The Druid

Actually a welcome place to stop - room tiny above the pub but a friendly place all the same. Had a good dinner - proper 3 courses so I was stuffed after. Fad a few drinks and then slept like a proverbial - pooped innit!

Bloody long walk!

So the rest of the day took about 9 hours walking all in all! Kept on thinking there were no more hills to climb but there were!

Climbed up over really exposed ridges, thought we were gong to be blown off. It was way to windy to talk even! Had lunch sheltered behind a wall. Up over and great views all around - all in all quite bracing! Eventually got to the road where the Druid Inn was - and guess what - it was still another 2 1/2 miles along the road to get there. By e time we arrived pretty knackered - I think the longest days walk to date. Glad to get shoes off and get a beer.

Hangover finally gone though :)

A fordable crossing - geddit!

Hit a country lane and the crossed a ford - had to time our crossing to avoid the cars as we'd get soaked!

After the Castle

So after the castle we had a bit of a climb around the very exposed side of a massive hill. The wind was crazy - quite cold and felt like it was blowing us off a ledge. Very dramatic.




After an initial climb the path levelled out and we were mainly walking along a ridge.

The Castle

This time it's a real castle not the name of a pub as you might be thinking. Anyway steep climb up to the castle - hangover not making it easy either but slowly clearing the head. A couple of tablets and started to feel better. Ruin was very ruinous though. Barry said that we weren't on the Offa's Dyke trail yet - but we've walked for miles!!!! Still 15 to go!

Half of us

Walking around the castle stopped for a little breather as we needed it.

A good night and a good start

Yesterday turned out fun! Barry and Nick went for a walk up to the castle while the rest of us normal people went to the local pub over the bridge for a couple.

Booked a roped off area in the wine bar we were staying in and got ere early for drinks. Meal was pretty good and topped off a good meal with a few ports. I was bouncing off the walls by bed time.

Up for breakie feeling decidedly rough! Most people couldn't face a cooked breakie but I decided it would do me good regardless.

Waited for as for Jimmy to get ready but finally managed to set off soon after 10:00. Quite a steep hike out of town to the ruined castle on a hill.