Day 12: Abergavenny to Longtown
Today is a long and tough walk over varied terrain. Once up out of Abergavenny we track around the contours of the Sugar Loaf. We start on access lanes then over ragged farmland before reaching country lanes which will come as a bit of a relief. The very ancient and interesting church of St Issui is up on the hillside. We will stop here for refreshments so bring your rolls. There are miles to go and a ridge to traverse before reaching Llanthony. Here there are three places for further refreshments in the afternoon. The Half Moon pub for a pint, a cafe on the way in or a cafe under the hotel by the Priory. The church of St David by the Priory is the place to meet for a prayer stop after snacks. Another ridge looms before us with Offa's Dyke path to cross on the top (after 270m of the last ascent). The view over Herefordshire opens out from the top and the village of Longtown is below us. Some of us will be staying in the village hall and some in the outdoor education centre.
Pilgrimage Newsfeed - Day 12
Click on any photo to see a full resolution version thereof.
Methodist Church, Abergavenny
John supervising van loading Aidan Simons
The Methodist church, who provided some of us with bed space for the night. Aidan Simons
St Mary's Priory Centre, Abergavenny
Breakfast is served Aidan Simons
David leads our setting off prayers in Abergavenny John Chenery Original Tweet
Leaving Mary's Priory, Abergavenny David Fletcher
Front marking out of Abergavenny Aidan Simons
View back to Abergavenny John Chenery Original Tweet
Way marking sign in a tree Aidan Simons
sheep John Chenery Original Tweet
St Issui, Patrishow
St Issui's holy well Aidan Simons
Coins driven into the the by the holy well Aidan Simons
St Issui's shrine Aidan Simons
St Issui Aidan Simons
Rood Screen at St Issui; one of two original screens in churches in South Wales Susan Adilz
Stained glass at St Issui Susan Adilz
Prayers at St Issui, Patrishow Susan Adilz
Today I am back marking while Aidan is front marking so my photos of places will be very later than his! Here the back markers heading into St Issui's meet pilgrims coming the other way as the route does a loop John Chenery Original Tweet
St Issui's Holy Well John Chenery Original Tweet
Ponies on the path Aidan Simons
St Issui's, Patrishow John Chenery Original Tweet
St Issui interior, including rare surviving rood loft. John Chenery Original Tweet
Vale of Ewyas Susan Adilz
Half Moon, Llanthony
Half Moon pub where several had lunch Aidan Simons
Backmarkers pass the Tabernacle Baptist Chapel (which wasn't a prayer stop) John Chenery Original Tweet
"Way to hill". Where else would we go? John Chenery Original Tweet
Approaching the top of this climb John Chenery Original Tweet
By the time the back markers reach the ponies on the path, there are rather more of them. John Chenery Original Tweet
St David's Church / Llanthony Priory
Lunch at the Priory Aidan Simons
Lunch at the Half Moon Susan Adilz
6 & 3/4 cats. This one had 3 legs and was friendly Susan Adilz
Stained glass window in St David's Church Llanthony Aidan Simons
Oh Jack, shouldn't have had the second pint! Aidan Simons
Fr Tony also captured a picture of Jack resting John Chenery Original Tweet
Front markers leaving Llanthony Priory Aidan Simons
Meanwhile, the backmarkers get their first view of Llanthony Priory with Offa's Dyke behind John Chenery Original Tweet
Llantony Priory Susan Adilz
Llantony Priory Susan Adilz
Llanthony Priory Danny Thomas Original Tweet
Marking the after-lunch climb on the Beacons Way Aidan Simons
By the time the back markers reach the Half Moon, they find it has closed John Chenery Original Tweet
View down to Longtown from the side of Black Darren Aidan Simons
looking back to Llanthony Priory Susan Adilz
Danny Thomas Original Tweet
Jim in the ferns up to Offa’s Dyke Danny Thomas Original Tweet
Outside the Llanthony Priory Hotel with the sparrows John Chenery Original Tweet
Still a little water in the stream entering Longtown Aidan Simons
Llanthony Priory ruins John Chenery Original Tweet
England! Susan Adilz
St David's, Llanthony John Chenery Original Tweet
Looking back to the priory John Chenery Original Tweet
still going up, priory still visible John Chenery Original Tweet
View towards the Sugar Loaf Mountain which we skirted earlier in the day John Chenery Original Tweet
Longtown Village Hall and Longtown Outdoor Education Centre
Home for the night Aidan Simons
nearly made it to the Offa's Dyke Ridge. What sort of sheep is this? John Chenery Original Tweet
and suddenly, there was England! John Chenery Original Tweet
Longtown awaits below John Chenery Original Tweet
Floxgloves Danny Thomas Original Tweet
