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: Hay-on-Wye to Kington 17/6/2003


 

Broad-leaved helleborine
 
Small heath
We walked down to the River Wye, crossing the bridge, which gave good views up and down.  Descending through a small wood, we followed the west bank for a kilometre before leaving through fields where we saw a yellow wagtail catching and collecting flies.  We got a last brief view of the Wye as we climbed to the A438, which we soon left again to walk through Bettws Dingle, dark with Douglas fir, the original woodland plants barely surviving – we saw a single broad-leaved helleborine.  Lanes and green tracks led to Newchurch, where we arrived just on lunchtime.  St. Mary’s Church provided coffee, tea, water and biscuits for walkers, in return for donations.  We did not use the provisions, but we did use the shelter and bench as a convenient spot for our own lunch, gratefully leaving a donation.  A brief storm had just ended, but the ground was still wet.  Although we had intended finishing here, such early arrival persuaded us to continue to Kington, especially as no Hay taxis were available to take us back.  We therefore set out up the steep slope of Disgwylfa Hill, where the heathland flora of the previous two days reappeared.  Like Hatterall Hill all these high ridges are used for pasturing sheep.  More fields and lanes followed after leaving the hill, winding our way to Gladestry.  From here it was virtually straight for 5 miles all the way to Kington.  The climb up Hergest Ridge was steep and laborious, but once at the top the walking was easy on wide grassy tracks through bracken and gorse, skylarks and meadow pipits singing and small heaths playing in the sun.  Eventually we descended a lane into Kington where the tourist office was very helpful in phoning for a taxi back to Hay.  From all the hills today there were exceptionally good views of the surrounding country for a vast distance.
Wye from Hay Bridge looking south
 
St Mary's Church
 
Looking back to Newchurch from Disgwylfa Hill

 
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