91. Derby and the Welsh villages of Powys and Clun

March 26, 2024

The best part of our time in Bagworth was the ability to just stop and take stock. After being on the road for so long, it was good to emotionally and physically recouperate. Having said that, we were keen to move onto the Welsh countryside as this was a much anticipated journey.

We stopped in Derby for the night as we had pre-bought tickets for an event put on by the Ickonic crew. These guys run a news/media organisation based in Derby and we subscribe to their platform. It was a good night and we enjoyed the meet and greet that followed.

Good to see David Icke again.

The next morning we left Derby and crossed the Welsh border into Powys where we spent two nights in an Air B&B in some wonderful countryside. The owner gave us some lovely supplies including fresh eggs from the chooks next to the cottage.

The cottage we stayed in and the chook yard on the left

We visited Clun, a village not far away. The scenery along the way was beautiful with rolling green hills with fields separated by manicured hedges. We had a cup of tea in one of the cafes. They knit their own tea cosies.

The remains of Clun castle sit on a hill overlooking the town.

The castle sits high on a rocky mound in a loop of the river Clun. It was founded shortly after the Norman Conquest to demonstrate the authority of the English monarchy over this area. The castle and the nearby settlement prospered in the 13th century thanks to the Fitzalan family, but had to put up with a number of attacks from across the Welsh border. It was used as a hunting lodge in the 14th century, but was increasingly neglected and by 1539, the castle was reported as ruinous.