A Short Stroll Along Offas Dyke

Fiona and I had a day off work and went hill walking in Wales to celebrate her birthday. It was a stunningly beautiful day and although chilly in the east wind we managed to find a sheltered spot just on the west side of the ridge (in the background of this picture) where after a picnic lunch I had the luxury of a short snooze in the sunshine.

Offas Dyke runs along the top of the ridge in the background and this tree is on the climb up from Lllanthony Priory in the Vale of Ewyas in the Black Mountains. A favourite location of ours and place we go back to time and again. It was so tranquil yesterday you could hear the silence.

As we climbed we passed a series of these dead trees in one of the fields - I'm not sure what they are but they clearly died some years ago, perhaps they're Elms and died from the infamous Dutch Elm Disease. However they still stand magnificent in the landscape and provide home to many plants, fungus and creepy crawlies.

After walking for a few hours and seeing nobody we returned to the Priory and a car stopped near Fiona. I thought they must be asking directions but instead gave her a book. When I caught up she explained she'd been given one of the free World Book Night book - Alan Bennett's A Life Like Other People's (WBN ID 2618723971) - one of the million books that were given away, to be read and shared. The giver explained she had 48 copies to give away in the Llanthony area - which given its remote location and the lack of people around yesterday was something of a challenge. Anyway it's fortunate Fiona has not read this book and accepted it as an extra and quite unexpected birthday present. We then popped over Gospel Pass and went to Hay on Wye for tea and to buy some more books.

Altogether an enjoyable day, although I did have to return home in time to attend 2 council meetings in the evening.