Russell's Walk Around Wales

It's been nearly two weeks since I finished my 1,070 mile Walk Around Wales and there have been no ill effects. I've now adapted to wearing normal shoes and not carrying a heavy rucksack and am currently working my way through a long list of jobs, after being away from home for three months.  I've now passed my fundraising target of £15,000 for Cancer Research UK - the current total is £15,800 or £17,800 including Gift Aid. Many thanks to everyone who has donated to this worthy cause.  It's still not too late to make a donation - just click on the link to my fundraising page, and remember that you can set the 'commission' amount to zero. www.justgiving.com/fundraising/WalkAroundWales  I'm planning to give some illustrated talks about the walk to raise additional funds, so if you know of any groups who would be interested, please let me know. In the meantime, many thanks for your valued support throughout my journey. #cruk

The last day! Shelley drove Gordon and me to the start of today's walk and I set off for the final time. We started with a long ascent, then zig-zagged our way through fields, moorland, woodland and country lanes, dodging some heavy showers on two occasions. Then Prestatyn came into view from above and we gradually descended into civilisation.  After 1,071 miles in 62 days, 4 hours and 45 minutes, I reached the end of my journey at the coast, having walked the perimeter of Wales. What an adventure! There are so many memories - 40 days of amazing weather, followed by a fair dose of rain, spectacular scenery, meeting interesting people en route for a few minutes or a few days, visits from family and friends, super accommodation, countless lasagne and chips dinners, steep hills, secluded bays, stunning cliffs, reliable trains and buses...... My body has coped admirably, with no injuries, no blisters, and no Covid. I've lost about a stone in weight during the journey. U...

The penultimate day and the Welsh walking gods conspired to make it a mighty challenge.  Christine and Jeff very kindly offered to drive me back to the start of today's walk, but also to transport my rucksack to Gordon and Shelley's, tonight's accommodation, meaning I could walk a difficult, hilly section with a light bag. I headed across bleak and misty moors to Llandegla forest, then into the village itself, before the terrain started to become more rugged. As the long ascent of Moel Famau began, the rain became heavier, the mist lowered, and strong winds developed. On the summit it was wild, with no visibility and I was soon quite wet.  Despite these challenging conditions, and nearly being blown over twice, I gritted my teeth and battled on. In fact, I decided to extend the walk to reduce the distance on my final day.  Gordon collected me from Bodfari and I was soon enjoying a cup of tea and a hot shower. My phone had become damp, so few pictures today and...

I left early, not having met my Airbnb host, and headed across fields, overgrown footpaths, and dense woodland, before reaching quiet country lanes. An email arrived telling me I had been successful in the ballot for Taylor Swift tickets - not for me, of course, but for Hannah. Action required, but no phone reception! Eventually the signal returned and all was sorted.  After passing Chirk Castle, the path joined the picturesque Llangollen canal, which took me over the famous Pontcysyllte Aqueduct - fortunately I have a head for heights. A gentle ascent followed and I was soon looking down on Llangollen. I'd extended today's walk in order to reduce tomorrow's walk due to expected downpours, so the lovely Nadine, my Cancer Research UK contact for North Wales, kindly met me at World's End and drove me to Llangollen, where I was staying. We went for coffee and she caught up on my walking adventures since we last met on Day 2. At my hotel, I met up with Christine...

Today it did not rain. I left my very comfortable and well equipped hotel wearing dry kit for the first time in several days and joined the towpath on the Montgomery canal. Five minutes later, just beyond the Aldi supermarket, I clocked up 1,000 miles for the journey.  I followed the scenic canal path for several miles, then joined an embankment path close to the river, before rejoining a section of the canal which was being restored.  At Llanymynech, a village which has one side of the main road in Wales and the opposite side in England, I decided to stop for refreshments, as I would otherwise have arrived far too early at my Airbnb.  The first hill of the day brought me to a haven for butterflies alongside a golf course, the second to my accommodation for tonight.  After the heavy rain and steep hills of recent days, today's walk felt like a gentle stroll. 3 days to go! In the evening, I strolled down the hill to meet up with my cousin Geoff, his wife H...

