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Home , Beacons Way, Castell Dinas, Herefordshire Trail, Mortimer Trail, National Trails, Old Oswestry

just a little different as a place to go walking. go to place a as different little a just

between England and is no exception, making it it making exception, no is Wales and England between

www.-welshborders.org.uk www.exploremidwales.co.uk www.nationaltrail.co.uk/offasdyke www.shropshirehillsaonb.co.uk www.clwydianrangeanddeevalley.org.uk an aura of intrigue, myth and mystery, and the one one the and mystery, and myth intrigue, of aura an

transport heritage. Borders between countries have have countries between Borders heritage. transport

Beacons Way and . Severn and Way Beacons

Radnor and the spectacular dams at the Elan Valley. Elan the at dams spectacular the and Radnor Valley; climb Moel Famau or cross the Eglwyseg Escarpment. Escarpment. Eglwyseg the cross or Famau Moel climb Valley; follow the Way and Walking with Offa pub walks. pub Offa with Walking and Way Shropshire the follow

mosses and Whittington Castle. Whittington and mosses

honeypots and fascinating relics of our industrial and and industrial our of relics fascinating and honeypots

Glyndwˆ rs Way, the Walk, Walk, Valley Wye the Way, rs Glyndwˆ k al w lso A Limeworks, waterfalls at Water Break its Neck at New New at Neck its Break Water at waterfalls Limeworks,

Loggerheads and the dramatic limestone cliffs of the Alyn Alyn the of cliffs limestone dramatic the and Loggerheads Stiperstones National Nature Reserve. For some excellent walking walking excellent some For Reserve. Nature National Stiperstones

heritage railways, Shropshire’s meres and and meres Shropshire’s railways, heritage

lso visit visit lso A

fortresses, some of the UK’s first picturesque tourist tourist picturesque first UK’s the of some fortresses,

Llangollen and Prestatyn. Prestatyn. and Llangollen Llanymynech foods. local mouth-watering on lso visit visit lso A Plas Newydd and Valle Crucis Abbey; Abbey; Crucis Valle and Newydd Plas Stokesay Castle, Mitchell’s Fold Stone Circle, Circle, Stone Fold Mitchell’s Castle, Stokesay lso visit visit lso A lso visit visit lso A

studded with ancient hill forts, tiny churches, castles, castles, churches, tiny forts, hill ancient with studded Montgomery, , Oswestry, Oswestry, Welshpool, Montgomery, captivate your imagination with the stories, before filling up up filling before stories, the with imagination your captivate ride over for tremendous views of the Dee Valley. Dee the of views tremendous for over ride Offa’s Dyke. Offa’s borders, shrub and rock gardens. rock and shrub borders,

on-Wye, Kington, , Knighton, Knighton, Presteigne, Kington, on-Wye, are all at your fingertips. Cafes and eateries line the streets, so so streets, the line eateries and Cafes fingertips. your at all are towns where you can rest, sleep and eat. The area is is area The eat. and sleep rest, can you where towns the aqueduct, a World Heritage Site, or take a leisurely boat boat leisurely a take or Site, Heritage World a aqueduct, the Llanfair Hill to see one of the best preserved sections of of sections preserved best the of one see to Hill Llanfair clipped yews, herbaceous herbaceous yews, clipped

including: , , Hay- Monmouth, Chepstow, including: the history of King Offa and the stories of the impressive dyke dyke impressive the of stories the and Offa King of history the can you do it without looking down? You can walk across across walk can You down? looking without it do you can sample the local delights in one of the cafes or pubs. Climb Climb pubs. or cafes the of one in delights local the sample counties. Its gardens contain contain gardens Its counties. stunning views, hidden villages and historic market market historic and villages hidden views, stunning

through or near many fascinating towns towns fascinating many near or through The home of the Offa’s Dyke Centre where where Centre Dyke Offa’s the of home The Dare you cross it? And And it? cross you Dare Knighton Knighton of a medieval castle by the river Clun. Enjoy a picnic or or picnic a Enjoy Clun. river the by castle medieval a of commands views over nine nine over views commands t c quedu A ysyllte c Pont Throughout these lush and undulating borderlands are are borderlands undulating and lush these Throughout

