Clywdian Hills is predominately for fishing, with four lakes filled with carp – however it’s wonderful picturesque and remote location makes it a tranquil stop-off point if you are walking Offa’s Dyke.

When we arrived, I was initially a bit unimpressed with the campsite – it was on a slope (although there were flat areas), the ground was more dirt than grass, and the site seemed fairly untidy with branches and other wood debris strewn everywhere.

My first impressions were a little unfair though – it was early in the season, so I should not really expect there to be much grass. We pitched on a flat bit of ground, and the wood debris were due to the fire pits which were available to hire. There are also trees throughout the camp site, but these were not yet in leaf.

The location is wonderful. The camp site overlooks one of the fishing lakes, and Gweryd Lakes nestles amongst hills that are part of the lovely Clywdian Range. The site is also quite peaceful – it is a few miles away from the local village and there are not any busy roads nearby.

Although it was early in the season (we were the only campers), the site has excellent facilities all year round due to the fishermen. The main building had a shop (although this mainly sold fishing related equipment), a cafe, bed & breakfast rooms, and a toilet and shower (with available plug sockets for phone charging). The rooms with the toilet and shower were heated, but there was also a toilet block (not heated) on the campsite (on the edge of the lake).

The cafe were happy to open early for us, so we could have a cooked breakfast before continuing down Offa’s Dyke – they were also accommodating with the dog, who they allowed in as there were not any other customers. The staff (I think they are all part of the family that’s owns Gweryd Lakes) were very friendly and chatted to us as we had breakfast.

The camp site cost £5 per person.

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Having a good, well worn in, pair of boots is pretty damn important when it comes to hiking – let alone attempting a 13 day, 185 mile, epic hike across the hills and valleys of the Wales / England border.

The Brasher Supalite II GTX Walking Boots were ideal boots for Offa’s Dyke – they are comfortable and lightweight, but are still water proof and offer sufficient support. They are available from White and Bishops for £111 (they are also available for Women)

Whilst training for Offa’s Dyke, I wore my old, well worn in, pair of leather Brasher boots. However disaster struck a few weeks before our challenge began, when they finally fell apart (after many years of abuse). I got a pair of Brasher Supalite II GTX’s as a replacement, and they arrived three days before we started Offa’s Dyke.

The first thing you notice about the boots is just how light they are…. a mere 1160g per pair (for size 9). Even now, two months on, it still surprises me how light they are. Reducing the weight on your feet reduces the amount of energy required, meaning you can enjoy your walk more!

The Supalite II GTX are also extremely comfortable – most of the leather of the boot is light and flexible, although the heel and toes is toughened for added protection. The lining is leather, and there is a padded ankle cuff. This is, without a doubt, the most comfortable hiking boot I have ever worn – it almost feels like you are wearing a pair of hiking trainers!

I was a bit sceptical about the “out of the box comfort” marketing slogan – however it is actually true, and what better proof than walking 185 miles over 13 days, just 3 days after taking the boots out of the box. I expected my feet to end up being a mess of sores and blisters, but instead I only had two tiny blisters (on one big toe and on my heal) which appeared and disappeared over a couple of days during the trip – even my old worn in boots would have caused more problems!

Despite being so light and comfortable though, the Supalite II GTX boots still offer the ankle protection you need when out hiking. There were a couple of times on Offa’s Dyke when I could easily have, at the very least, twisted my ankle, without the boots’ protection.

The boots have a “Supalite™ sole unit with REVA midsolesole for enhanced grip and durability” – personally I am not really sure what that means, but I certainly had no problems with grip on Offa’s Dyke!

Some people may not like the visual appeal of the boots though – they are certainly quite “traditional”. I was indifferent to the look at first, but to be honest I warmed to it over time – and anyway, you aren’t doing it right if you boots aren’t covered in mud! (the boots are GORE-TEX® lined, so are waterproof!)

Overall these boots are perfect for the kind of hiking I mainly do (countryside, hills and well walked mountains), and I wouldn’t think twice about recommending a pair for anyone considering walking a National Trail.

