"Up The Dyke" Day 3 - July 15th 2002,
Monmouth to Pandy "Field of Beans!"
Day Date Start Finish Approx. Miles Hours Accommodation
3 Mon. 15th July Monmouth Pandy ~18 (including detour) 7 Carol & Keith White, Brynhonddu Country House, Bwlch Trewyn Estate, Pandy, Abergavenny, NP7 7PD, Tel. 01873 890535 (work 01873 853086) email kdwhite@clara.net.

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Day 3 StartMonmouth Boundary StoneI was unsure what to call today's walk but you'll later appreciate why "Field of Beans" is appropriate.

I set off from Iris Jones' B&B after a reasonable (but not fantastic) breakfast at about 09:00 and plodded slowly up the aptly named Watery lane, across a field and into King's Wood. At this stage, not having read the guide book, I had a sense of déja vu that today was going to be like yesterday's trek along never ending woodland paths. I passed the Monmouth 1857 stone, seeing it more by luck than judgement. It was marvellous, for the first time the air was free of traffic noise. This was more like it. Soon after I crossed a very muddy stream with hardly any water flowing. I thought that this was the River Trothy, fortunately it wasn't.

Welsh ChurchOffa's VinyardThe Path, having emerged from the woods, began the never ending theme for the day - crossing fields! I saw the very ancient and rather pretty church Llanvihangel-Ystern-Llewern and then a long climb over fields with my first view of the twin hills of Skirrid and Sugar Loaf. After a horse training place, where you are primly asked to keep to the edge of the field (why, for heaven's sake?) I passed a place advertising "Offa's Vineyard, Red, White and Sparkling Wines from £4.00. I hadn't known until then that Offa had grown grapes. I guess he learnt it from the Romans!

Shortly after I walked through the village of Llantilio Crossenny which had a seemingly very pleasant pub (shut on Mondays specially to avoid tempting me). A bit further on the book says to look for a series of pretty ponds. I guess they must have dried up in the summer heat! There were fields of wheat, oats, potatoes and (wait for it!) BEANS. In one wheat field there were two tracks for The Path, I guess one for northbound walkers and the other for southbound. I passed two ladies and a guy who appeared to be walking together with a dog and soon stopped beneath a huge oak tree for lunch. The two ladies and dog passed me and we spoke. It seems that the guy they were talking to was a southwards walker. They had hoped to follow me as they were unsure of the route (they, follow me!!).

White CastleBoots Off ladiesSoon I came across one of the main treats of the day - White Castle. The Path goes around the edge of the castle and affords some very fine views. This was a castle with purpose, complete with huge walls, battlements and a moat with water in. Just past it was another field of beans and the two ladies and dog who had passed me earlier sitting by the path side having lunch, one with her boots off. I must say that when on a day's walk I only ever take my boots off in absolute desperation. I missed the turning at Duke's Barn but was soon put right by a guy working on it. Hope the ladies made it okay. Shortly afterwards I crossed the stream a.k.a. the River Trothy yet again. It really is an annoying little river!

The Full BrookSkirrid & Sugar LoafI crossed a tributary of the Trothy (such a stream can have a tributary?) called Full Brook. This was a wonderful babbling stream and I splashed the cool water over my face. It was great and refreshed me no end. After that I stopped in St. Cadoc's churchyard under a big yew tree for my cake and a drink. Not long after I walked down an enclosed lane full of beautiful wild flowers such as foxglove, wild honeysuckle, dog rose and many others of which I didn't know the names and photographed many of them. After Llangattock-lingoed I entered the very pretty Full Brook Valley and over another series of fields to Pandy. I'd spoken to Noelene on the phone and kept going on The Path heading (I thought) for the night's accommodation - WRONG.

After hardly putting a foot wrong all day I missed the B&B and had to phone Keith White for directions. I guess that I walked an extra mile getting there making about 18 miles for the day. I eventually reached Brynhonddu Country House at about 16:30 to a warm welcome from Keith and a right good brew. About an hour after us the "Blister Boys" arrived and we saw them at the Pandy House pub where we had a good meal and a couple of pints of rather nice bitter.

Tomorrow takes me over the Black Mountains to Hay-on-Wye, another 17 miler with plenty of "up"!

Day 3 Impressions

HoneysuckleThe "Field of Beans" day was better than the previous "Obscured by Trees" and easier walking. There were some panoramic views, something not seen on the Chepstow to Monmouth leg and a blessed absence of traffic noise. As a river the Trothy is little more than a stream but quite pretty in places and the profusion of wild flowers along the route was beautiful. However, much of the walking was over agricultural land and I'm still missing the genuine countryside. Maybe tomorrow!

Grub:

Chilli con carné
Lamb chops
Sticky toffee pudding with toffee sauce (Noelene's favourite!)

 
Booze:

Brains S.A. - very good
Smiles Original - more bitter and better than the Brains (but probably not FOR the brains!)

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