We had a lovely meal at the Riverside Inn in Aymestrey last night, and slept well in our very large room. Our taxi driver from yesterday arrived to collect us just as a lady from a different firm arrived for our bags, much shaking of heads over how ridiculous it was for Contours not to stick with one company. We’re not too bothered though, as long as our luggage is waiting for us when we arrive at the next hotel.
From the drop-off at Byton, we walked half a mile back down the road which loosened us up a bit. It already felt very hot with almost no breeze. Then we turned off the road – straight into more dense bracken/ nettles/ brambles. It was no worse than yesterday, and going uphill with no time pressure was an improvement, but I hope they send out a man with a strimmer soon.
There was some respite in woodland, and eventually we reached more forestry commission land on the top of the hill – cool and lovely in the shade. The path turned and headed down through beech trees, but soon we were descending along field edges and very aware of the heat. Several fields of cows, but mostly behind electric fences. Then we reached the church at Titley – we’d hoped for trees in the churchyard but there were none, so we sat and ate our sandwiches in the porch, the only shade available. A little further on we found the Stagg Inn, full of Sunday Lunchers, but they found us a small table and brought us ginger beer without turning up their noses too much.
Given the heat, we decided to follow the Herefordshire Trail from Titley to Kington as it looked shorter and avoided trudging up two more fairly high hills. A good move – though I started to wonder if I was hallucinating first when coming across a farmer practicing golf, then when we found what the map said was a dismantled railway.
The shorter route led us through woodland (unfortunately redolent with dead fox and other animals) in more or less a straight line to Kington. My turn to flag – we should have had a break sooner – but we reached our hotel at last, in time to use the pool and spa facilities – very welcome after all our exertions
Back home on the train tomorrow, and a chance to reflect on the walk.
Home From Home 