Features:

• Upper – Durable full grain leather
• Sole – New Supalite™ sole unit with REVA midsolesole for enhanced grip and durability
• Insole – Injected 3D nylon fibre glass
• Weight – 1122g/pair
• Lining – Full leather lined for comfort. GORE-TEX® Performance Comfort Footwear

[Brasher kindly sponsored us on our Offa's Dyke challenge - however this review is a true and fair reflection of my opinion of the Supalite II GTX boots]

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Orikaso (meaning “to fold plastic”) are lightweight flat pack folding cups, bowls and plates made from Polypropylene.

During my two week Offa’s Dyke hike, I found two sets of Orikaso an absolutely ideal solution for both me and the dog (using the plate for food, and the bowl for water). Orikaso are lightweight, durable and really easy to clean – available in red, blue and green sets, they are a bargain at £2.99 per set on Amazon.

During the final preparations for Offa’s Dyke, I was desperate to find a lightweight solution to dog food and water bowls. I have tried those double layered material ones in the past, but found that they are a) very difficult to clean and b) leak. I came across Orikaso after reading about them on a ultra-light backpacking blog (sorry, I can’t remember which one!). I ordered a red and blue set (one human and one animal) from Amazon for £2.99 each (plus £4.05 postage) – they are from a marketplace seller, but were delivered quickly.

Orikaso are made from a completely flat piece of polypropylene (the only plastic endorsed by Greenpeace as an alternative to PVC). Each set, which consists of a plate (700ml 22 x 22 x 4.3cm), a bowl (700ml 17.5 x 8 cm) and a cup (400ml 11 x 11.5 x 9cm), come in a single flat package. The sets are very lightweight – with both sets weighing less than a single standard plastic plate (weight is about 136g).

When you first try and assemble them – it seems impossible! There is a knack to folding the tabs into the folds of the plastic to create a corner – and it required a bit of practice to get the hang of it. Once mastered though and it is extremely quick to assemble each one.

My initial concern was that the folds, especially with the tabs, would quickly wear and break – however after two weeks of continual folding and unfolding there is absolutely no sign of wear. This is apparently due to the unique properties of polypropylene which means that there is in structural fatigue or weakening (they are so confident of this that every Orikaso product comes with a 10-year guarantee).

The plate (which has high edges) was big enough to hold a large dogs daily dinner (a scoop of biscuits and a tin of meat). The bowl is big enough to use as a dog water bowl for short intervals (when thirsty my dog could drink it all, but it was big enough that a full bowl could last an evening and morning in camp-sites).

The only downside is that the packaging, that the sets come in, is not very strong – by the end of the first week the edges had ripped apart, and I had to keep everything separate in my backpack. The cup also feels a little fiddly to use – and hot liquids cool quite quickly.

Overall though these were invaluable – especially as dog water / food bowls for hikers and walkers, and they will definitely be a regular pack item on hikes and camping trips. I am amazed these are so cheap – £2.99 seems so little for such a great product!

[I should point out that Alex, my Offa's Dyke team-mate had a set of Orikaso about two years before me - he even showed them to me a year ago, but at the time I was very unimpressed. Sorry Alex - you were right. They are cool!]

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Situated just outside the town of Brecon, Powys, just North of the Brecon Beacons, Priory Mill Farm is on the banks of the river Honddu. We stayed mid-week in March 2010 (we were unsurprisingly the only ones there!) for two nights at a cost of £7 per person per night plus £1 per night for the dog.

If you want a truly special, small, secluded place to camp, this stunning riverside meadow will provide it. The level, grassy field meanders alongside the river offering plenty of space and privacy. The only buildings visible are the traditional stone built farmhouse and watermill. The nearby road is unclassified and quiet, so the only noises are the gentle swirling of the river, the inquisitive hens and sometimes the Tawny Owls at night.
ukcampsites.co.uk

Despite the time of year, the site was in excellent condition – you camp on one of several flat areas of ground (I suppose you could call them meadows) on the banks of the river, and we were (quite reasonably) asked to park on some hard standing, rather than driving on the grass (there is a wheelbarrow you can borrow if you have loads of stuff!).

