I headed out to the Black Mountains today for a supposed 14K walk. However, it ended up being a 22K walk as I got a little bit lost!
The walk was circular - along woods to start then up to the Offa's Dyke ridge and back down.
But it ended up being sort of circular when I took a wrong turn at almost the top and then about 3Ks later I realised I'd been going in totally the wrong direction and just lost my bearings....
My sense of direction really is that bad!
To be on the safe side I just doubled back on myself, more or less, thankfully it was easy terrain to find an alternative route down back to where I knew. Otherwise I'd be walking in the hope of finding a route down which may not have presented itself for miles!
It was still a nice walk and a killer step count!
Woody start!
The first few Ks were along a valley, by streams, or through them, and in woodland, very nice...
Then it turns gently up through some more woodland and up to the Offa's Dyke Ridge....
Views
There were some nice views on the way up and at nearly the top.....
I learnt in retrospect that if I'd had just kept going for another 50 metres on my ascent I would have hit the actual Offa's Dyke Path, instead I turned left just before this and that's where I went wrong.....
Back along the road and a pub at the end!
So I clambered back down a steep gorse and fern non-route, I could see a road which I knew and just aimed for.
I had a quick apple and water break when I hit the road, the apple was the only thing I'd eaten that day, IF and all! This very tame peacock came wandering past...
It was then 7Ks back to where my car was parked, so I walked/ run that.
I tend to wear running gear when I walk, and take a proper running bag, so I can run if I get bored of walking or end up on a dodgy road. This road wasn't dodgy, but I was just sick of the walk at about 18Ks in so I ran to speed things up.
Found a nice pub at the end, stopped off for a pint of lime and soda, salted nuts and a coffee. NICE!
31K daily step total...
That's my largest step total in at least two years I think and for sure close to my all time max!
The walk was 22.5Ks and 28K steps in total, then I wandered into town for a coffee and cake after.
Lessons learned
Next time I know exactly where I need to go to hit the main path, I think I'll make a point of just going up from closer to the base and then out and back to get familiar.
And learn to map read, go with someone else, or maybe.... just get an app for next time!