The passes passes Trail The the buildings in this bustling town. bustling this in buildings the ns ns w to c istori H canal and outstanding views from Llanymynech Rocks. Rocks. Llanymynech from views outstanding and canal

at the heart of Clun stand the ruins ruins the stand Clun of heart the at fortress with its round towers towers round its with fortress

Clun Castle Castle Clun

Irresistible

. a Off it call We

constantly changing landscape awaits you. awaits landscape changing constantly carve the impressive architecture of of architecture impressive the carve kiln; interesting walks with tramways, sculptures, wildlife, wildlife, sculptures, tramways, with walks interesting kiln; cakes at the Bog Visitor Centre. Visitor Bog the at cakes This imposing Marcher Marcher imposing This

hills, dramatic heather clad uplands, a a uplands, clad heather dramatic hills, and the stories encased in stone that that stone in encased stories the and with its enormous Hoffman Hoffman enormous its with Blakemoorgate and enjoy homemade homemade enjoy and Blakemoorgate

Castle k Chir

Beauty and a National Park. National a and Beauty

Park . Riverside meadows, peaceful rolling rolling peaceful meadows, Riverside . Park the delights of the farmers markets markets farmers the of delights the restored Victorian limeworks limeworks Victorian restored visit the restored miners cottages at at cottages miners restored the visit a favourite with Victorian travellers. travellers. Victorian with favourite a

passes through three Areas of Outstanding Natural Natural Outstanding of Areas three through passes

Valley; plus the Beacons National National Beacons Brecon the plus Valley; of hills, valleys and rivers. Discover Discover rivers. and valleys hills, of The The Europe. Explore Snailbeach Mine, Mine, Snailbeach Explore Europe. crossroad of North Wales was a centre for cattle drovers and and drovers cattle for centre a was Wales North of crossroad h c yne m lany L

of the dyke, built by King Offa in 757 to 796 AD, and and AD, 796 to 757 in Offa King by built dyke, the of Shropshire Hills and Clwydian Range/Dee Range/Dee Clwydian and Hills Shropshire in the middle of a rolling landscape landscape rolling a of middle the in ditches. ditches. here were the most productive in in productive most the were here routes from London to Holyhead and Chester to Bala, this this Bala, to Chester and Holyhead to London from routes

Offa’s Dyke Path National Trail takes the line of much much of line the takes Trail National Path Dyke Offa’s travels through three AONBS: Wye Valley, Valley, Wye AONBS: three through travels A market town town market A huge earthwork ramparts and and ramparts earthwork huge Presteigne Presteigne tell of a time when the lead mines mines lead the when time a of tell River Dee and the Berwyn Mountains. The focus of ancient ancient of focus The Mountains. Berwyn the and Dee River

The Trail Trail The learn and imagine your own story. own your imagine and learn es p a c lands tunning S who want to experience something a bit different. different. bit a something experience to want who is an impressive structure with with structure impressive an is ruined engine houses and tall chimneys chimneys tall and houses engine ruined the between set is town market little This en w Cor

perfect backdrop for you to discover, discover, to you for backdrop perfect birthplace of Queen Guinevere, Guinevere, Queen of birthplace form the England/Wales border today. border England/Wales the form Valley. Dee the explore to places best the famous Offa’s Dyke, it is attracting walkers and visitors visitors and walkers attracting is it Dyke, Offa’s famous h c ea b nail S and Bog he T

and legends, the castle provides the the provides castle the legends, and , thought to be the the be to thought Hillfort, walking opportunities. opportunities. walking of one it made has Bran Dinas what is now Wales, and some sections still still sections some and Wales, now is what And with a National Trail following the route of the the of route the following Trail National a with And

to beat. Soaked in history, myth myth history, in Soaked beat. to

Common. Old Oswestry Oswestry Old Common. lively events and festivals and the great great the and festivals and events lively Castell of crag the by over A boundary structure to divide from from Mercia divide to structure boundary A a truly unique place to visit. visit. to place unique truly a

perfect little Georgian town, is hard hard is town, Georgian little perfect Walk or picnic at Racecourse Racecourse at picnic or Walk the town hall promotes the town’s town’s the promotes hall town the watched and hills by encircled

ancient Anglo- Saxon kingdom of Mercia. Mercia. of kingdom Saxon Anglo- ancient scenery and fascinating attractions that make the area area the make that attractions fascinating and scenery

