Monday June 18

Newcastle to Knighton. 13km. Plus a bit from Newcastle back to the trail.

The day started out quite sunny but then became overcast and pretty windy at times. A high of probably only the mid-teens C.  I had a jacket on much of the day.

Final day of walking. We finally close the loop back to Knighton. Eleven days on Glyndwr’s Way and three days on Offa’s Dyke trail. We’ve been unbelievably fortunate with the weather!

We had a couple of fairly big sustained climbs today, but nothing too gruesome. The views today were probably the best they’ve been in the Offa’s Dyke section. On the first climb we had some good views back towards Newcastle, and on the last climb we had some outstanding views to Knighton and up the valley below where we had walked on the first day of Glyndwr’s Way.

We have seen more walkers on each of the last three days than we did on the whole of Glyndwr’s Way. It’s always nice to stop and chat with them. Part of the reason we have seen more on Offa’s Dyke is that most people apparently go south to north. We’re travelling the other way so we naturally run into more of them. Another clue that this footpath sees way more traffic is that the sheep are not nearly as skittish. Even the horses we came across today were pretty darned approachable.

One last time across the border..............

We stopped in at the Offa’s Dyke Centre for a few minutes on the way into town. Then we did some souvenir shopping, picked up our stored cycling gear, stopped for a pint and checked into our b&b. Time for a shower and repacking our suitcases and out for dinner.

I really do enjoy these multi-day walking/hiking trips. This one did seem a bit long, though, as the scenery didn’t change a great deal from day to day. It was lovely countryside, however, and the hospitality and company on the trail was outstanding.

One last night at a Knighton B&B and then on to the train station the next morning to start our journey home.............

I have no idea why I'm kneeling.............

Sunday June 17

Montgomery to Newcastle.  16km.

Temps were cool today; low to mid-teens C.  Windy at the top and misty rain a few times.  Actually, though...... pretty ideal conditions for walking.

Gary's cold got the better of him today so he rode with the luggage to tonight's accommodation.  Sheila's husband drove the rest of us to where we came off the trail yesterday.  Although he's a local, it seemed that he had never been down that particular road before.  Sheila had won a reward trip at work to upstate NY so she preparing for a trip to the Toronto area as well as the northeast US and seemed to be quite concerned about encountering mosquitoes.  I gave her my bottle of DEET that I had carried all trip but had had no reason to use.  She was thrilled!  Later in the day Gary realized that he had left his camera behind and Sheila's hubby drove it all the way to tonight's destination - nice.....

The guidebook made this out to be one of the more difficult days of the entire trip but it really wasn't bad at all.  Yes, there were some long ascents (but not as long as at home) but not really high elevations.  Some steep ups & downs, but nothing we haven't done before.  We spent quite a bit of time today actually walking on the dyke.  Kind of cool, but in the trees so not great views to be had.  We walked through some really lovely forests - larch trees, lime trees, other tall trees on either side and a nice path through the middle.  The first hour and a half or so was quite flat and then the hills started after that.

Probably the best view all day was coming into Newcastle (before the last steep descent).

Pretty easy navigating today - no "add-ons", no GPS checks.  We were in the hotel by about 4.  Gary is looking much better.  We had a lovely roast beef dinner and a free bottle of wine for putting up with a bit of a plumbing problem.  We sat in the pub and chatted until well after the barkeep went home.  "If you want another drink just help yourself and let us know in the morning".  Another old place and great people.  Last day tomorrow..............