Introduction


When we started walking the coast of England we had no intention that this would become a major lifetime project. Having to make a last-minute arrangement for our summer holiday in 1987, we said "Let's go to the nearest piece of coast and see how far we can walk along it." It turned out well and we started adding further stretches of coast, initially once every two years, but soon annually, or even twice a year.

We had always enjoyed the coast - there is something refreshingly "edgy" about having the sea always at our side, and one of us was into marine molluscs. We also enjoyed long-distance walking and had long been involved in general natural history recording. This project enabled us to combine all three interests.

You soon discover when embarking on a project like this that you need a few rules, which evolve from the first experiences. Our main rule was that we should walk as close to the coast as possible, which meant beach-walking whenever we could (unlike the official coast paths that largely remain above shore, recognising that at high tides the beach may be inaccessible). The route should also be capable of being a continuous walk, so that when we came to an unfordable river we walked inland along its banks to the first place at which we could cross, whether a bridge or a ferry.

We only carried light packs, so that at the end of each day's walk we had the problem of getting back to our car where we started. Initially we walked back, but soon realised we would be walking the coast twice this way! We used public transport whenever this was available - buses or trains, sometimes adjusting our start and finish points to make this easier. Failing this - and it was often not possible - we would phone for a taxi (an increasingly costly option over the years). Having our car with us gave us more freedom as to where we could stay at night - and after a day walking and only light food we were usually ready for being spoiled by a good meal and a comfortable bed! Even so, we stayed on the coast itself whenever there was a decent option.

Each walk was made for enjoyment, it was not a route-march to see how quickly we could get it finished. We therefore took it gently at times when passing through pleasant scenery or where there were many plants or creatures to record.

In terms of biological recording, we systematically noted every bird, butterfly, creature or sea-shell that we came across, sometimes spending time searching for the shells. We could not record every plant in the same way - there are too many common ones - so we were more selective, noting all coastal plants and any others that were not run-of-the-mill.

In our daily posts, edited from our original diaries, we include a star-rating from no star to **** according to our subjective estimate as to how special that day was from the point of view of natural history. This score (and our daily records) will, however, have been affected by the weather - it is difficult to appreciate the environment fully, for instance, in torrential rain, and there are many more butterflies and other insects to be seen in warm sunshine!

A summary of all our natural history records on the walk can be found using this link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1LLGD55lKRHYXd1SGU1QndrcUU/edit?usp=sharing





Friday, 24 January 2014

Offa's Dyke: Bigswear Bridge to Monmouth 12/6/2003**


 

River Wye from Bigsweir
 
 
Approaching Redbrook
 
 
Monnow Bridge
This section was easy to follow and we enjoyed beautiful views, like the Wye at Bigsweir and the panorama of Monmouth lying below the National Trust area at Kymin.  Much of the way was in woodland with much small-leaved lime and, more rarely, wild service tree.  At Wyeseal Wood occurred plants like wood millet, great woodrush, and hard fern we had not noticed yesterday.  The dyke here was a relatively simple embankment following the contours at the top of the wood, where old layered and coppiced trees helped to enforce the barrier.  In open fields at Coxbury Farm there were more superb old limes following the line of the dyke, although there were notices of a proposal to re-route the path away from the dyke here.  This included a section in Kinwood Nature Reserve where the flora was particularly good, with many old yews, spurge laurel, early purple orchid, helleborines, nuthatches, and sulphur polypore brackets on the old oaks.  [We formally objected to the proposals, but this only contributed a delay to the inevitable installation of the diversion.]  The walking here was particularly enjoyable, mostly on top of the dyke, with no noise obtrusions at all except the welcome one of continual birdsong.  We descended at lunchtime into Redbrook where there were several pubs serving food and drink.  Following quiet back alleys above the main street meant we missed the start of the Wye Valley path that would have been the easier way into Monmouth.  Instead we ascended steadily to 800ft for the next 3 km.  We took a lunch break just after the farm past Cockshoot Ash Barn, where we found a seat on a useful mossy rock under a shady oak, eating Welsh cakes made at our hotel (Whitebrook Inn).  At the highest point was a little National Trust reserve, The Kymin, that included a Naval Temple and a small tower erected to commemorate British naval victories.  It was a steady descent to the Wye, crossing the river and the A40 into town by 3pm.  This gave us plenty of time to visit the Information Bureau, the castle and shops and have a snack at a little café.  We walked down the main street to the famous Monnow Bridge, over the river of the same name, with brown trout swimming beneath.  The Monnow here runs into the Wye.  Near the bridge was a wonderful millennial sculpture in the shape of a round table of ceramic tiles with embossed scenes from Monmouth’s history from Roman times.  The bus terminus near the bridge afforded us a journey right back to Bigsweir Bridge where we had started.
 
 
 
Small-leaved lime
 
 
 
 
Sulphur polypore

 


Monmouth from The Kymin

 

 


View from near Hendre

 

 
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