June 18th Llangenny

A heavy overnight dew, rain sodden high grass and plants made for a wet walk for the first hours.
After all the mud under the tree's yesterday, I changed to the Wye Valley Way for the walk to Monmouth. The Offa's Dyke went high and in tree's most of the way to Monmouth.
A bit of road walking was followed by walking on an old railway track, which was preferable to long wet plants.
I stopped for my 1st break at a locked cabin which had a picnic table to sit at. This was most welcome as my back was really aching.
After a wet walk for the final miles into Monmouth, I decided that was enough walking for one day.
I didn't relish the next 20 miles of walking through farmland before the Hatterall Ridge. After a wander round a very pleasant Monmouth and lunch by the river. I decided to bus to Abergavenny, then on to Glangwyrny and walk the 2 miles along the valley to my favourite campsite in the UK at Llangenny.
As I arrived in Abergavenny the sun came out. I really like this area and could live here if it wasn't for family in Dorset.
It was lovely to arrive in Llangenny and to see people I know from previous visits.
A visit to the pub to charge my phone was followed by an early night

June 20th Finito

A night disturbed by gust's of wind hitting the tent was followed by an early start.
I decided that I didn't want to carry on walking in rain and wind, with poor weather forecsst for the next few days, so I started walking the 10 miles towards Abergavenny and the train.
3 miles and the 3rd car got me a lift to the train station just as the train I needed arrived.
It rained all morning, and after a e hour break in Bristol, I caught the train back to Dorchester.

June 19th Llanthony

The previous time I'd walked from Llangenny to Llanthony was with Nippa in very hot weather. Today the weather was great, though rain and low cloud were forecast.
So many tree's in the hedgerows, in my opinion the lovliest area in UK I have been.
The final few miles were high open moorland of the Black Mounains before descending to the Vale of Ewas and Lanthony.
Although it was early afternoon, with the forecast and drizzle as I arrived in Llanthony, I decided to  stay there for the night. The steep ascent up to the Hatterall Ridge, and the Offa's Dyke Path, with a long exposed mainly flagstoned path to Hay Bluff didn't appeal to me.
The camping field at Llanthony Priory is basic, with just a stand pipe and is only £3, if anyone comes to collect the money.
Shortly after pitching camp the rain started, so I closed the doors on my tent and had a snooze.
I woke to the sound of a bedraggled D of E kids arriving to put up their tents in the rain.
A pleasant evening with good value tucker was spent in the nearby Half Moon pub.

June 17th Offa's Dyke path

The start of the path is nr. Chepstow, and I started early afternoon.
It was a hot ascent from the river Wye, but once on the ridge on the English side of the river there was a breeze.
The path follows the river to Monmouth. There were occaisional views of the Severn valley east of the path.
Many grand houses are built here with views of both rivers it is understandable.
The path was muddy in many places where it went through woodland, which was most of the time.
Mid afternoon brought a heavy bout of rain, I sheltered under a yew tree with my brolly up until it eased off. It continued dripping off the trees until I left them on the descent to Brockweir.
I arrived at 6pm just as the pub was opening. The food smelt really tempting, but I resisted.
After 2 pints I resumed walking along the river bank.
I forgot to top up with water at the pub, and when stopped for the night at a meadow that was nicely grazed by sheep I got water from a deep puddle. It was clear and tasted good.

June 9th Lynton

Once out of Withypool it soon became moor, then fields to Simonsbath.
After the mist burnt off it became very warm.
It was mostly moor to Exehead, the source of the river Exe. Then a lovely steep valley descent off the high moor. On the way down I saw 2 Red Deer.
At Cheriton another descent to Combe Park, national trust land all the way to Lynton and Lynmouth.
I found a campsite for the night, and after a long welcome shower, spent a relaxing evening in Lynton and Lynmouth.
Overall the 2 Moors Way is a good walk. The hot days over the exposed moors were hard though, but I had great views all the way.
With the weather forcasting rain, I decided to end the walk without any of the possible extensions from Lynmouth.
(It was a wet bus ride to Exeter on the journey to Dorset)

June 8th Withypool

A short walk uphill from my nights stay and I was on Exmoor.
Big views ahead and roadwalking until crossing under the busy main Exeter to Barnstaple road onto Knowstone Moor.
A mixed bag of roads, tracks and paths on a hot day across hilly Exmoor.
I had a long lunch by the river at Hollowcombe, before a steep climb to Hawkridge. This was followed by a high level walk above the Exe Valley, with a descent to Withypool.
From Hawkridge I could have walked to Tarr Steps and followed the river to Withypool, but I choose the breezier high route as the day was hot.
A pot of tea at Withypool decided me that I wasn't going any further.
The field behind the tea rooms was an ideal camp spot for the night. Secluded, toilets, and even an outside electric socket to charge my phone.
After a salad at the village pub I set up my tent at dusk, and discovered I could pick up the tearoom's wifi. The perfect stealth campsite.

June 7th Bradford Barton

A walk to Morchard Bishop turned from road walking to an overgrown footpath.
The village has a  well stocked shop cum cafe, where I stopped.for a phone charge and a tea.
Another warm day and by the time I reached Witheridge I decided to bus into Barnstaple for replacement socks.
Ahh the convenience of a bus pass ! An upstairs bus ride alongva road I hadn't travelled.
A bit of food shopping and back before 6pm.
After a couple of pints I walked through a lovely valley then found a perfect spot for the night under an oak tree in a newly harvested hay field

6th June - The 2 Moors Way

PART TWO
Having walked from Ivybridge to Drewsteignton 2 years previously, I started again from Drewsteignton.
A series of buses and my bus pass saw me to my starting point by 2.30pm
It was very warm and I felt the first niggle of a blister - I wore thin socks, but still my feet were hot.
The afternoon was through the dairy country of lush mid Devon.
There was quite a bit of road walking, but this section is the link between Dartmoor and Exmoor.
I arrived at a pub at Down St Mary at dusk, to find it closed for a private function, bit of a bummer to say the least.
I made my dinner at a picnic spot, then headed to a secluded field for a warm pleasant night.