1st August, 2021 - Kerry Ridgeway
Having had a lovely coast walk with Abigail on Friday, now it was time to spend a walking day with Jane, our middle daughter. We had talked about her joining us along the Kerry Ridgeway so we fixed a weekend date and here we were! This was the fourth time we had walked this ancient route and always loved it. The first time had been as part of an earlier fundraising challenge for Velindre (Kerry Ridgeway 2016). We left Jane's car in Bishops Castle and off we went to the start at the Cider House. It turned out to be the best weather we had enjoyed on the walk with fine views all the way!
It's still amazing to look at the ancient sites which no-one knows the purpose of. there are several old ditches like this first one all along the ridgeway.
And the two tumps close by have been subject to archaeological digs finding artefacts from 8,000 years ago!
All this history and views too - right up to Pynlumon, Cadair Idris and the Rhinogs, the Arans and to Radnor Forest, Pen y Fan, the Breiddens and Corndon......360 degrees!
All of which was maybe why I was so excited!
...maybe a bit less so with this announcement. But luckily we didn't see him, only the cows.
The track is really easy to follow and in large pasts does become metalled so it does make walking a bit easier. everywhere something to see and all along there are many crossing tracks leading to nearby settlements and possibly where drovers would have come to meet up with their fellow drovers no doubt. the Kerry Ridgeway is I think the oldest surviving drovers road of such a length.
We made our way through the Kerry forest where the views were blocked by the forestry but we met fellow walkers there from nearby Newtown and by now it was quite hot! We carefully walked along a track now used by off road vehicles and bikes, dangerous for walkers and their ankles and here where the trees ended we enjoyed our lunch! Here there are more ancient ditches, again with no known purpose.
Soon we dropped down to a little settlement, Pant Glas passing another tump on the way and many cows and calves. And of course, sheep.
The view of Corndon Hill was lovely.
This part then is a metalled road for quite a distance, passing Offa's Dyke along the way as it crossed. I had to use a "parasol" along here, aka umbrella, both to keep the horseflies at bay and to shelter from the sun!
Corndon getting ever closer and with Stiperstonse to its right, they were glowing in the lovely, clear light.
We soon saw the hillfort ahead of Caer Din at the top of a hill which we now had to ascend. A bit tough as you're coming to the end of a long walk! And then we arrived at Bishops Moat where there had been the earlier castle which had been the centre of toll collecting in the Middle Ages on the road from Shrewbury to Gloucester.
Not long after we began the descent now to Bishops Castle. This picture doesn't show its steepness but we were glad we chose to do the walk from west to east, climbing out of Bishops Castle would be no mean feat! And by now, Jane's feet were suffering a bit too after a bit of first aid on them in the forest, they had continued to rub sadly. But she didn't complain!
And so we arrived in the town once more. 15 miles more to deduct from out total! The first pub we passed, the Six Bells on the corner so we went in to celebrate. There was even live music playing, brilliant! Although the Three Tuns brewery and hotel is one of the oldest breweries in the country, it was a bit further to walk - and we saw they were selling Three Tuns beer there anyway! Chris and Jane had lemonade though as they were driving......
We made our way back to the car and then went to retrieve the other car at the Cider House. What a gorgeous, happy day! Hoping Jane's feet recover quickly so she can join us another time soon!
Thank you for reading the blog, hope you enjoy it. And thank you so very much for the kind donations which make it even more worthwhile. The target is getting closer now......have a look ( Fundraising page)
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