With a sense of finality, I arrived in Chepstow, the easternmost settlement in Wales, near the border of England. It is located on the doorstep of the Wye Valley, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), and on the bend of the meandering River Wye. This marked the culmination of my Wales Coastal Path adventure. As I strolled through the town's narrow streets, I felt a deep sense of accomplishment, knowing that I had traversed the coastal landscapes of Wales to reach this destination.
The pleasant facades of the buildings in the town centre were a blend of Georgian townhouses and timber-framed structures. Large pots of greenery decorated the sidewalks while floral baskets dangled outside the local inn, offering a burst of summer colour.
Squeezed tightly between two buildings was the reconstructed 16th-century Town Gate. Only a stone's throw away were traces of the Port Wall, a defensive wall that once encircled the town and linked up with Chepstow Castle. Governed by a noble lord, taxes were imposed on the users of the town's market. To ensure payment of required tolls, the lord oversaw the construction of the wall and the Town Gate, serving as the sole entry point, becoming an essential part of this arrangement.
Once through the gate, I walked by the Castle Terrace, a delightful row of fourteen three-storied townhouses that backed onto Chepstow Castle. It was constructed in the early 1800s by unknown builders at a time when Chepstow was a thriving port town exporting timber. A unique building feature was the single front bay window on each townhouse, except for a few, creating a charming uniform look as I went downhill.
Rounding the corner behind the townhouses, I arrived at Chepstow Castle. It was built in 1067, making it Britain's oldest surviving stone castle. Perched on the cliff's edge, the layout is long and narrow, designed to fit onto a thin ridge between the valley and the river cliff. The castle's original wooden doors were groundbreaking, being the first time they were fortified with iron plates to withstand battery and fire. Currently on display inside the castle, the doors, at more than 800 years old, are recognised as the oldest in Europe.
This is the end of my
journey, and as I ponder and reflect on Wales' identity, culture and diverse
history, I am reminded of the Welshman's words I mentioned in the beginning,
who also said, "…Wales is defined by its persistence more than anything else…
it remains distinct in language, customs, folklore…" and then he aptly
capped it off with this popular Welsh saying "Ry'n ni yma o hyd"
which means "we're still here". Yes indeed.
While waiting for the rest of the Continental Divide team to finish their miles, I invited 3 other women to join me on this challenge, Wendy, Courtney and Carol, all three dependable and strong milers. Most of my miles came from indoor cycling and steps.
* 810 miles divided by 4 = 202.5 miles each
* 20 postcards received
* 16 local spots viewed
* 20 real trees planted
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