The scenic Welsh boarder will be the location for supporter Pat Innocent and her new sponsored event for the Dr Hadwen Trust. Having climbed Mount Kilimanjaro for us, she has now set her sights on the 177-mile walk along Offa’s Dyke, from Prestatyn to Chepstow.
Pat plans to walk 20 miles each day and would love the company of any of our supporters who wish to join her at any point along the way. You could not want for a more attractive route which includes ancient woodlands, river valleys, wild moorland, hill forts, castles and abbeys.
Pat told us “I read an article in She magazine about 25 years ago about the Trust and it just got to me so much. I knew you were the charity for me. Medical research is one of the most cruel practices that happens to animals, and I hope my walk will help highlight your wonderful non-animal research and raise lots of money.”
To join Pat on her trails, please call us on 01462 436819. She began her walk on 20th August 2008 and will take about 10 days. Afterwards, she’s planning her 60th birthday party with family and friends.
Please show your support of Pat and her epic walk by sponsoring her. You can donate right now, by simply clicking here. Donations can also be posted to: Dr Hadwen Trust, 84A Tilehouse Street, Hitchin, Herts., SG5 2DY. Please add a note to say your donation is for Pat’s epic walk.
Thank you very much for supporting Pat and the Dr Hadwen Trust.
Good luck Pat!
Of Offa’s Dyke Pat writes:
Offa’s Dyke path winds for 177 miles along the English/Welsh border, from Prestatyn to Chepstow. It is believed that the original dyke was a defensive earthwork about 60 miles long between Mercia and Powys when originally built, and parts have been recently rebuilt and extended, opening in 1971, although the path does not always follow the original dyke.
Offa was the anglo-saxon king of Mercia from AD 757. He was ruthless and extended his kingdom eastwards as far as the Humber. He failed to conquer the Welsh twice, but then seems to have decided to build the dyke to keep them out of England. The dyke is really a ditch, with the resulting earth piled up at the side, possibly originally with wooden structures on top.
I live not far from Chepstow, and kept seeing signs by the road “Offa’s Dyke Path”. Intrigued, I looked it up on the Internet, and about a year ago, decided to walk it before my arthritis took hold. And why not involve my favourite charity, the Dr Hadwen Trust, who had been so supportive when I climbed Mount Kilimanjaro all those years ago.
I bought an excellent book about the walk, which advised me that there are 650 styles along the walk. You can hire taxis to carry your luggage from one stop to another, but this seems like cheating to me. So it will just be me with a few changes of clothes, underwear and a toothbrush. There are camping sites and hostels along the way, but I like my bath before turning in at night, and a cup of tea or two in the morning, so have gone for the soft option of B & B accommodation. There are apparently lots of pubs and general stores along the way for lunch.
The book recommends 14 days for the walk, and longer if you want to sightsee. I’ve allowed 15 days, as I walk quite steadily, but am getting on a bit. The walk goes through a lot of farmland, and a fair bit of up and down, so I’ve divided it into manageable chunks, though I daresay this will change by day one, what with rain, blisters and aching limbs.
The Plan is to go up to Prestatyn by train on August 19th and start the walk on 20th. I will be carrying a mobile phone with me, so you can call the Dr Hadwen Trust on 01462 436819, if any members would like to join me along the way for a general natter and some exercise. I’d be delighted to see you.
I’d just like to emphasize that the Dr Hadwen Trust is not subsidising me at all – any money I raise by this foolhardy venture goes straight to them. I believe the Dr Hadwen Trust does a brilliant job by helping animals and people, making our money go twice as far, not to mention educating people. I’ve been a supporter for about 25 years and hope I’ve helped a few people and saved a few animals from unnecessary and cruel experiments.
This is the (very flexible!) Plan at the moment, but watch this space.
Day 1 Prestatyn – Bodfari (13)
Day 2 Bodfari – Clwyd Gate (13)
Day 3 Clwyd Gate – Llangollen (14)
Day 4 Llangollen – Craignant (11)
Day 5 Craignant – Llanymynech (11)
Day 6 Llanymynech – Kingswood (16)
Day 7 Kingswood – Newcastle (14)
Day 8 Newcastle – Brompton Crossroads (23)
Day 9 Brompton Crossroads – Knighton (15)
Day 10 Knighton – Kington (14)
Day 11 Kington – Hay-on-Wye (15)
Day 12 Hay-on-Wye – Longtown (13)
Day 13 Longtown – Caggle Street (10)
Day 14 Caggle Street – Redbrook (15)
Day 15 Redbrook – Chepstow (15)
Where’s Pat today?
See below for Pat’s reports on just where she is right now on her trails, and all the places she has so far walked to raise funds for the Dr Hadwen Trust on her epic 177 mile sponsored walk:
5th September: I sadly had to cut my walk short on Wednesday 3rd September and return home. By the start of the afternoon the skies opened and it did not stop. I carried on through farmland, and up and down four rounded hills. I took refuge in a little chapel, since it was pouring down without showing any signs of stopping — and it didn’t. The new boots started leaking, until the water was just swilling about in there. Most unpleasant. I was in this for about 5 hours — such a shame, as I’m sure it would have been really lovely on a fine day — past a quarry and along a level grassy lane by the Dyke.
The winds got stronger and I was being pelted with cold rain constantly. I finally made it to Newcastle, very wet and cold, but only a few miles north of Knighton, and a good halfway through my 177 mile walk.
I decided to take stock at that point, as the forecast was for rain and yet more rain, and as we all saw on the national news, many homes in this area and beyond were seriously damaged by flooding.
Today (5th September), I am now back home enjoying a warm bed, an arnica rub, liberal doses of tea and my lovely cat. I am so sorry I cannot not do more at this point, but I do intend to finish the walk. As Muhammad Ali used to say ‘I shall return!’.
3rd September: Heading for Newcastle-on-Clun. Beautiful start to the morning with bright sunshine; walking through woodland and tinkling streams.
2nd September: The scenery really is breath-taking and I am enjoying being out in the open air such a lot. I am not far off being at the half-way mark.
29th August: Left Kingswood for Brompton crossroads. Have a new pair of boots and feet feeling much better. Met some friendly and curious cows who came over to say hello as I walked across one of the fields.
28th August: Took a rest day. Feet very sore and I’m feeling a little tired.
27th August: Left Buttington for Kingswood. Four blisters on my feet (two on each foot, just to keep things even), but onwards and upwards — or downwards, depending on how hilly it is. People have asked me about my t-shirt, so I’m getting the opportunity to tell them about the Dr Hadwen Trust.
26th August: Onto Llanymynech. Still going strong, and feeling quite happy as it’s my birthday!
23rd August: In Langollen. Wearing my Dr Hadwen Trust bunny t-shirt so everyone can see the charity I am doing my sponsored walk for.
22nd August: Pass through Llandegla.
21st August: Make my way through Clwyd Hills. Fantastic place with the most wonderful views.
20th August: My walk begins! I set off from Prestatyn with 177 miles to go!