Walking the Offa's Dyke Path
Day Four: Trial by Hill
The most sunshine on the entire trip
On the fourth day of their adventure, the fab four found themselves oversleeping—perhaps due to the cozy, rustic charm of their farmhouse accommodation. Their generous hosts, Mr. and Mrs. Beaven, prepared a delicious breakfast, which they enjoyed thoroughly. Once fueled up, they set off on their 13.5-mile trek from Llantilio Crossenny to Longtown/Llanthony.
The first stretch of the trail was relatively easy, winding through flat country roads and fields. But soon, the terrain began its relentless climb. As they ascended higher and higher, one sobering statistic echoed in their minds: the cumulative elevation of Offa's Dyke Path totals nearly 20,000 feet of climbing.
A thirteenth-century church
A brief 10-minute shower sprinkled the hikers, but nothing too serious. Along the way, they stumbled upon a thirteenth-century church, standing alone in the middle of a farm paddock. Adorned with medieval artwork and an impressive fresco of St. George slaying the dragon, the church hinted at a past significance, now lost to time. Walking in England and Europe is unlike hiking anywhere else—each step often leads through centuries-old villages, ruins, and monuments.
Views of Wales and England
Before tackling the steepest climb of the journey, they paused for lunch in a breathtaking pasture, dotted with fluffy white sheep. After enjoying cheese sandwiches, they braced themselves for the grueling ascent—2,000 feet straight up to the ridge line of the highest mountain on the path. The view at the top was well worth the struggle. Below them stretched the lush green fields of England to the east and the rolling hills of Wales to the west—a landscape framed with soft hues of farmland, dark forests, and misty horizons.
Once on the ridge line, the hikers experienced what they thought was the full power of the Welsh wind. Despite the sun shining above them and the absence of rain, powerful gusts—reaching speeds of 30 to 40 miles per hour—threatened to knock them off balance. It was, without a doubt, a trial by both hill and wind.
Near the end of a long day of walking
After a grueling day of hiking steep inclines and battling fierce winds, the weary adventurers finally reached their next stop in Longtown/Llanthony. Their relief was met with a warm welcome—a cozy bed-and-breakfast, complete with freshly baked chocolate cake and steaming cups of tea. Ecstatic to have conquered another leg of their journey, they settled in for a well-earned rest.
Floods, mud, hills, showers, and wind have tested our intrepid hikers. What lies ahead?