Wednesday 6 December 2017

178. Severn Crossing

 6/10


Parking at  Aust BS35 4BA

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Been thinking about this walk for some time and walk 175 took me over the top of the toll booths for the Severn crossing and made my mind up to do the walk over. 
A very grey day with a misty rainy start to the walk, parked at Aust as there is a 2 hour max parking at services.


Once on bridge, you realise how windy it can get on the crossing, had to stop and change my baseball cap to a woolly one!



The crossing is easy with just the odd service vehicle and cyclist, you also notice the curve of the bridge, it was high tide so the grey skies and brown water not giving thee best of views.



It really makes you realise how big and what a amazing structure the bridge is originally built in May 1961 and opened in Sept 1966. Also 6 Men have died in the construction and maintenance of it too!





Once off the bridge the noise from the traffic soon subsides, our next port of call would be Chepstow Castle but not before we wind our way through the housing estates of Chepstow.



At Chepstow Castle i seemed to be the only one here, a single workman and one visitor to the castle. i sat on bench and had some Butternut Squash soup.





After Castle i headed to the Old Wye Bridge and then followed the Welsh Coastal path to return towards the Severn crossing.


Through more housing estates



A view of my walk to Oldbury Power station 176 , weather not much better!


A salmon, a nod to the River Wye which can just be seen through the trees.


Back to the bridge, this time the other side.


View down to Beachley and the once thriving ferry, which closed when bridge opened in 1966.


1 mile to go, i was quite glad the journey back was just a bit of a trudge, notice the 40mph board  the wind was blowing a hooley.


Not that we left but... nice to think i've done it but not sure if i wanna do it again 11.5 miles.

Next week something much more rural i think, no traffic and blue skies i hope!



That's all for this week, join me again next week  :)






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