Day 34: Buckley to Chirk

Distance: 21.7 miles
Time: 9 hrs
Weather: Warm and sunny
Cumulative distance: 577.6 miles

A long undulating walk across some challenging paths to reach the Offa's Dyke path.

More variety for breakfast, as I declined the full Welsh in favour of cereal and boiled egg. Gordon and Owen had agreed to join me for today's walk, so Shelley drove us into Buckley for the start. Owen had just finished school and is preparing to go to university in the autumn, so had some time on his hands.

Although it was warm, there was a light breeze, which made walking more comfortable. We followed some minor roads, passing through some delightful villages on the way. After a while we joined a woodland path, which proved to be rather challenging. Fallen trees were strewn across the path, so it became an assault course. We clambered under, over and between trees, which was made more difficult with having a weighty rucksack which had to be manoeuvred at the same time. We eventually battled our way out of the woods and joined a minor road.

We took a wrong turn at lunchtime, largely due to one footpath appearing to follow a slightly different route. The end result was that we walked an additional mile, made worse because we had to reclimb the hill which we had just descended.

Later in the route we joined the Shropshire Union canal and walked across the famous Pont Cysyllte Aqueduct, which crosses 121 feet above the River Dee and was designed by Thomas Telford.

Our final climb of the day was a steep one, but we were rewarded with fine views. We finally joined the Offa's Dyke path, which actually begins in Prestatyn near the North Welsh coast. This is the path which will partner me for the next week or so.

We met Shelley in the car park of Chirk Castle and, after farewells, I continued  to complete the final section through overgrown nettles to my B&B at Castle Mill. Following the aches and pains incurred by my previous walking partners, I do hope that Gordon and Owen are fit in the morning.

After a much needed bath, Eric the owner drove me to Chirk, where I dined at the Poacher's Pocket.