It's been ages since I've been able to blog about a walk. Apart from daily exercise in our neighbourhood, we haven't been out hiking since February. As much as we wanted to, and even though we know lots of routes well off the tourist path, it just felt wrong to go out in the countryside until it was clear that the people living and working there, including Mountain Rescue volunteers, would welcome walkers again.
Wales has been closed through most of lockdown but they opened their borders two weeks ago. Last Sunday we decided to venture to one of our favourite walks in the Clwydian Hills - the ridge from Moel Famau to Moel Arthur. We went early, avoided all the busy car parks and ascended Moel Famau up one of the back and less popular tracks. There were lots of runners and walkers out, including lots of families which was nice to see, but it was very easy to social distance.
It just felt so good to be out in the fresh air again and to get the legs moving. We are both definitely out of shape and the muscles were feeling it. But it was the nicest ache possible.
The heather was also starting to bloom - feels early to me, but there were bright clumps scattered over the hills.
And so nice to see sheep again too. It was a perfect summer's day with no hint at all of rain.
I will never take something as simple as going for a long walk for granted again. And unlike some horrendous pictures I've seen on the news of piles of litter in some of the National Parks, I'm pleased to report that I didn't come across a single piece of rubbish during the whole walk.
So good to have a teeny bit of normality again after all these weeks of lockdown.
