Tuesday

Finally this morning, having rested my leg for 3 days, I felt able to leave Knighton.  The people at the George and Dragon could not have been more helpful and it was an excellent place to stay and eat.

It was another “Grand Old Duke of York” day.  First I was marched to the top of Stowe Hill before descending to the River Redtake at Lower Lye.

Then it was up again to Hopton Hatterhill and down to Hopton Castle.

Up again over the ridge to drop down to Abcott and the famous Rocke Cottage Tearoom, which was closed.

A short flat section led to Clugunford where I found a bench in the bus shelter and stopped for a late lunch.  This was followed by another ascent to join the old Roman road to Craven Arms.  Once on the Roman road I was surrounded by sheep, which were enjoying the cereals in the adjacent fields.  A small flock preceded me up the road and eventually turned off into what turned out to be the field they were supposed to be in.  I stopped someone in a pickup who was working for the farmer and who went off to try to sort things out.  He said that they had all been out earlier in the day.  As there was a large gap between the gate and the hedge I was not too surprised.

The descent into Craven Arms was painful as my leg had swollen up again and I was pleased when I hobbled up to the Stokesay Inn at 4.00.

In the evening over dinner I got chatting with a couple on an adjacent table. In conversation it turned out that he had rowed across the Atlantic on two occasions.  They were planning a Land’s End to John O’Groats for next year.