Down the Middle – Travelling reflections

667-9 Wentnor to Talgarth

Tydryngton cnyll(e)’hillock’)??. Today started throwing place names at us as we snaked through the border settlements (from 1 House to a hamlet to a village). So where do places get their names from I mused? Titterton, perhaps after the once common surname Tydryngton. I used to visit Bracknell: we passed through Bucknell: what does nell mean? An [exhaustive] search implies it is from cnyll, meaning hillock / knoll in Anglo Saxon.

The first Earl of Powis must have had similar musings when he erected his impressive sign post in 1800. Yet that begs more questions of I and y. Powis swapped its i for a y: Llanelly its y for an i. Y not?

Hopton Castle is a surprise find. Once a border manor, it was the site of a nasty Cromwell civil war skirmish. How did they navigate then?

The route is pretty. Gently undulating across worked meadows along quiet lanes. You cross a rickety toll bridge to enter Wales. No bell tolls for cyclists. We save our pennies for an enforced cake stop for delicious sticky ginger cake at the delightful Electric Cafe in Hay on Wye. Ah that’s it, we’ve been in the Wye Valley today. Lush!

Cycling, Down the Middle, UK, Wales

H4DTM Cardiff to Home

Washing our way out of the very quiet Cardiff rush hour, today was on familiar tracks. Taff Trail north, hang a left onto the Cynon Taff Trail, down a big hill and home.

Wales was looking resplendent in its freshly hosed greenery. Our waterproofs needed to be worn to justify bringing them. So everybody happy.

Home to start planning….

Cycling, Down the Middle, England, UK, Wales

H3DTM Thornbury to Cardiff

Just a short hop we were thinking yesterday, will we arrive too early? A thought amplified by last night’s power cut. For some reason this was linked to the water supply. When the lights came back on, the water stayed off. Until just before we left. The club house was put to good use.

The Severn crossing was damp. Still fun, just damp. Thinks heated up when I used the back of my pedal to remove some skin. Today we were alongside the A48 for a large part, swerving to take in Roman Caerleon. Entering Newport, the Transporter bridge is closed for renovation: imposing structure.

So 1000 miles each and no punctures. And then one each in quick succession. The Newport locals know how to spread broken glass over the cycle ways.

We arrive in Cardiff via the Gwent levels. Full of evidence of the heavier rain we’ve missed. Then a change of mindset to get into city cycling.

A longer day than anticipated, changing weather and landscape. Just enough time to patch the inner tubes before enjoying Ted and Margaret’s hospitality. Tomorrow home.

Cycling, Down the Middle, England, UK

H2DTM Sparkford to Thornbury

We pass through places with musical connections today. The Eagles took inspiration from Doulton, handing them a hit on a plate. Wellow was behind the famous Grease chorus. Tell me more, I here you ask. The day really came alive passing through Frampton, though the puns had started to Peter out by the time we souped by Alveston.

Almost enough to get you locked up in the prison in Castle Cary: the market hall is a fine place to have a coffee.

Coal mining makes a return at Radstock, to return later east of Bristol. A lot of today was on former railway lines: you appreciate their gradients when non navigable bits throw you onto the mercy of the tarmac contours on the road.

Bath is reached via an impressive 1.67km tunnel. The temperature drop is impressive: good wine storage room. These trails are well used, particularly the Bath Bristol line.

The Avon cycle way avoids the road mess/excess around Bristol. Thornbury reached, tomorrow Cardiff.

Cycling, Down the Middle, England, UK

H1DTM Portland Bill to Sparkford

Today’s ride allowed plenty of time for sampling coffee and cake. The first leg retraced our steps to Dorchester. Yesterday’s run down was today’s spin up. Then it was good old Roman roads heading straight across country.

So 11 miles of this was labelled as a B road quieter alternative for cars. Which suited us. And every Sunday motorist wanting to go as fast as their right foot let them. Hardly noticing Casterbridge, nor stopping to think if George Elliot had been to Middlemarsh. The Giants Head campsite is presumably near Cern Abbas, though signs for Todgers caravans must have been removed.

Sherborne is to be returned to. One highlight was Oliver’s Coffee House. The imposing Abbey has the world’s heaviest 8bell peel. The A30 passes through though not noticeably busy traffic.

Nor on the next 11 miles which was such a contrast to the previous. A single track road light traffic, weaving its easy across the Dorset pastures, bringing us into Somerset and our Sparksford destination.

Haynes Piblishing are from here and still are. Tomorrow we’ll follow the manual as we head to Thornbury via Bath.