Fri 7th May - Day 21, Bristol to Sedbury (21 miles)

So much for my easy day!

It was supposed to be a flat 12 miles along the Rivers Avon & Severn to the campsite shown on the OS map at Severn Beach, so I had a late start, in the sun, at 08:45. With the walk all on the level I never bothered using my walking poles today.

Going under the Clifton Suspension Bridge I had to walk on the pavement along the A4 for an hour before I could get down to the path along the River Avon, The Severn Way, only to be forced back onto the roads half an hour later because of high water at Sea Mills.

At Shirehampton, where the M6 crosses the R Avon, I took a cycleway which followed the line of the M6 to the school at Lawrence Weston, then I turned onto a road, northwest, back on the Severn Way again, going over the M6 and under the M49.


I had my lunch between the two motorways before continuing towards the River Severn, through an Industrial Estate, to get onto the footpath alongside the railway line.

After a mile I crossed over the railway, through a slightly overgrown section of the path and on to the promenade at Severn Beach. I stopped to speak to an elderly couple & the lady gave me a hug & wished me well.

It was 14:30 and the campsite, as shown on the map, was just around the corner, I was really looking forward to getting a washing done & relaxing.

Having worked as a surveyor for the Ordnance Survey for 13 years I consider myself quite proficient at map reading, but could I find this campsite ?
After walking round a few times and looking at the map from different angles I decided the campsite had now become a housing scheme!

What a let down !!

It was 9 miles & 4 hours later after crossing over the Severn Rd Bridge, walking through the outskirts of Chepstow and crossing over the River Wye when I limped into a backpackers campsite at Upper Sedbury House. Oh well, at least I got a £2 donation.

Thankfully that is Stage 2 over with, I didn't meet a single hiker.

It makes a big difference when you have like minded folk to talk to, I found that a couple of minutes chatting to someone is as good as a 15 minute break.

349 miles completed.