Meet Gerald of Wales, the medieval Bill Bryson who was Britain’s first great travel writer: Plagues of toads, bands of robbers and ‘remarkable’ eagles were no match for Gerald, discovers Nicholas Crane. (Nicholas Crane, 9/27/26, Country Life)
His party rode out of Hereford on Friday, March 4, heading west for the protection of the Norman castle at New Radnor and, after a night within its walls, continued south towards Hay-on-Wye, probably on the modern bridleway that crosses the exposed moorland of Gwaunceste Hill. I last hiked this bridleway in the company of a film crew shooting a BBC documentary about Gerald. All of us were protected from the wind and rain by high-tech, lightweight waterproofs and comfy boots, but the wools and leathers worn by Gerald and his companions were heavy and held the water. Faith was the medieval Gore-Tex.