For the last two years our summer expeditions had started from Clun Youth Hostel where my brother John, Bernard Heath and I met. Our route in both years had been south through fine countryside towards Kington the anticipated overnight stop. In 2011 we had intended to do the Hergest ridge from west to east but arrived too late at Gladestry and chose to take the cycle route to Kington. In 2012 we set out with the intention of doing the ridge and made it our main objective for the day.