A longish but not too demanding walk along Offa’s Dyke National Trail between Knigton and Knighton – much of it either on or near the dyke itself.
Date walked: 10th August 2018
Map used: OS Explorer 201- Knighton and Presteigne
Distance: about 14 miles
Guide book used: Offa’s Dyke Path by Mike Dunn (Cicerone, 2016)
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A pretty average cooked breakfast in the not-very-nice dining room at the Oxford Arms provided us with the nourishment we needed for another longish walk (by my standards at least). But I think we both felt a little weary after yesterdays 15 miles. Today, though, our Guide promised us ” “Welsh Marches walking at its finest” and that we would be re-united with Offa’s Dyke itself. So with at least half a spring in our steps we set off back to the Swan Inn…
Oi Paul, we are turning right here!
… and passing some pretty Georgian houses in Common Close…
… climbed away from the town towards Kington Golf Course.
Being “aware” of a flying golf ball is not easy. Being aware of a stationary one seems unnecessary.
The golf course was pretty browned off by the exceptional drought we had been having but I’m sure the tractor with a grass cutter attached found something to cut.
To everyone’s delight apart from the two of us, it looks as if we may have had a sharp shower (I really can’t remember).
Paul’s already looking a bit damp
The path approached the crest of Rushock Hill, its fine grass bleached to a golden brown.
On the far side of the hill, the path took a sharp left and presented us with an earth bank and ditch that is Offa’s Dyke. Hurrah.
It was surprising, given the popularity of this trail (though I had come across very few people on it so far) that there had been nothing to advise against us walking on the top of this ancient earthwork. So we did.
As did the sheep.
The path/dyke skirted the eastern edge of Herrock Hill, giving us a fine view ahead of Whitton Hill.
This was, indeed, lovely countryside.
At Herrock Hill Common (according to the Guide, the home of 17 varieties of wax cap fungi, though not in this season) we took a sharp right…
…. descending shortly afterwards to the Hindwell Brook valley.
The path – a broad track now- approached Lower Harpton Farm.
On a marker post someone had stuck a feather into a crack in the wood; the first of many we noticed in the following miles.
After the farm we were required to follow the road to Ditchyeld Bridge – but it was only for half a mile and the road was quiet, so it wasn’t a great hardship.
Paul hates road walking
We sat on the bridge and had a little rest before turning off to a more minor road and then a track that skirts the edge of Burfa Bank – the site of an ancient hill fort.
Burfa is an old house and barns, and leaning against a wall an apparently abandoned bicycle (its chain rusty with lack of use).
Then we were returned to the dyke, now forming the edge of a narrow strip of woodland.
The feather-planter had been before us. I joined in the game.
Oh dear, that tummy.
The dyke, impressively high above the surrounding fields at first, gradually degrades. Most of the fields of grain had been cut and the straw baled. (i got this one right, Sue, before you had posted your comment on the last post).
Several of the oaks we passed are huge, magnificent.
A telecommunications mast near Granner Wood is ugly and intrusive but is the price we pay for our demand to keep in touch.
And at least it seems to be multi-tasking
It was a gentle climb through Granner Wood, followed by an open field and then we passed through Hilltop Plantation.
The feathers continued to adorn the footpath marker posts.
We passed several fields of barley that had not yet been cut, their rich golden blankets contrasting beautifully with the dark clouds above.
After crossing a minor road to the west of the hamlet of Thorn we had another mile or so on the dyke, now just a line of bumpy ground.
A grown-out hedge of beech….
… took us to a gate ….
Spot the feather on the fence post on the right
… and from here the path led us down the hill to the River Lugg.
The Lugg was crossed by the new Dolley Green footbridge (Dolly Green being a nearby hamlet). I didn’t take a pic of the bridge, sorry, so here’s another pic of the Lugg and you can imagine the fallen trunk to be the bridge.
There followed the briefest encounter with the B4356 before we climbed up Furrow Hill…
Gosh, it really was a dry summer wasn’t it.
The next three miles or so undulated around 1200 feet……
…..giving us very pleasant views over the Gilfach valley to our left.
A single Scots pine by the path was a surprise.
Planted, surely?
We were still in the tracks of the Feather Placer…..
… and we were still walking alongside the Dyke…..
…. though in one or two places it had been cut through to allow a farmer access to their fields.
Furrow Hill was followed by Hawthorne Hill, where our Guide directed that we should digress slightly to inspect a monument off the path slightly that commemorates the achievements of Sir Richard Green Price (1803-1887).