Apologies to the people trying to contact me yesterday - I had no wifi or phone reception at my B&B. Today's weather forecast was more rain. I feel as if I'm being punished for the endless weeks of sun I enjoyed earlier in my journey.  My B&B neighbour kindly gave me a lift back to the start of the footpath. I made very slow progess during the morning, walking just six miles in three hours. This was due to a steep climb at the start, then the infamous Switchbacks, a series of successive steep ascents and descents, which were even more challenging in wet conditions.  I commented yesterday about the stiles being replaced by gates. This clearly has not happened in the northern section of Offa's Dyke, where stiles are dominant, many in a poor state of repair. This only added to today's workload. From midday there were frequent heavy rain showers, so I added more items to my growing collection of wet clothes. Fortunately my hotel in Welshpool has a heated...

Today was tough, with multiple hills, high mileage and heavy rain. I left Kington and ascended the first hill of the day, catching up a sheep farmer in his eighties who was heading off to work with his dog.  Although I walked most of Offa's Dyke ten years ago, I barely recognise any of the route now. I don't think the route has changed, it's just down to poor memory. One significant improvement is that many of the stiles have been replaced by gates - so much easier with a heavy rucksack.  After a couple of hours the heavy rain started. It's not pleasant to walk in, but there's no choice, so it's a case of head down, feet forward, and mind elsewhere for several hours, motivated by the prospect of removing the wet clothes, having a hot shower, then having dinner. I also had my first fall of the entire walk, slipping on some wet grass, but no harm was done. The rain stopped about three miles from my accommodation, so I was able to dry out a little, but ...

I left my first class B&B and headed to the nearby campsite where Chris and Wendy were staying in their motorhome for a quick coffee. I then rejoined the Offa's Dyke footpath as it followed the River Wye, then gradually ascended through woodland, over fields, and along narrow country lanes. The promised rain arrived late, so with its arrival I stopped for a drink at a pub in Gladestry until it cleared. The long ascent of Hergest ridge coincided with a rapid deterioration in the weather. Storm clouds gathered around the horizon and, just as I reached the most exposed section of the ridge, thunder and lightning drew ever nearer. Thunder then immediately followed the lightning - a close shave. Heavy rain cannoned off the backs of my legs and rucksack, while the broad, grass ridge path was sodden. It was a relief to descend and finally reach Kington. The sun then had the audacity to appear! After the weather drama, it was a pleasure to meet for dinner with Brian and his...

Today's challenge was a weather dilemma. The forecast was heavy rain in the morning, then thunderstorms in mid afternoon. I decided to suffer the rain to try to avoid the thunder. It was raining as I left, but it soon abated. The initial section involved a steep climb to the Hatterrall ridge and I was pleased to reach the first trig point in less than an hour. Despite the forecast, the sun appeared and I enjoyed scenic views. The ridge is about ten miles long and rises gently, but the physical effort for the day was largely done.  I caught up with two social workers, Ian and Ben, who were escaping the pressures of work for a few days, and walked with them for an hour or so. We went our separate ways and shortly afterwards I met up with my sister Wendy and husband Chris plus Dixie their dog - our scheduled meet coincided with the start of the thunder and the threat of lightning. The heavens opened and we were soon quite wet, but quickly found a farmhouse barn to shelter ...

This journey throws up many challenges. Sometimes they are physical (steep hills, long distances, hot weather), sometimes transport-related (no Sunday buses), sometimes route-related (diversions). Today posed an accommodation challenge. The pub/bunkhouse I'd booked months ago had closed down last Sunday, but they promised to honour my booking despite this. The only problem - I didn't know whether dinner or breakfast would be available. So I headed to Monmouth high street and visited the nearest supermarket (M&S) to stock up on food, just in case. Today's walk soon entered the woods, then crossed the rolling hills of Monmouthshire along country lanes and across farmland. An inviting poster outside St Michael's church in a remote hamlet offered refreshments to walkers, so I popped inside and chatted to the lady who organises it. The temperature rose in the afternoon and more hills appeared, so a farm offering refreshments and a village pub were welcome pit...

I set off remembering to follow signs with the little acorn for Offa's Dyke footpath, rather than the familiar seashell of the Wales Coast Path. I took one last wistful glance at the sea, knowing that the next time I see it will be near to the end of my journey in North Wales.  The well-defined path passed through fields and woodland, rising gradually to offer aerial views of Tintern Abbey, then descending to Brockweir, where I met Liz and Ian (Liz is an old friend from uni). We walked on a quiet path next to the River Wye, then stopped for lunch next to an abandoned toll house. They returned to their car, while I continued through a large expanse of woodland, then followed a track which climbed continuously for several miles, eventually reaching The Kymin, a popular viewpoint which overlooks Monmouth. The flat coastal paths of recent days now seem distant, as Offa serves up a punishing array of hills over the next few days. After the long descent into Monmouth and a re...