10-12 Knighton

Here‘s an ‘Offa’ you can’t refuse, from Roger Butler, involving moorland, rolling escarpments and historic drove tracks...

Knighton sits slap-bang on the England-Wales border and, down by the banks of the babbling River Teme, it’s quite easy to stand with a boot in each country. King Offa dug this steeply undulating land, and today Knighton is often called ‘the town on the dyke’. One of the best parts of the original earthwork runs north-west over a roller coaster of dips and escarpments, while the empty moors above Knucklas form a fine breezy horseshoe that peaks on top of Beacon Hill. In contrast, the open pasture on the huge whaleback known as Stow Hill seems to go on forever. Many old tracks are still here and, apart from a few forested bits, the panoramic views haven’t changed much either.

TRANSPORT

Knighton is conveniently located on the Mid Wales Line, and short hops on the train provide access to many of the nearby hills

PUBS/GRUB

The Red Lion, Knighton (01547) 428080; Castle Inn, Knucklas (01547) 528150; The Baron, Bucknell (01547) 530549

ACCOMMODATION

Panpwnton campsite, half a mile out of Knighton (01547) 528112; Lower Skyborry B&B run by walkers (01547) 528834; for plenty of other options see www.offasdyke.demon.co.uk

PRACTICALITIES

Knighton has all the facilities you need: small supermarkets, individual shops, petrol, banks and post office

LOCAL INFO

Offa’s Dyke Centre and Knighton Tourist Info (01547) 528753

Looking north over the Beacon Hill horseshoe The view west from Offa’s Dyke over the steep slopes of Cwm-sanaham Hill to the high moorland above Knucklas.