Offa's Dyke path

[Rhythm Thief]

Me and Ms RT are on holiday for the back end of next week, and are thinking of doing the Monmouth - Hay on Wye bit of the Offa's Dyke walk. Anyone done it? How long should it take, roughly? We're allowing at least two days, possibly more, and will be carrying camping kit.

 

[PaulB]

I recommend you watch this before you go! It's actually what got me and the missis interested in doing it in the first place. We did the whole lot and preferred the northern section and days 1 and 2 were the best. We found the bit you're doing to be pleasant but a bit tame compared to the northern bits. Mind you, we needed it by then. You'll love it.

 

[Bodhbh]

I did a similar strech in September a couple of years back, iirc stopping in Abergavenny Saturday night, picking up the path somewhere NE midday on the Sunday and camping that night on the ridge, before pulling into Hay sometime early-afternoon on the Monday.

I think it's doable in 2 days from Monmouth, although maybe more relaxed as 3, and can probably put in a detour to onto Lord Herefords Knob (!!). My trip was shorter, but not like I was making much of an effort to get early starts.

Really enjoyed that bit btw, there's great views from the ridge, both over England and the Black Mountains to the West. No one else seemed to be up there after tea-time so wasn't a problem to camp wild.

 

[Rhythm Thief]

Decided now to get the bus to Hay on Wye on Thursday morning and walk back to Monmouth by Saturday evening, giving ourselves three days at it. Then we can walk the last bit down to Chepstow on Sunday and get the bus home on Monday morning.

 

[PaulB]

Oh aye, and you HAVE to sing this of course!

As I camped out one evening to take the midnight air
I heard a maiden grieving from somewhere over there
Who is it you are mourning
For whom do you wear grey
She said I pine for no one, I just can’t pay my way
Ever since the chattering classes invaded Hebden Bridge
And priced the likes of me and mine
To the pots of the Pennine Ridge
To South East Wales I was forced to flee
And now I have no job
That’s why tonight I’m sitting on top of Lord Hereford’s Knob
For you I’d waive expenses, to try and help you out
For your beauty influences the landscape hereabouts
Look up my betrothed at Three Cocks
Be sure she’ll see you right
While I go up to Yorkshire, and there avenge your plight
Soon reports were filtering through to me
The pair were drowning in bliss
I can’t recall having ever been cuckolded quite like this
I gave up hope ironically for Lent
Come see me living in a bivvie
If you’re ever up Pen-y-Ghent
Although upon reflection I’ve been a trifle green
I still think with affection on everything that’s been
So prepare that fatted calf
And string up the bunting gay
Your brisk and bonny ploughboy is coming home today
And tonight he’ll be sitting on top of Lord Hereford’s Knob
Tonight he’ll be sitting on top of Lord Hereford’s Knob
On touching the trig point, I found my thrill
To the east Brokeback Mountain, to the west, Benny Hill
I’ll give you the grid ref, you might like to go
SO224350
Could this be heaven, would that be the Severn
Twmpa, Twmpa, you’re gonna need a jumper
It gets a bit chilly on top of Lord Hereford’s Knob
Tonight he’ll be sitting on top of Lord Hereford’s Knob
All of our songs sound the same
Tonight he’ll be sitting on top of Lord Hereford’s Knob
I’m keeping Two Chevrons Apart
Tonight he’ll be sitting on top of Lord Hereford’s Knob
You’re the reason why paradise lost
Tonight he’ll be sitting on top of Lord Hereford’s Knob

 

[Rhythm Thief]

Strangely enough, that's one that I do regularly. A great song, the only surprise is that it wasn't written years ago.

 

[Yellow Fang]

Just been reading about Offa. The Conquest of England (by Eric Linklater) is my bedtime reading. It say he was a great king. Among his achievements were:

• gaining supremacy over the other kingdoms in England;
• getting an archbishopric established in Lichfied (which didn't last);
• improving the coinage, possibly introducing the penny;
• provoking a trade war with Charlemagne; and
• building the dyke, obviously.