Offa's Dyke: Kington to Knighton

I had expected yesterday's route, with it's steep ascents to Disgwylfa Hill and Hergest Ridge, to be hard going, but it had turned out to be a most pleasant walk. The next stretch looked easier - admittedly a step ascent from Kington, but then miles of undulating countryside before the final drop into Knighton.

How wrong I was!  Whether it was down to tired limbs or my inability to interpret the contours on my map, I'm not certain, but I found myself walking slower and slower up the hills. 40 steps... pause... 40 steps... pause... 40 steps... rest a while. But, praise be, I'm here to tell the story. Memories of tired legs will fade; the exhilaration of completing another stage of Offa's Dyke will live on.

This is near the top of the long climb out of Kington, the houses of which are just visible in the middle distance. I'm in the middle of Kington Golf Course, which has the distinction of being the highest 18-hole course in England. I crossed it in safety - not a golfer in sight. Crumbs... if one lost control of a golf ball here, it might roll all the way to Kington!

Ah, there are a few golfers. It's 9-o'clock on Sunday morning and they appear to be having a practice swing or two before setting out on their hilly circuit. I once tried to take up golf but hardly ever made the ball travel in its intended direction. In the end I gave up, donated my clubs to charity and concentrated on rambling.  

Avid followers of my ramblings may have noticed that one thing missing from my Offa's Dyke adventure has been any mention of King Offa's wonderful Dyke. The last I'd seen of it was near Brockweir, in the Forest of Dean. Since then, nothing... until today. Yes, those earthworks up ahead really are the remains of Offa's Dyke.

The enigma of Offa's Dyke.  Click the photo for a closer look.

The Dyke would be our almost constant companion for the rest of the day's walk.  This is remote countryside, with no villages of any size all the way to Knighton - and no pubs either to refresh weary limbs. 

My Trailblazer guide book says that Ditchyeld Old Bridge is good for Poohsticks. It is, and I won both times... which devotees of Winnie-the-Pooh will know is achieved by dropping ones stick in a twitchy sort of way.

These two photos - the first looking south and the other north - show how the dyke was constructed, with a steep bank and ditch on the Welsh side and a gentler slope on the Mercian (English) side. It was probably topped with a timber palisade. 

Photo: Google Maps

Dolley Green: "Little more than a point on a map," according to my Trailblazer guide, but the guide also said that there's a supply of drinking water in the churchyard. We gratefully refilled our water bottles before tackling the next ascent. According to their website, the little well-kept church is thriving.

We lost sight of the Dyke on the climb out of Dolley Green, but soon it was with us again - clearly visible in the photo above. From here it was downhill all the way to Knighton.

Finally, this obelisk, close to the Offa's Dyke path, honours one Sir Richard Green-Price. He was a 19th century Liberal politician who is credited with being the driving force behind bringing railways to the Knighton area. The line through Knighton runs to this day and will prove very useful for getting us back to Knighton when we tackle the next stage of the trail.  We won't be using it for a while, though. This hike from Kington marks the end of our Offa's Dyke Adventure for this year. We hopefully take up the challenge again in the Spring.