Yeah - my bruv and I have walked a couple of sections of Offa's this year (in between bouts of liver-punishing drinking sessions); I'm fortunate in that I live in a little village called Bridstow, which sits atop a crest just outside of Ross-on-Wye. It only took us half an hours drive to get to Tintern Abbey and do a walk and next day we did a stretch in the Black Mountains.
Reading your journal of the walk (which I like, by the way - there must be loads of us thinking we are the poor man's Bill Bryson everytime we complete a walk, scribbling away industriously) brings to mind several of the places we stopped at to explore as well. My brother took a tumble at the Devil's Pulpit. I laughed hideously.
We'll probably call it a day at Tintern, too, as when we do the first half of O.D. we have the cunning plan of using my place as a base each night. It'll only be the last few days of the walk the year after when we'll have to dig reluctant hands into our purses for B&B's and the like. Mind you - part of the fun is the places you stay at.
I'll bear in mind and taste buds the Rhymey Ale you reccommend - thanks!
I've just finished a night shift, so I'm going to bed. I'll read the rest of your journal when I'm fresh