7th May: Bluebell Run
The Bluebell Run takes place in the Forest of Dean so is only a few miles from home and another favourite of ours. Clerk of the Course is Stuart Harrold, the former works rally navigator, so a good route is always assured and a full entry of 60 cars turned up to the start at Hopewell Colliery near Cannop.
Hopewell is a museum but also still a working mine where you can take a guided tour with one of the remaining Freeminers. The Freeminers are a very special group who retain the right to operate in the Forest of Dean but it is very hard work and potentially dangerous so not many are still working these days. To be a Freeminer you also have to be born in the Hundred of St Briavels so not many people qualify. They are also able to mine iron ore and stone, not just coal.
 |
| Cars at the Hopewell Colliery start |
My navigator for the day was my old rally mate Oliver Tomlins and the weather was perfect so the DHC was the choice.
 |
| Leaving the start. (photo by Chris Huish) |
First leg was about 35 miles around the north of the Forest and across the River Wye to our morning coffee stop at The Crown at Pantygelli, just north of Abergavenny. This is a lovely little country pub that we had never heard of before but recommended if you are in the area.
From coffee we headed north via Longtown following the eastern side of the Black Mountains with super views all along the route. Just past Longtown we met an irate motorist in a VW SUV coming the other way in a narrow lane. He seemed to think it was his private road and took exception to other cars using it! By the time the Vauxhall Viva in front of us has discussed the situation with him for some minutes lots more of the Bluebell runners had arrived so we had a reasonable sized traffic jam. Eventually we all managed to get our cars parked in gateways etc to allow the idiot past. From his accent he obviously wasn't a local so maybe a typical "newcomer" who doesn't understand country roads?
 |
| Beware idiot SUV drivers! I have blanked the number to avoid his embarrassment. |
Lunch halt was at The Castlefields, near to Hay on Wye where we had about an hour while they provided us a very generous ploughmans lunch. One of the biggest we ever saw! It was excellent.
After lunch we journeyed about 60 miles back south again with more lovely scenery, passing close to Ross on Wye to the finish by the River Severn at Symonds Yat.
An excellent and enjoyable day out and the DHC behaved perfectly.
