Debkakes in the UK 2022

Travels in Wales, Scotland, and England

09. Day Four of the Walk: Symonds Yat to Kerne Bridge

The walk started out clearly enough, but I had to crawl under a fallen tree just steps into it. As it turned out, the walk began and ended in much the same fashion.

Today’s walk was to be 7.5 miles with negligible elevation changed. The latter is true, but the former felt incorrect at the end of it all. More to come on that!

This segment of the walk was the least well-marked and there were a few times that what was meant to be a stile was instead a fence that had to be climbed over.

That did not detract from the loveliness of the walk, though.

Almost missed this. In fact, I walked about a 1/4 mile past it before consulting my trusty OS maps app.

This was one of a very few abandoned dwellings close to the river. No village or anything nearby. Must’ve been a challenging life.

The river was so very serene on this leg. Many swans, swanning.

It was a lovely, warm and sunny day. I was belucked with many during my 10 days of walking.

Where several paths meet. The delight of walking in the UK.

Love the ways people contribute to community on the Walk.

This was not a footbridge, to my dismay. But to my delight, there was very little traffic on it, so I could take a couple of quick snaps.

A really lovely manse and farm buildings.

A lot of this section was exactly like this. Again, no complaints. It was a gorgeous, green and blue day.

That up there? That’s where I was the day before, the top of Yat Rock! I’d been hiking for about 2.5 hours at this point.

This peculiar memorial to a lad who drowned in the Wye River.

I found a transcript of the inscription on this memorial stone. It’s a little wack, and I love that someone took the time and patience to copy it down:

“Sacred to the memory of John Whitehead Warre who disappear this spot whilst bathing in the River Wye in sight of his parents brother and sisters on the 14th of September 1804
In the 16th year of his age
God’s will be done!
Who in his mercy hath granted consolation to the parents of the dear departed in the reflection that he possessed. Truth, innocence filial piety and fraternal affection in the highest degree. That but a few moments before he was called to a better life. He had (with a never to be forgotten Piety) joined his family in joyful thanks to his Maker for the restoration of his Mothers health. His parents in justice to his amiable virtues and excellent disposition declare He was void of offence towards them. With humbled hearts they bow to the Almightys dispensation trusting thro the mediation of his blessed Son He will mercifully receive their child He so suddenly took to himself.
This monument is here erected to warn parents and others to be careful how they trust the deceitful stream and particularly to exhort them to learn and observe the directions of the Humane Society for the recovery of Persons apparently drowned. Alas! It is with the extreme sorrow here commemorated what anguish is felt from the want of this knowledge. The lamented youth swam very well, was endowed with great bodily strength and activity and possibly had proper applications been used might have been saved from his untimely fate. He was born at Oporto in the Kingdom of Portugal on the 14th Feb 1789 Third son of James Warre of London and of the County of Somerset, Merchant, and Eleanor daughter of Thomas Greg of Belfast Esq.
Passenger, who ere thou art Spare this tomb. It is erected for the benefit of the surviving being but a poor record of the Grief of those that witnessed the sad occasion of it. God preserve you, and yours from such calamity ……[unreadable]… their assistance but if you unfortunately should….[unreadable]… with directions for their application by the Humane Society for the …..ing of persons apparently drowned are lodged at the Church of Coldwell….”

Several grouses grazing and grousing. First day I saw, and especially heard, them.

I spy an abandoned factory. Steel wire, to be exact.

Forgive me, I lost track of the name of this lovely church.

It was about here that I started seeing a couple of villages and thinking “That must be Kerne Bridge.” For a few miles, it was not.

This was a slightly frustrating stretch of trail. It went through a forest what was lovely, BUT. Tree after tree downed over the path. I either had to scramble around, or crawl under or over them. Oops, starting to get hungry and cranky!!

I was most sorry to be just a bit too late and too tired-slash-hungry to go up the Norman ruins of Goodrich Castle. Next time LOL!

As I had come to expect, the mileage reflected on my Fitbit was over half again as that stated in the Cicerone book. 11.5 miles this segment, and it felt like it. Not difficult, but looooooong.