A Refreshing Turn on Glyndŵr’s Way
A hiker's journey on Glyndŵr’s Way takes a turn for the better after a rough night in Meifod
The day begins on a sour note, with a strong stinky smell lingering in the air and wet clothes from the previous day still clinging to the hiker's pack. Despite the shower from the night before, the feeling of being unclean persists.
## Time to Escape Meifod The decision to escape Meifod is made, and the hiker sets off wearing rain trousers and a sun hoodie, with wet clothes hung outside the pack in hopes of drying them out. The path starts with a steep climb, during which the hiker has to navigate through a narrow path while herding sheep.
As the climb progresses, the hiker swaps the sun hoodie for a damp T-shirt, and later removes the rain trousers to put on damp tights. Fortunately, everything dries out in under an hour, and the hiker feels warm and dry once again.
## On the Way to Welshpool The rest of the day's journey to Welshpool is relatively short, covering about 8 miles of uphill terrain with some challenging sections, followed by 3 miles of downhill walking into town. The moody clouds provide a cooling effect for the first part of the day.
The hiker encounters a herd of black sheep, which seem more relaxed than their white counterparts. However, the attempt to photograph them sets off the farm dogs, triggering a chain reaction of barking from other dogs in the area. The hiker quickly moves away, and the barking subsides.
## On the Way to Knighton After arriving in Welshpool, the hiker finds the plinth marking the start or end of the path and takes a moment to dry out the tent. Then, it's off to catch a train to Knighton, the other start or end point of the trail, where the journey will continue the next day.
The hiker has booked a bed at a little B&B, where the owner, Tom, shows exceptional kindness and generosity. The room is comped, laundry is done for free, and the hiker is able to resupply for the next 5 days. A delicious pizza is enjoyed, with leftovers packed for the next day. The contrast to the previous night's experience is stark, and the hiker feels elated.
The journey will continue westward the next day, with a renewed sense of optimism and refreshment.
