3 Castles

The Three Castles Easter seems to be a good time to do this ride that takes in Skenfrith, Grosmont and Whitecastle. After last year’s washout, we met in good weather in the square at Usk , the time was 5.00pm on Good Friday. We cycled past Usk gliding club and then on the lanes through Cwmcarvan and Dingestow. Here we took a narrow undulating lane, that sent us past the Rolls golf club of Monmouth. We then carried on to Newcastle and dropped down to Skenfrith. The climb toward Grosmont was good as darkness fell, but here we had a chilling reminder of the devastating affect the foot and mouth epidemic has brought to the country, the sky was illuminated by the light of burning animal carcasses in the distance, it was a very eerie and strange sight. In Grosmont a very kind shopkeeper opened the shop for us, to buy some chocolate and drink, it was now 9.30pm and although we were going well, we were starting to feel a bit tired. We were in the most northerly part of Gwent and since we lived in the most southerly part it felt a long way home! The climb out of Grosmont toward White castle is steep at first then up and up , however we were going well and I surprised my self and Nick, I think by attacking this climb! Up the top of the hill we cycled right past a farm where the burning was taking place , dead cattle could clearly be seen burning. Fortunately we were up wind of the smoke , but the most strangest thing was the eerie silence as the carcasses burnt. We soon hit Whitecastle, I was thankful there was only 20 miles to go and we soon covered them via Llanarth , Nantyderri, Goytre, Glascoed, where I was glad to see Trostra farm (the home of the twilight herd )or 'Semen world' as it’s popularly known it was a good ride and I arrived home at1:00am a bit tired !....60 miles.