The main meadow has the best access to the site’s facilities (the other fields would be more of a trek!) which consist of a recycling area (they are big on recycling), an outdoor open air washing up area, and a toilet / shower block. The layout does seem a little bizarre - for men the urinal and sink is behind one door, with the shower (50p a go) and toilet behind another door each. The sink has hot water (heats up very quickly), but the outdoor washing up area does not – again very odd!

The site has metal fire trays available to borrow, and reasonably priced locally produced charcoal and firewood on sale (I can imagine the trays being very popular at busy times, so get one early!). There are also log seats you can borrow.

The only part of the blurb above I disagree with slightly is the road – you will notice traffic passing above you – it isn’t a busy road, but there is traffic. Generally though it is not enough to spoil the tranquillity of relaxing beside a gurgling stream in front of a campfire, listening to the owls, whilst enjoying a bottle of locally brewed beer. The peacefulness is further helped by their no noise after 10.30pm policy and at the same time the lights in the cabin turn off!

The owner was very friendly and nice, and each morning he came over for a chat as he walked his dog around the site. The walk to town takes about 10 minutes, and once you leave the campsite there is a pavement the whole way.

Overall this is a brilliant campsite which, despite the odd layout of the facilities, I would recommend. £7 does not seem particularly expensive to me.

Good: Peaceful, relaxing, friendly, well looked after and clean site
Bad: Bizarre layout of facilities, especially washing up outside with cold water

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The Merry Harriers pub is down a country lane tucked away amongst the Surrey Hills near the hamlet of Hambledon near Goldalming.

Across the country lane is a fairly small camping field – we stayed in February 2010, and although the campsite has fairly basic facilities, the pub and location made this a lovely place to stay.

The camping field itself was quite boggy and waterlogged – this is probably to be expected in February, and I have stayed in worse fields in the height of British summer! Again as to be expected in February, we had the field to ourselves (other than three permanent caravans) and so could pick a dry pitch.

The site cost £9 per person per night with no extra charge for the dog (both the site and pub are dog friendly).

Other than a rubbish bin, all the facilities are across the road attached to the pub (there are no electric hookups). Around the back of the pub there is a water tap and two porta-showers (one male and one female) – unfortunately the showers weren’t working when we were there, but the pub kindly gave us a free pint to make up for it!

Male and female toilets are available when the pub is open. When the pub is closed, the male toilet is accessible 24/7, and is kept clean, with toilet roll, soap and hand sanitiser.

The pub itself is absolutely lovely, warm and welcoming – the staff were really friendly (the owners were on holiday). There was a fire burning at one end, and dogs are welcome in the bar (mine quickly curled up in front of the fire!). There is an excellent range of real ales and the food is absolutely fantastic (there is also a restaurant area) and is well priced considering the quality. The pub seems to have regular live music and every Sunday afternoon they show a family film.

A footpath and a bridleway lead from the pub out into the Surrey countryside (both joining the Greensway, which skirts Hambledon) and judging by the number of walkers and horse riders, this is a popular area. There are some great walks in the area – we explored both to the North & East, and to the South & West (both routes will appear on this site soon).

Overall we thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Merry Harriers Camping Park and would definitely stay here again.

Good: Fantastic pub, gorgeous countryside, tranquil location
Bad: Basic site facilities

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Map Addict, by Mike Parker, is a enjoyable, often funny, well written, and well researched tour of all things map related.

A few of the final chapters are a little weak in comparison to the rest of the book, and I think the book could have done with some colour photos to bring them alive (some of the black and white ones aren’t very clear), but nonetheless it is well worth a read!

The book covers the history of British cartography, and especially Ordnance Survey, and how this was driven by our constant feuding with France. It looks at some of the weird map boundaries – between countries, counties and districts; how maps have been used for politics, propaganda, and religion; why maps are assumed to be a male domain; and finally a discussion of the “moronic blandishments of the satnav age”.

