Gladestry to Evenjobb (Offa’s Dyke) via Kington
Although initially forecasts looked as if the weather would be good for the walk i.e. no rain, as the day approached it would seem that on the 12th along the Welsh Borders and in the Midlands it was going to be wet – very wet. So I was almost hopeful that the walk was no longer going to happen. And then first thing on Tuesday, 24 hours before the intended hike, I received an email from Peter checking if the walk was “still on” for the following day. About 30 minutes later the telephone went. It was Larry and although he had not been very well – “touch of flu” - he was game for the walk. As Anne had answered the telephone she told him I was looking for an excuse not to get wet. I therefore would never have lived it down and would really have become a “Fairweather Walker” if I didn’t take up the challenge. So 8.15 the following morning saw me sat alongside Mick – Larry was in Peter’s car as Peter was driving down to Cardiff after the walk – heading west towards the Welsh Border and precipitation.
Initially the weather was kind as we sped along admiring the daffodils that were in abundance on the side of the road, but by the time we reached Kington we had already seen a fair amount of rain.
In Gladestry in the rain, with Larry indicating the
way to go.
Having parked Mick’s
car in a lay-by at Evenjobb we all got into Peter’s
Car to travel the 6 miles or so to Gladestry where
a “local” directed us to a very good parking place
outside the Village Hall; and shortly afterwards,
at about 11 o’clock, we were striding out,
protected in wet weather gear, along the main
village street – which is also a part of Offa’s
Dyke footpath – to reach the base of the first
climb of the day onto Hergest Ridge.
Having turned right, off the road, we headed up a
steep lane before turning left off it and continued
to follow the Offa’s Dyke Path through the rain
towards the top of Hergest Ridge. Once on the
top it was certainly pleasant walking over the
springy turf and even the rain could not spoil the
beauty of this area, although taking photographs
was not easy and, with the rain coming from the
south west, it was inevitable that during this
stretch of the walk the views to the north and west
were most photographed. Keeping the rain off
a camera lens can sometimes be a real problem.
Nearing the top of Hergest Ridge - the first ascent
of the day.
A good sign to show us the way.
Lovely scenery - just a pity about the weather.
Just after noon, almost
exactly an hour into the walk, as we started to
descend, the rain subdued a little and we took the
opportunity to sit down and have a drink and a bite
to eat. Not the most pleasant of picnics but still
very enjoyable. Was the weather getting
better? For a while the answer was yes as we
strolled off the ridge and then along the road into
Kington.
Picnic time.
A wet Kington - Can anyone see a sign for Offa's
Dyke?
So often on walks the most difficult part of
navigating is finding the start of the route from a
built up area or, in the case of today’s walk, when
you reach a built up area and the path signs
vanish. And this is what happened in
Kington. But it was very interesting.
After Peter and Larry had made some purchases in a
local shop we allowed Larry to guide us out of the
town, and we went the wrong way. So Peter
took over and took us on a tour of some of the
pleasant little alleyways of the town, which would
have put us on the correct route if we had wanted
the Mortimer Trail, another local walking
route. This Offa’s Dyke Path certainly seemed
elusive so I asked a couple of local ladies the
way. We were directed through more alleyways and
backwaters until we finally found an Offa’s Dyke
Sign, followed it and, having crossed a the main
road (A44) ,it was uphill once more.
An elusive Offa's Dyke Path sign.
Peter and Mick before crossing the A44 and it's
stopped raining
Almost at the top of
this second ascent of the day I was surprised to
see we crossed the eastern edge of a Golf Club -
Kington Golf Club at Bradnor Green. It
certainly seemed a very elevated and windy location
for such a facility. Needless to say today no
one was spied hitting or even considering hitting a
golf ball.
A Larry picture of some of the sheep near Rushock
Hill.
Our route continued
along a reasonably well signposted northwards track
over sheep fields until we did a sharp left turn on
Rushock Hill and headed westwards and saw evidence
of Offa’s Dyke for the very first time - there was
a very obvious embankment “running” alongside our
path.
Near the top of Rushock Hill
A Larry view of the Offa's Dyke embankment
Another view along the Offa's Dyke embankment on
Rushock Hill
As we continued westwards, although the weather was
still making the views very “grey”, I was able to
take some photographs looking towards Wales before
the heavens opened and my camera was quickly hidden
from the elements.
A grey view taken by Larry before the rains arrived
once more.
Soon afterwards, looming out of the mist in front
of us was Herrock Hill and I was a little
concerned. Having come of Rushock Hill we had
lost a considerable amount of height and it looked
as if it had to be regained. However,
although the approach made it look as if another
climb was on the menu the actual route was north, a
very obvious downhill path that skirted the east
side and then the north side of the hill.
However, the constant rain had made the path slippy
and so for the first time on the walk my walking
poles were used to help reduce the likelihood of an
undignified meeting with the ground.
Herrock Hill- our path was actually to the right of
the hill.
The path that descended to the east and north side
of Herrock Hill.
Further down the path off Herrock Hill
Having successfully got
to the bottom of the hill we reached the B4362 and
having turned right along it in a few metres we
entered Powys.
Mick and Larry - and it's raining again - we're
reached Wales.
We continued along the road and about a ¼ mile
further on at Ditchyeld Bridge we took a lane on
the left and at the first footpath on the right we
ascended once more.
Ditchyeld Bridge
This third climb was very easy compared with the
previous two and although, having crossed a narrow
lane, it was still uphill it was easy and
interesting walking. After the lane the route
went along a high embankment – another very obvious
part of Offa’s Dyke - with a large ditch on the
left and, although in parts in contained water, it
was very reminiscent of the sort of sunken lanes
that we have seen in the Cotswolds. It was
also along this stretch of the walk that we had
good views of the hills to the west of our
route. Very shapely they looked even through
the rain which had been more or less a constant
drizzle since we had entered Powys.
On the Dyke Again and a very obvious ditch and
embankment.
Shapley Welsh Hillls seen through the drizzle
A little bit further on
before leaving Offa’s Dyke and heading down a lane
westwards to Evenjobb we passed some cows on our
left. However, for once Larry did not seem
frightened of them. Probably as he was
separated from them by a well maintained barbed
wire fence.
The group of cows that seemed interested in Larry
Larry, Peter and Mick walking towards Evenjobb
Once on the lane, with high banks either side, it
was only a few minutes before we reached Peter’s
Car and a return trip to Gladestry and farewells to
Peter before Larry and I headed home with Mick.
Hergest Ridge from Gladestry
Although the rain was
never torrential, it had been a wet, but a very
enjoyable, day. However on a day with better
visibility it would be superb. Maybe we will
make another visit sometime.
I understand, from Peter and Larry, that the total
distance walked was approximately 11 miles.
The map used was the Ordnance Survey Explorer Map
No 201 – Knighton and Presteigne. For more
information on Offa's Dyke visit the Offa's Dyke Association
Website