Offa's Dyke (S) Summary

Offa's Dyke - South
By Mark Walford Epilogue Prev

There's no doubt about it, time really does fly. It's already a month on from the walk and yet I barely seem to have unpacked. I have few physical reminders of the week - a couple of toenails have turned a Gothic black and every so often my dodgy knee will twinge, evoking fond memories of cheeky gradients hidden beyond a stile. I am left with the photos, the memories, and this set of scribblings to look back on in the years ahead. Of course I missed the discomfort and exertion of it all as soon as I put a business suit back on and became a Project Manager again. I have a new screen saver on my laptop, a view down the sublime valley of Radnor, taken as we descended from Bradnor hill, and I have spent many moments staring at it wistfully as phones ring and keyboards rattle all around me.
As a route I cannot recommend Offa's Dyke enough. It has everything you need really, mouth-watering scenery, well defined footpaths, friendly hospitality, gaunt ruins and of course all those hills. There is, it has to be said, a lot of upping and downing required. Hard work yes but it doesn’t detract from the experience because without all the climbing the subsequent views are less rewarding. It isn't a particularly arduous trail, nowhere near as demanding as, say, the Kintyre Way and most averagely fit people will cope with it. Take inspiration from the octogenarian Aussie we met and grab a pack, pull on some boots, and walk it.
I'll hopefully be back for part two of Offa's Dyke, swearing at the pointless climbing of pointless hills, forcing my soft city feet into outdoor shoes, suffering the inevitable blisters, chafing, and knotted leg muscles that will serve to point out that I really need to be fitter and probably conclude with me doing nothing about it. I will of course be lagging behind my fellow walkers most of the time but I wouldn't have it any other way. After all, when the day is done and the beer is ordered and we rest tired bodies the miles walked are the same for all of us but, more importantly, are happily shared.

Mark.

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