monks Below  - Renounce Christ and Follow Satan.  

Once photos taken and youngster's watched who have the tenacity to climb the pulpit, we head back down to the Abbey and naturally, the pub.  This is the only part of the walk where the mud presents a problem - a steep descent on rocky/muddy paths.  Still, all the required motivation is awaiting.

Otter Claus - Festive Pint

We will be back in 2016.  Thinking Chepstow.