Day 20: We stumble down but we climb right back up again (just like Wire)

The guide book described today as something of a rollercoaster: if the Walking Day fair in Victoria Park had this many ups and downs, they’d be queuing all the way down Knutsford Road.

We only walked 18 miles but it felt more like 30 and we weren’t helped by the weather. What started out as ‘light drizzle’ escalated to ‘major downpour’ by lunchtime. I know I recommended Offa’s Dyke yesterday as a great opportunity to go walking, but I would suggest the section from Kington to Montgomery remains in your 'one for another day' basket. Lovely though the rain-soaked views were, it was difficult to justify the effort to see them.

Forget any notions of public transport, as well. On arrival at Montgomery around 4.30pm, an exceptionally kind SPAR lady phoned three separate taxi firms to convey me around 18 miles up the road to Llanymynech - earliest pick up time was 9pm! I looked at the bus timetable - missed it by 20 mins but it would have taken 2 hours and covered 30% of the country before dropping me off.

It was left to Andrew and Steph to come to my assistance. This has to be the worst holiday Steph has ever had: she has basically hung around for 7 hours a day waiting for Andrew to be washed and dried before pushing him up another mountain. And I ruined their last night. Can’t thank them enough.

I really like my accommodation in Llanymynech, though. I’m here for two nights - taxi back to Montgomery booked for 8.45am. (Have a lie in, Steph - unless he doesn’t turn up, in which case I’ll give you a call, just to complete your week from hell).

Wire v Wigan on the television and a Chinese takeaway from the shop just opposite. Would have been nice for a Wire win but it was a great game and Wigan deserved it.

I’m a third of the way through now, looking forward to a couple of nights at home next week. Weather forecast looking favourable - onward we march!