OFFA'S DYKE - MONTGOMERY TO WELSHPOOL

It was back onto the Offa's Dyke path for the long running Walk Around Wales saga, this is the 7th year now and I'm about one third of the way into the walk and two thirds of the way up the Offa's Dyke path and its over a year since my last walk (around Wales that is). Today's walk was from Montgomery to Buttington (near Welshpool) and it worked out at exactly 10.00 miles, not 10.01 or 9.99 but 10.00 exactly but this does include walking back to look for my magnifying glass which I'd dropped and couldn't find and my glasses which I did. The first big decision was whether or not to park at the finish and cycle to the start or park at the start and rely on the trusty thumb to get me back. The return route was relatively simple so Theodore Thumb won the battle. A big thank you to 'Monty's Brewery' of Montgomery, in particular Fleur Parker, the manageress for allowing me to use their car park on the strength that I will come back to their pub/visitor centre and partake in some of the refreshments. The brewery have a range of ales including 'best offa' and a percentage of sales from this ale is donated to the upkeep of the Offa's Dyke path................

............My start was around 10.00am and it was approx three quarters of a mile from Monty's Visitor Centre to the Offa's Dyke path. The weather was overcast with the odd patch of blue, ten minutes into the walk and it started raining, thankfully it stopped eleven minutes in and although the cloud cover was always more than 50% it was Pleasant weather with a capital P. It was about three quarters of a mile from Monty's to the path and once onto it the going was easy and flat and good. I didn't realise it at the time but I was walking through a historical battlefield, it's location is not known exactly but it was in this area..........

THE BATTLE of MONTGOMERY

The Offa's Dyke path passes through the site of the English Civil War battle of Montgomery which was fought on 18th September 1644. Cromwell's troops smashed the King's army and secured a vital strongpoint and gateway in Wales. Cromwell's roundheads' lost just 40 men compared to 500 of the King's Cavaliers. A further 1500 Royalists were captured. Reflecting on the Battle of Montgomery, Sir Thomas Myddelton - who had jointly commanded the victorious Parliamentarian Army - later described it as: 'as great a victory as hath been gained in any part of the kingdom'. Fought on 18 September 1644 in mid-Wales, Montgomery was the largest engagement in the Principality during the First English Civil War of 1642 to 1646. In terms of numbers engaged, in its outcome and impact, it was also a particularly significant regional battle of the war. Notwithstanding its importance, historians have largely overlooked Montgomery. Consequently, it is rarely mentioned in studies of the mid-17th century British Civil Wars. - WIKIPEDIA LINK

Going the other way doing Welshpool to Knighton today was Mark Woods from Washington DC, mark had made the brave decision to pack in his job and go travelling the world. He'd been walking Glyndwr's Way and was spending two days on the path before heading off to the South Downs way. Mark had been working in exchange for accommodation, an interesting concept which I understand and was delighted to find that a website exists for the very purpose of marrying up travellers for board & backache. Not that I think its a bad thing, I just thought backache fitted nicely with board, and the website address is.................... www.workaway.info


On occasion the path would cut through a field of crops.	There were nice views from Beacon Hill with Welshpool in the foreground, the Cader Idris range, Berwyn mountains and Plynlimon in the distance, and I fancy I saw the Rhinogs but I may be wrong there.	The soil around this tree had eroded leaving the intricate design of the upper root system exposed.	Montgomery castle in the distance to the right of the picture.	Offa's Dyke is not visible for much of this walk but there were signs of the dyke and embankments along the way, this stretch is at Rownal, about 2 miles out of Montgomery.

Just after I had a munch of lunch at Beacon Ring I set off towards Welshpool but before I left Beacon Ring I met going the other way doing the whole Offa's Dyke path as far as Chepstow-upon-Wye and Severn, Gavin Beed of Plymouth. The first thing I spied about Gavin was the guitar shaped walking stick hanging by his side. When questioned I found it was actually a guitar so I questioned Gavin more and talked him into immediately forming the Beacon Ring Blues Band. Gavin, whom I called Gary at first due to my being old and not understanding things very well suggested the Adele song 'Someone Like You' and I couldn't get signal to find the words on my phone so I made them up, as you do.

Unfortunately my phone run out of memory and stopped recording after 23 seconds otherwise we would have had a number one hit on our hands. Its a good job really, I'm not sure how I would handle the fame.

BEACON RING BLUES BAND YOUTUBE VIDEO - CLICK HERE


Showing the design of trees planted for the Queen's coronation in 1953	diagram of ring / hillfort	English info	Welsh info	location on Offa's Dyke path

	B&B - Heath Cottage, Forden - just off the path. Heath Cottage, Forden, Welshpool SY21 8LX - Phone: 01938 580453
	Camping - Meadow Camping, near Forden - sorry - no details currently available.