Day 09 Welshpool to Montgomery

“There was a crooked man
Who walked a crooked mile
He found a crooked sixpence
Upon a crooked stile”

Now for a quick history lesson on the region we walk through:
After a steep climb out of Welshpool, we reach the Beacon Ring hillfort (fort on top of a hill, see photo), which was built and occupied during the Iron Age, between about 700 BCE and 60 CE. It was defended by a large bank and ditch with two entrances. Later, the hillfort is said to have been used as a camp by Cadwallon, 'king of the Britons', during his battles with the Northumbrian king, Edwin in about 630 CE.
The forces of Henry Tudor, the future Henry Vll, are said to have gathered near here in 1485, on the eve of the Battle of Bosworth, at which Richard Ill was killed.
And later, this was again a battle field. The quiet fields near Montgomery Castle were the setting for the bloodiest Civil War battle fought on Welsh soil. On September 18th 1644, Parliamentary forces dealt a crushing blow to the attacking Royalist troops. The battle secured Cromwell (Oliver, whom Churchill described as a military dictator) a vital strongpoint and gateway into Wales.
This crucial Severn River crossing has always been well defended. An Iron Age hillfort, Roman campaign fort, Norman motté and bailey and later stone castle, have all controlled the ford. It's no accident that Offa's Dyke divides the landscape here.

Last night we stayed on a farm that was that for the castle many years ago. It now functions as a pheasant hunting estate, attracting shooters from far a wide and from high up, like royal families and wealthy industrialists. Henia, who runs the place gave us a fascinating insight into the world of hunting and game shooting. Like it or not, it happens and at BP70 per pheasant seems like good business. Now I know where the porcelain ducks on the wall thing comes from.

On a personal note, feeling good and feel we are getting a bit fitter. The hills are still hills, but the ascending expletives have softened somewhat.

Stats: 18.9 km, 6:00 hours, 516 m altitude gain (almost all at the start), HR 84
Toilet count since start = 1

Total from start: 161 km, 5062 m altitudeRead more