Tanat to Buttington – The last leg this time

I’m booked in a B&B in Knighton. I’m not going to get there as I’ve had a rest day and am 29 miles short. At the end of today I will have done over 150 miles in some hot weather, carrying a heavy rucksack so I’m not too disappointed. My feet need some attention. My new boots seem a bit problematic but I’ll sort it. Tanat Light Railway was an experience and the morning was bright when Mike came to pick me up to take me back to Trefonen so that I started walking where I finished last night.

I walked round to the Post Office and bought a tuna sandwich for breakfast. Then I set off at a brisk pace. There were a few hills to climb and the first gave a magnificent 360 degree panorama of the Welsh hills and English valley.

What a morning! Look at this as well.

The route crossed a disused railway line which was actually an extension of the Tanat Valley Light Railway. It runs for miles!

By noon the Path was leading towards the Llanymynech Rocks, an escarpment with a cliff face on one side. The climb was grinding but great, and the views were wonderful, being a last chance to wander a hill before the long plain to Buttington. The Rocks were photogenic too.

I dropped down into the valley and followed the flood embankment by the side of the River Severn through fields. Some were empty, some had sheep and some had cattle. I am wary of cattle and avoided conflict where they wouldn’t move off the path. In one field a large bull was shouting and showing off to his cows. He blocked my path and pushed me away with his head. I got past him and quickened my pace but he started running after me, then two bullocks joined him, then the cows followed suite. About twenty cattle legging it after me. I concentrated on the metal gate as I ran to it as I would only get one chance. I reached straight for the latch, pulled the gate open, dashed through and slammed it as the cattle hit the gate and the fence. I was a bit nervous but as you get older these things aren’t so scary as they used to be and you concentrate on escape rather than trying to jump hedges. 

I made it to the Green Dragon at Buttington by 6pm. Fed, watered and put my tent up out back in their field. A decent last day of this section. I’m now 17 walking days away from completing John O’Groats to Land’s End and I’ll do that in July. Thanks for reading my blog. See you in July.

Night night.