Map Addiction

Mike’s map obsession (and it is an obsession), started at the age of 6 when he discovered a relief map of the West Midlands and Wales carved out of plastic hidden in the cellar. I have actually come across one of these at a friend’s parent’s house in Brecon – it is a truly wonderful, with lumps of plastic rising out of the map to mark hills and mountains (the print on the bigger mountains have long since worn away from countless fingers caressing the peaks!).

Despite being obsessed with maps, and especially Ordnance Survey maps, there are, apparently, people even more obsessed than Mike. There are people out there who collect them, like stamps, with the ultimate aim of owning every single edition of every single map Ordnance Survey ever produced.

I do like Ordnance Survey maps, but I am not sure I am obsessed (borderline perhaps?). I remember in Geography lessons as a child being captivated by the OS symbols – this served me well later when I joined the cadets and had to plan routes across Dartmoor and Exmoor. Nowadays I always buy the OS map for any new area I am staying for more than a few days, not just the paper copy but a mobile version for use with Viewranger for walk navigation and associate geek benefits!

Mike used to drag his poor grandparents across the West Midlands to have a look at things that looked interesting on the map – from model villages to farms in the middle of motorways. Researching this book seemed to give him an excuse (if he needed it) of going off and visiting other interesting map features across the British Isles.

The British Empire and France

Mike argues that Britain’s status as world-beaters in cartography comes from our imperial history and military bravado – “we started needing maps in order to go and rough up bits of the rest of the world and declare them to be ours”. This was heightened by the intense neighbourly rivalry between Britain and France.

Ah, la bella France. Our nearest neighbour, archest rival, flirtiest paramour, oldest, bestest friend and bitterest foe, all rolled into one…. We look down on them for their pomposity, their flagrantly over-inflated sense of their own importance, their rudeness, their insularity, their ponderous bureaucracy, their clinging to a long-vanished past, their dodgy new best friends, their fiercely centripetal politics, their all-round unwarranted, swaggering arrogance. They look down on us for precisely the same reasons.
Map Addict

One of my favourite sections of the book is when Mike describes the goings on at the 1884 International Meridian Conference in Washington, where the Greenwich Meridian was eventually chosen as the zero point from which all other latitudes are measured. The conference was basically a battle of words between the British camp (including the Americans, who played bad cop to our good cop) and the French, who wanted the honour for themselves (they were already a bit smug to have got the meter recognised – something the Americans still haven’t taken up!)

Mike’s detailed account of the origins of the Ordnance Survey, through to present day, is an amazing journey of dedication and vision. There is so much I didn’t know about Ordnance Survey – how the covers (before marketing men got their hands on them) were originally plain, how a few years ago the tankard image was modified with one with less beer in, that rights of way information was only added in 1960, and that only 80 of the 204 Landranger don’t make a loss.

Borders

The chapter on borders is fascinating – from Europe’s wonkiest border, between Belgium and Netherlands, to enclaves such as Gaza Strip, Ceuta and Gibraltar.

It is not just these major, political, borders between countries that have a major effect on the population. I grew up in a small village in the northern tip of Buckinghamshire (right on the border with Northamptonshire), I now live in the next door village (in Northamptonshire) – despite being only a few miles apart, there seems to be this massive divide between the two villages, as if they were in different countries!

The saga of Britain’s smallest County, Rutland is enchanting. Rutland, with it’s 36,000 inhabitants, has constantly been fighting against being merged with Leicester. Especially enjoyable is Mike’s tale of his trip to Rutland!

The final few chapters

Towards the end of the book, I couldn’t help feeling that the final few chapters had been tacked on as fillers, as they seem to lack the enjoyable flow of the rest of the book.

The chapter on erotic map features in particular just seemed a little childish and unnecessary. Yes, the Mull of Kintyre looks a bit like a willy, and yes, The Cerne Giant does indeed have an erect member, but does it really need it’s own chapter? There were a few interesting snippits about the streets, in towns throughout the uk, frequented by prostitutes (in the same way “Baker Street” told visitors where to find bakers, “Gropecunt Lane” told you where to find some female company) – all the streets have since, of course, been renamed.

