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| During breakfast this morning we were told the story of how the hotel's sign board came to be re-painted. A local artist with a reputation for his abstract work offered to repaint it and while it was away, the owners were somewhat worried that when it returned it might not be to their liking. However, on its return to The Swan, it was well received, well liked and now continues to give much pleasure. |
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Leaving The Swan at 09:13 we set off up Church Street passing through the churchyard of St. Mary's. After crossing the main road, a raised footpath took us up the minor road towards the ridge - the road becoming steeper along its length. |
| After ¼ mile and reaching the gated track, the road was climbing steeply so we rested on the gate. It was very still and quite cloudy but the sun was trying to burn through and briefly it did producing our silhouette momentarily on the bank to the right. Looking ahead was the broad sweep of the grass drive up over and onto the Hergest Ridge (pronounced Hargest - hard "g") edged on both sides by autumn bracken. |
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Over to the right we could pick out the golf course we'd crossed yesterday afternoon on Bradnor Hill. [Picture : top right]
Horses roam this ridge. Indeed the path from Kington to Gladestry is the longest of the few bridleways on the OD Path. Close to two ponds at which they drink were a number of animals, some resting, some eating and one in need of a haircut! |  |
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We met a dog called Baggins ("Lord of the Flies") but didn't stay long and kept our distance as he "wasn't very friendly" according to his owner. Once over the "summit" up ahead, it was all downhill towards the end of the ridge. |
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From the line of the path between the bracken it would seem that the route should be over the end of the ridge (Yewtree Bank) but there is no right of way and the OD Path drops down the left side of the hill over a very stony track until it meets the tarmac road coming up from the village. |
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| Turning right at the road junction at the bottom of the hill we were soon joining the B4594 at 11:05 where there was a convenient bench - just right for a coffee stop. Opposite this seat was theGladestry (pronounced Glade - stree to our surprise) Primary School; half-term week here so all was quiet. |
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| Well, it was quiet for all of twenty seconds because no sooner had we sat down and |
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opened the rucsac when this Powys library van arrived, parked in front of us, reversed a little way into the side road with its reversing beeper sounding, and then - when parked - loudly sounded its horn calling villagers! Helen, the librarian, popped her head out of the window |
and apologised and then dealt with the half-dozen/dozen clients. Based at the library in Llandrindod Wells the van comes every two weeks. we learned that her next port of call was the same as ours - Newchurch - so we could have begged a lift had we thought of it at the time. (Not true - honest!) The van left and at 11:20; so did we.
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| Walk Statistics |
|---|
| Day |
Hr |
Min |
Mins |
Miles |
Ascent |
Conversations |
Photographs |
Mins per mile |
mph |
9 |
7 |
42 |
462 |
14.5 |
1660' |
7 |
40 |
31.9 |
1.88 |
|---|
B & B Details |
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Glenys Wheeler, Tinto House, Broad Street, Hay-on-Wye,
Hereford, HR3 5DB
Tel: 01497 820590 |
Warm welcome; hot drink facilities in room. Superb breakfast. |
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|
B & B (E/S) |
20.00 |
Packed Lunch/flask of coffee |
3.00 |
TOTAL |
£23.00 |
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Meal Details |
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The Granary, Broad Street, Hay-on-Wye.
Tel: 01497 820790 |
Thick vegetable Soup, Three Cheese Ploughmans & Salad - good food |
7.70 |
1 pt Dorothy Goodbody's & Glass of Red Wine
as beer "went off"! |
3.60 |
TOTAL |
£11.30 |
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© Scarpa - Page last updated 03/03/98
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