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Thames Path - Kingston to Byfleet (★★★☆☆)

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It was a wet start to the day on a walk where I would once again be ticking off another section of the River Thames. Prior to this walk I had done four sections along the Thames Path, ticking off sections from the Thames Barrier to Hampton Court - with the last section walking being from Hampton Court to Richmond . Today I would be continuing on to Weybridge, and then turning off to follow the Wey Navigation to Byfleet. Initially I would be repeating the section from Kingston to Hampton Court I had walked previously, having made the decision to start this time from Kingston - as that offered the best chance to stop off and get something to eat on the way out. And so I arrive in Kingston, stop off to get something to eat and then on the way through Kingston it becomes clear that it was about to rain - and then as I cross over Kingston Bridge the heavens begin to open. Kingston Bridge in the rain At this point there is a lot of panicking among the general public, who by this point in sum...
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Offa's Dyke - Monmouth to Chepstow (★★★☆☆)

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This walk was the second of two days walking the southern end of Offa's Dyke (to Chepstow as I couldn't be bothered with the final mile to Sedbury Cliffs). On the previous day I had walked from Abergavenny to just past Pandy and then followed the Offa's Dyke to Monmouth . Today's walk would largely follow the route of the River Wye, and began by heading through Monmouth. Heading over Monnow Bridge On the way I pass over Monnow Bridge - the only remaining fortified bridge in Britain - and then, after heading through town and stopping at the shops, the next task is to head up the hills on the far side - climbing up to the Naval Temple at Kymin. Monmouth from above Naval Temple I wasn't really sure what to expect from a Naval Temple, but it definitely wasn't this. The Naval Temple was built in 1800 to commemorate the second anniversary of a naval victory at the Battle of the Nile in 1798. This was a battle between the French and English navies in which 218 English...
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Offa's Dyke - Abergavenny to Monmouth (★★★★☆)

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For this walk I would be walking the southern end of Offa's Dyke - but the observant amongst you will notice that Offa's Dyke does not actually pass through Abergavenny. Instead Abergavenny was a more convenient starting point for this section, and from there I used the Beacon Way to join up with Offa's Dyke not too far past Pandy on that trail. I actually had no plans to walk Offa's Dyke this year, but I had been staying with friends in Camarthen, and from there it is a long trip home to most parts of England - so I would be doing this walk as a way to break up the long journey home. Abergavenny itself sits just inside Wales, and as soon as you arrive you very quickly notice the steep hills surrounding the town - of which the most dramatic is Sugar Loaf - which leers over the town in quite a dramatic fashion. For walkers this town offers quite a useful starting point, as it has easy rail access and numerous routes up into the hills - but is probably best to visit as a ...
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