I am, however, completely in agreement with Mike on Satnav (or ‘Pratnav’ as the chapter is called). Satnavs make people stupid, drones to the, often incorrect, female voice (or BA from A-team, or whatever voice you have wasted money buying).

Satnavs are one more gadget to disempower us, to turn us into mindless jelly brains that cannot take any responsibility for ourselves
Map Addict

I like to know not just where to go next, but where I am now and what is around me. I want to be able to make my own choice as to how I am going to get somewhere – which route, based on the map, looks the most interesting and fun to drive. I will hopefully be the last person on Earth to have a Satnav (well except perhaps Mike Parker!).

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Mena Caravan & Camping Park is a lovely, very friendly, spacious and secluded camp site situated on a hill just to the South West of Bodmin, Cornwall.

I was quite lazy when choosing this camp site – I basically did a Google search of camp sites near Bodmin and picked one of the top results – and I was not disappointed!

Best points: friendly, spacious, great for dogs & local meat
Bad points: none (honest, I really can’t think of any!)

Booking

To book, I completed their online booking form. Within a matter of hours I had an email back confirming they had space. Amazingly the email even suggested booking a single larger pitch, rather than two smaller pitches to save money – the sceptic in me thought this was so they could squeeze as many people on as possible, but on arrival there were plenty of spaces, so they were being genuinely helpful!

Both times I rang Mena – firstly to confirm the booking and pay the deposit, and secondly to double check the pitch size (after buying a new tent) – the person on the other end of the phone was very friendly and helpful.

This friendliness continued throughout our stay – the staff/owners were welcoming and always happy to chat whenever we popped into the shop.

In total the cost was £40 for two people, two tents and a dog (in high season).

The Site

The site is situated about 5 minutes from the A30, down a few narrow (but very quiet) lanes. However the position of the site means that you can’t hear any noise from the A30.

The site has 15 acres of open space, with 25 pitches (some with electric hook up). The site is broadly made up of three areas – you have a landscaped and well maintained main camping / caravan area, which is predominately flat, on top of a hill with some nice views (including over to Helman Torr, a Neolithic hill fort site). There is then a larger field slopping down hill – paths have been mowed around and through the field for dog walkers, and it makes for an excellent early morning / late evening stroll. At the bottom of the hill is a fishing pond and wooded area – dogs are allowed to swim in the pond provided no one is fishing (fishing ticket costs £3 per day per rod).

The pitches are a decent size and well spaced – there is a small play area in the middle of the site (with goal posts, basketball hoop etc.), with most of pitches around the edge.

Facilities

There are two toilet and shower blocks – both of which were clean and tidy throughout most of our stay. There was a bit of a queue for showers in the morning, but nothing too irksome, and they were hot, fairly powerful and free! One of the blocks also has laundry facilities (coin operated) and a freezer that is free to use for freezing ice blocks.

There is a small shop on site selling all the essentials – best of all the shop also sold local burgers, bacon and sausages. The sausages were extremely flavoursome and the bacon was the thickest I think I have ever seen. They also sell eggs from rescued battery hens – all the proceeds from the eggs goes on feed and on rescuing more!

Although we didn’t investigate, the site also has a large games barn with pool table and table tennis.

One other thing of note (for us geeks anyway) is that the site, being on a hill, receives excellent T-mobile 3.5g Mobile Broadband signal.

Local Area

The site is nice and close to Bodmin and Bodmin Moor – see my previous posts on walking Bodmin Moor: Minions, Stowe’s Hill (& the Cheesewring) and Kilmar Tor and King Arthur’s Hall, Brown Willy & Rough Tor from Churchtown

As the site is right next to the A30, in the centre of Cornwall, you have easy access to most main tourist destinations – the Eden Project is only 4 miles away, the National Trust’s Lanhydrock House & Gardens are 3 miles away, and the nearest Beach is 8 miles away.

Conclusion

Mena Caravan & Camping Park is a gem of a campsite and is highly recommended for anyone wanting to visit Cornwall.

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