We had a little sit and contemplated his achievements.
Sorry, you won’t be able to read this; basically he was pivotal in bringing the railway to Knighton.
Shortly after passing the monument we crossed the B4335, by the side of which was a stone marker claiming that the Dyke was built in AD 757. Not so says our Guide, and Wikipedia reckons that Offa was born on that date, so unless he was extraordinarily precocious it would seem unlikely that the Dyke was started then under his instruction.
And in fact it seems that some believe that the dyke was started much earlier than this, so not Offa’s at all.
The path returned us to walk alongside the B4335 for a short section, turned us left onto the B4337 (where some idiot in a car approached us far too fast causing Paul to put a curse on him) , and then left the road, heading north for Ffridd Hill.
It was a gentle climb up Ffrith Hill, for which we were grateful as our legs were getting tired. The dyke accompanied us for part of the way, though its form was less prominent.
On the far side of the hill we enjoyed the shade of Great Frydd Wood as we descended towards Knighton.
At the edge of the wood a sign promised us a warm welcome at the Offa’s Dyke Centre in Knighton.
The path was quite steep to the bottom of Great Frydd Wood….
….. and at our last marker post, the placer of the feathers had make their mark.
After spending the day in a completely rural environment its always a bit of a shock to be in a town again.
Shocking
People do such strange things.
We’re a odd bunch, the human race.
The walk all but completed Paul and I celebrated with an ice cream and a brief sit before heading for the Offa’s Dyke Centre.
I can’t remember why we did not avail ourselves of the warm welcome that awaited us. Maybe I’ll pop in before heading off on the next section.
As usual, an enjoyable read of a very pleasant walk, by the look of it. Some great photos (the field of barley against darkening skies, especially).
But…. honestly, call that a tummy? !!
Thanks Neil. Well, yes, as tummies go, mine is relatively modest compared to some…..?
Some good views and shots on this one. barley and stormy sky is my favourite
Thanks Valerie. Mine, too. All very much taken on the hoof and with barely a pause in stride (it shows!).
I sense a note of tummy competitiveness in Neil’s comment – I am striving to improve on mine. That section of the walk was beautiful – but I now feel a little guilty for tramping on the Dyke !
Yes, I’m sure he is secretly proud of his bump. Striving for tummy perfection? Or perhaps a wabi-sabi tummy? Note the hyphen, John.
The placing of feathers is a long-standing tradition. A report by Gloucestershire CC/Historic England some years ago alluded to them originally being votive offerings. Apparently you may also come across old boots tied to fences/gates and these are believed to be the beloved old boots of walkers who leave them as a commemorative offering for happy times spent walking. Loosen your belt and wear bracers and the tummy will be a lot less prominent. When in Knighton, were you in England or Wales? I guess Paul chickened out of walking the Switchback with you on day 9. Probably for the best with a backpack nearly as big as him!
PS. I see you got lost again. Aiming for Fridd Hill but ascending Frith Hill instead.
Well, that’s interesting about the feather. My mum, who is an avid “lurker” here tells me that tradition has it that “if you found a feather lying in your path, and stuck it upright, you would save a life at sea.” Amazing. I shall be a feather poster from here on.
Boots hung on fences I have never seen and I wonder if you might be pulling the plonker? If not then there are clearly not enough happy walkers.
What’s a “bracer”? Is it like a truss?
I refuse to answer the Knighton question, pleading the 5th amendment.
Not lost, just embracing cultural diversity.
Toodle pip.
“unless he was extraordinarily precocious it would seem likely that the Dyke was started then under his instruction.”
er….?
OK, OK. Just a typo. I meant unlikely, of course. Have corrected. Any more for any more?
I LOVE the photo of the dark clouds above the barley field! and a couple notes from Stateside…. The Boots tradition is alive and well here too. I witnessed my first display back in the early ’70s after a 7-day trek in the Rocky Mountains in New Mexico. I would have left my boots too, but would have been hell to pay when I got home, so I tied a pair of flip flops together and left those…. And you call THAT a tummy? Ha! novice! Over here we cover our 5Bs (Better Bodies Built By Beer) with 3XL teeshirts….!!
Glad you like it, Kevin. And nice to hear from you. I suppose hanging flip flops is better than plastic bags of dog poo but I think of it as littering for all that. Am glad that my tummy is considered modest by 100% of my correspondents. I can volunteer that it’s been stable so far this year. And I am still comfortable in just a L size tee shirt. Love to Gracie.