writing and hiking in the sun
For a hiker, there is no better feeling than completing a long-distance trail.
Knowing you are literally following in the footsteps of many others who are also passionate about walking, the satisfaction of knowing that each day’s miles bring you closer to your end destination.
Long-distance trails are best tackled – and enjoyed – in one continuous trip. If you can spare the time, walking a linear route in its entirety is logistically easier than returning to various points mid-route. This is how we walked O Fôn i Fynwy and the Via Algarviana.
We completed the Pembrokeshire Coast Path over several weekends, but found this approach difficult when we decided to tackle the South West Coast Path (which we have yet to finish).
Most long-distance trails are marked on maps and there are often guidebooks available. Harri has written one of the guidebooks for the Wales Coast Path.
Unlike the Spanish, the Portuguese are not known for their great love of walking. In fact, until we headed to the Algarve, our only experience of walking in the country was back in July 2011 when we were staying in … Continued
Rivers that don’t flow into one another are generally separated by a stretch of coastline. Thus, having walked miles downriver to the mouth of the Ebbw, we now had some coastal walking to do before we reached the Rhymney. Fortunately, this was mostly along … Continued
The homeward leg. Chepstow is just seventeen miles down river. By early evening, we’ll have finally reached ‘Fynwy’ and the end of our adventure. Over breakfast, Harri asked if walking through Wales had made our country seem bigger or smaller … Continued
It’s hard to believe we only have two days of walking left. Sometime tomorrow evening we’ll stagger into Chepstow where Harri’s good friend, Newport poet Goff Morgan, will be waiting to drive us home. After just over three weeks and nearly 400 … Continued
