End of day 5 Redwick to Mathern

Excellent night's sleep in The Rose beer garden. No lights, no compressors and lots of space. Up early at 06:30, away at 08:15. A local directed me to a toilet in the side of the village hall open 24/7 that I was able to use. Retraced the half mile back to sea wall. Overcast and very strong cool wind so jacket, gloves and balaclava. Sea wall gradually reduced in height as land height increased. After 4 miles path diverted off sea wall to walk around military firing range. Then on lanes over M4, passed Rogiet and Caldicot and alongside the railway to the Severn Tunnel. Back over the M4 to regain the sea wall, by now modest in height. Path then followed a narrow road alongside and south of the M4. Here I met a Traffic officer car which had come off the eastbound carriageway, driven under the bridge and was rejoining the westbound carriageway. So that's how they do it! Walked under the Prince of Wales bridge then a gentle ascent passed a number of dog walkers to Sudbrook point. A cliff of over 10m so no need for a sea wall here.

Sudbrook had a fascinating museum about the construction of the Severn railway tunnel. It included that the chief engineer also worked on railways in Russia. In which case, how did Russia end up with a different track gauge (width) I wondered? Next door was a pumping station continually removing a huge amount of water from an underground spring that would otherwise collapse the tunnel walls under its weight.

Next place of note was Black Rock from where ferries used to sail across the channel before the railway tunnel. Today it has a viewing platform and picnic area.

Path then dropped onto the beach. Slightly scary, but it was low tide. Then back onto a very modest height sea wall to St.Pierre Pill, across the railway line that goes to Chesptow, along a rough gravel lane onto the manicured lawns of St.Pierre golf club. A short while later the village of Mathern and Innage Farm, my campsite for the night.

Minimal facilities of toilet, sink/basin, drinking water tap and grey water disposal but delightful setting with beautiful lawns and farm house and reasonably priced. Pegs pushed perfectly into lawn which is so important when camping.

Ate, drank and recharged device in the Millers Arms a few hundred yards north of the campsite.

13.5 miles from to completed at end of day of walking.
Total miles so far : 52.5
Weather : Sunshine and glorious.
Number of people passed : About 20Read more