Walking the Offa's Dyke Path
Day Two: Trial by Flood
English sun
The fab four were greeted by a rare sight this morning—the English sun! After days of relentless rain, the golden light illuminated their path, adding a brilliant glow to the landscape. They set off early from their B&B, eager to tackle the 13-mile trek from Chepstow to Redbrook.
As they ventured into the woods, Ernest couldn’t help but recall scenes from his favorite Robin Hood films. The towering trees and winding trails felt like something straight out of folklore—perhaps even Hansel and Gretel would have been at home here. The vegetation was foreign to him, vastly different from the flora he had encountered on hikes in California and Australia. Along the way, they paused at the famous Devil's Pulpit, which provided a stunning view of Tintern Abbey. The abbey’s ruins, dating between 1136 and 1536, remain a beautiful testament to medieval architecture and art.
Tintern Abbey
Soon, they reached the River Wye, swollen from recent storms. Faced with two options—the high dyke route or the scenic river path—they opted for the latter, enticed by its picturesque beauty. However, the muddy terrain slowed their progress, and the river’s rising waters soon presented an obstacle. A section of the path had vanished beneath the floodwaters, forcing them to choose between backtracking or forging a new way through higher ground.
The very flooded Wye River
Determined to press forward, they scrambled up a steep, slippery cliffside, navigating dense holly, thorny blackberry bushes, and tangled bracken. Miraculously, no one was injured, and after an arduous climb, they rejoined the path beyond the flooded section. Exhausted but relieved, they continued on toward Redbrook, making their way through gorgeous pine forests as the afternoon stretched on. The early winter sunset left them grateful for their timely arrival—had they been any later, they might have had to finish the day’s walk in darkness.
The best part? Not a single raindrop fell all day! But would their luck hold? Would more flooded paths lie ahead? And what about the relentless mud—would it wear them down? Rain and snow threatened to make an appearance on the next section of their journey.
Join me in the next installment of Walking the Offa's Dyke Path.