Day Six - Up the Welsh Marches

From Chepstow to Staunton-on-Wye (route)

After yesterdays flat traverse today was always going to be harder. Still there are always opportunities to make life even harder! So we decided to eschew the scenic low level route along the Wye valley past Tintern in favour of the stiff climb across the top via Trellech in order to warm up the tired muscles as well as enjoying the spectacular views.

On reaching Monmouth we crossed the river Monnow with its fine example of 'the only surviving two storey fortified bridge in Britain'. Hill Junior was underwhelmed at this edifice pictured alongside. Still at least Monmouth could provide a decent cup of tea and of course cake for our mid morning break.

Monmouth is also famous as the birth place of Henry V who as our elequent gude, Phil Horsley, pen is famous for his 'once more unto the breach, dear friends' speech. Apparently Freddie Mercury also Bohemian Rhapsody here.





Suitably swilling with Earl Grey and stuffed with carrot cake we cycled up he delightful Dore Valley. This is called the Golden Valley by those who ignorantly think that Dore means D'Or rather than being derived from the Welsh Dwr meaning water. The Dore valley is also renowned for its castles built by the Welsh Marcher Lords such as Grosmont pictured here with Hill Junior in the foreground wondering why on earth he invited his father to accompany him.

Luncheon is served at the Neville Arms close to Abbeydore and washed down with two excellent pints of Butty Bach brewed by Jimmy Swan at the Wye Valley Brewery. Thus fueled we proceed further up the Dore Valley with its views of Hay Bluff over to the west.




Once we reach Dorstone we do an abrupt right turn up and over Dorstone Hill and down into the Wye valley. It's a 1-in-4 double chevron, but no problem for either Hill (albeit at a snail's pace). Finally we cross the Wye again and reach our destination in Staunton-on-Wye where we are staying with Hill Senior's sister and brother-in-law - Susan & Henry.



They maintain the tradition of providing excellent tea and two types of cake. For tea, we're joined by Herefordshire local, Ms. Gill Bullock (wife of the aforementioned brewer) and the recently arrived Anna. They have forgone the world-renowned Wellington Duck Race in order to greet these two sweaty lejoggers as they whizz through Herefordshire.







Todays profile shows a steep drop into Monmouth and then a steady climb up the Dore valley + the final up-and-down Dorstone hill.