Monmouthshire swallow whisperer Ed Beverley-Jones has arrived back in Abergavenny after a 4,000-mile cycle journey following the birds as they migrate to and then back from Africa.

Ed, aged 43, known as The Pond Guy, crossed the Severn Bridge into Chepstow on Monday after the epic solo bike ride through England, France, Spain and Morocco and back in aid of St David’s Hospice Care.

Ed was due to be back on top of the Sugar Loaf Mountain in yesterday (Wednesday) for a welcome home picnic, the point from where he started his mammoth ride six months ago.

Rookie cyclist Ed has been on the road continuously since the start on October, riding and sleeping wherever he can. Most often at the side of the road enduring bitter cold, biting winds and searing heat.

The environmentalist completed the epic ride, the first time he has ridden a bike in earnest for two decades, in aid of the Gwent charity, St David’s Hospice Care.

Setting an initial target of raising £1,000 the total is now more than £5,000 and rising.

Greeted in Chepstow by supporters and well wishers as he put his feet on Welsh soil Ed said: “I’m glad to be home but my legs feel a bit shaky.”

Sleeping at the side of the road, in culverts, under trees, windswept grasslands near windmills, alongside a bull ring and in a Spanish castle, on snow, sand dunes, and the desert, Ed experienced all manner of happenings including a close nocturnal encounter with a wild boar while in a wood in France and numerous attacks by ravenous wild dogs in Morocco.

“One of the most frightening parts of the trip was being tracked and attacked repeatedly by packs of wild dogs. There were about 20 dog attacks. It was terrifying, totally terrifying. I had to ward them off with my bike at times. It was worse in the cold weather when they were hungry.”

Ed spoke of the support and kindness that he received along the way from strangers and the toils and tribulation of changing wheels, tyres, gears and other parts of the bike on his trip.

Ed, based in the Monmouthshire countryside, makes a living looking after owners’ private garden ponds.

Along with the bike and always wearing his St David’s Hospice Care -shirt whatever the weather, Ed was equipped with a tarpaulin, bivvy bag, poncho and a solar powered back pack which keeps his mobile phone charged allowing him to post almost daily reports of his travels.

Ed said: “I had water and my trusty compass and just kept heading south apart from of course when I saw mountains then, as a true Welshman, I had to make a detour to explore them which took me a bit off track. After touring in Morocco I set the compass for north and set off for home.”

Ed is raising money for St David’s Hospice Care partly in memory of a pond cleaning customer client who recently passed away.

Ed said,“He had such wonderful care from St David’s Hospice Care nurses at his home over his final days. I just felt I wanted to do my bit to help raise some money for the charity that looked after him so well.”

Ed, who has cared for ponds in the Monmouthshire countryside for the past 17 years, was following swallows which nest in the barn where he keeps his pool work tools.

Before he left Wales Ed said: “I see the swallows come in, build nests, have chicks and then depart south and I figured, why not? I’ll follow them South to Africa-the ponds business tends to slow up in the Winter months in any case.”

Gemma Sandhu, of St David’s Hospice Care, said: “Ed is a real inspiration. He has exceeded his target of raising £1,000 for the charity. We are so very proud of his achievement and look forward to meeting up with him at the Sugar Loaf to celebrate his achievement and hear more details about his marvellous adventure.”