Once again set off to walk across Wales, this time east-to-west, greeting the sunrise on the longest day of the year, 21st June. Had no idea whether I could manage the full 53½ miles, just wanted to see what the body could do, especially my left knee which has been troubling me recently, perhaps a consequence of a fall I had running last month.
Knee fine, but lower back became tender and painful, so ended the walk at Llanidloes. I suspect part of the reason for the back issue is poor posture lazing about at home, exacerbated by poor weight distribution in the little backpack I was using. Seemed a nice little pack when I bought it, but I’ve discovered it has design issues if carrying any amount weight, affecting walking posture.
Piglet Tree. When I first passed this way 2nd June 2022 there was a stuffed toy piglet toy sitting on the tree. Two week later when I passed again it was still there. On my next attempt, June 2023, it was gone. Decided to give the tree a (biodegradable) replacement. I wonder if it’ll be there on my next visit.
Radnorshire Gate (SO 14605 85780). Named on Ordnance Survey maps going back to at least to the late 1800s, so presumable of some historical significance, but it’s just an ordinary farm gate.
Always impressed by ancient trees – this one must be hundreds of years old – which one sometimes find embedded in possibly equally ancient walls. This one was in the lane NNW of Medwaledd (SO 14917 84010).
Rhuddwyr Brook. This is the England-Wales border at the point where England pokes itself most westward into Wales, England in the foreground (SO 16119 83455). There a public footpath through the trees on the English side. There’s a video here.
A major difficulty was the ‘Custogion Swamp’, as I call it, an area at headwaters of the Custogion Brook. It was just passable today with much to-ing and fro-ing in the dark, but only because of the recent unusually dry weather. There is theoretically a bridleway and bit of track on the north side, but nothing easily attainable in reality, the area normally being waterlogged. I’ll have to rethink the route to bypass this location.
Curious about these old, massive, square, wooden posts 1,600 feet on the hillside on the SW side of Hirddwel. There are at least three pairs, this pair at SO 01752 79993, with others on the fence line to the west. They must have taken much effort to manufacture, haul up there and embed in the ground. What’s their story?
Sunrise from south-east of Llanidloes.
So, really pleased I survived the trip, although thigh muscles painfully tight the day after. Will I ever complete the walk? I’ll keep trying.
Stats: Started 12:14 on the 20th, finished 05:54 21st, 26.9 miles, 17 hours and 39 minutes, 1200 metres (3,940 feet) ascent.
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