Offa’s Dyke Path – Day 12 – Clywd Gate to Bodfari
When I looked out of the window early in the morning I gasped and then hoped that things would improve – they didn’t and we faced a very damp day of walking from peak to peak in the Clwydian Range. Accommodation was at the Rhesgoed Isa Cottage but our hostess claimed that she had no control over the weather! The weather finely got to us. We awoke to dense fog and very limited visibility. As we left the B&B this AM, I think that we all muttered a few unkind words about the weather. We would be spending the day walking high up in the Clwydian Range, that portion of the Offa’s Dyke Path advertised as “On a clear day you can see all the way to …” For us, it was just a matter of keeping to the trail and keeping the hiking partner in sight. The Australians waved us on our way early on in the day, themselves preferring a bit more leisurely climbing pace. They were never far behind and, from time to time, they could hear us and not see us (and vice versa) and passed us high in the hills when we missed a signpost in the dense fog and carried on uphill on an incorrect trail rather than taking a downward path.
Sheep – often seen but not heard on this day of fog, mist and rain. Pretty eery hearing the sheep “baa”ing off in the distance on a foggy rainy day like this.
More than once, I learned the hard way that these are slippery when wet.
Everything was wet and we had no idea how many ups and downs there might be ahead of us before we would reach the summit of the day’s journey.
We missed this signpost and headed further uphill the first time past it. The Australians were a bit further back and could hear us but not see us. When they got to the signpost they also almost missed it but the fog lifted for a moment or two and they correctly headed downhill not sure where we were. Discussion of the moment brought a few chuckles at the B&B later the same day.
I made it to the remains of the Jubilee Tower at 554m on Moel Famau.
The remains of the Jubilee Tower mark the highest point of the day’s walk at 554m (1818ft). It was built to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of George III. A storm in 1862 reduced the impressive Egyptian style monument to the base that can be seen today.
On a clear day …
By this point in the day’s walk, I decided that I had tested my camera’s weather seals enough for one day and put it in my day pack and concentrated on just walking the rest of the day’s path without falling down.
Bodfari, Wales: Nice to see civilization again after walking for a day in fog, mist and rain.
Shortly after we arrived at our B&B in Bodfari, the clouds cleared away and the sun shone brightly. Our Bodvari, Wales B&B host, Alex, was building some steps when we arrived. I was able to get his attention long enough to get water and a brush to clean the evidence of a sheep convention from my hiking boots and then offered to give him a hand. He let me get on with my macro photography instead. I didn’t protest too strongly :-).
The B&B was surrounded by rock gardens teeming with bees, butterflies and other insects so I spent the afternoon well entertained with my macro lens working overtime.
Excellent food and the last time that all of our pairs of unaffiliated hikers got together on the trail for best wishes and a good meal before heading at our own pace on the final leg to Prestatyn.
Excellent facility and hosts. The return of the sun, the collection of flower gardens around the house to supply me with lots of subjects for a bit of macro photography and the excellent supper we had at the Downing Arms, the local pub, all added to a wonderful Bodfari experience.