Castle sitting on a crag overlooking a a overlooking crag a on sitting Castle shops and bustling markets. markets. bustling and shops A new (2014) Information Centre in in Centre Information (2014) new A Dee, river rushing the by was built by command of King Offa of the the of Offa King of command by built was

England and Wales, brings together a host of inspiring inspiring of host a together brings Wales, and England

romantic castles go, Montgomery Montgomery go, castles romantic

many black and white buildings, buildings, white and black many independent shops, cafes and gallery. gallery. and cafes shops, independent setting landscape picturesque This amazing hand-dug bank and ditch ditch and bank hand-dug amazing This

side of Offa’s Dyke, which forms the border between between border the forms which Dyke, Offa’s of side

As ruined As medieval market town with with town market medieval ery ery m Montgo country town with two breweries, breweries, two with town country outstanding Llangollen’s

follows the impressive Offa’s Dyke itself. itself. Dyke Offa’s impressive the follows

beaches of Prestatyn, the swathe of country either either country of swathe the Prestatyn, of beaches

Ancient, Ancient, a colourful colourful a estry estry w s O

The Trail frequently frequently Trail The ’s Castle Castle ’s p Bisho langollen L

e k y D a’s Off local produce. local

From the quaint gift shops of Chepstow to the sandy sandy the to Chepstow of shops gift quaint the From

the Montgomery Canal. Montgomery the ngland and Wales. and ngland E of borderlands taking

and the Welsh mountains. Welsh the and mouth-watering and wildlife magnificent waterfalls, wonderful landscapes. wonderful

W W B 2 T ay… w this k Wal

yke Path runs alongside alongside runs Path yke D ffa’s O and hilltops 177 mile walking route through the breath- the through route walking mile 177 bustling market towns which link the Midlands Midlands the link which towns market bustling magical boasting skies, dramatic big beneath most K’s U the of some embracing

here a canal takes flight, horses raced on on raced horses flight, takes canal a here alk through centuries of history along this iconic iconic this along history of centuries through alk e captivated by the stunning countryside and and countryside stunning the by captivated e set scenery taking breath of miles square ,000 Wales, orth N of frontier upland dramatic he

s d rlan de Bor

POWYS Natural Beauty Natural

MID WALES MID

Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Natural Outstanding of Area national trail national

Area of Outstanding of Area

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An irresistible The Black Mountains of the BrecoN Beacons An irresistible The Meeting of the Ways National Park W ye Valley Area of Outstanding OWales/FFEnglandA Natural Beauty Food Capital of Wales OFFA Wales/England Borderlands own the border spine between England and here pilgrims sought sanctuary in the green he land of the ‘Picturesque’ where, like the earliest rom the scenic Wye Valley to the ancient Black wi g th ffa’s Dyke is truly unique and Wales, where the ancient pathways link and vales, red kites soar above and Offa’s Dyke British tourists, you can wonder beside the Mountains, past castles, abbeys, market towns Borderlands n O D W T F i k f l f Walking with Offa, a cross- cross the Dyke. Path climbs the Welsh-English border ridge of the meandering river, shaded by forested cliffs and romantic and friendly villages, Monmouthshire offers a variety

a a O W border cooperation project, is working Hergest Croft Gardens with its wonderful Black Mountains. ruins, surrounded by wildlife and steeped in history. of great walks along the Offa’s Dyke Path. hard to ensure it stays that way. The collection of rhododendrons and azaleas is just one of Hay-on-Wye, Town of Books Ross-on-W ye a delightful market Chepstow Explore Chepstow project brings together strategic rural many gardens which also include Lawton Hall Herbs and a pretty market town crowned by its castle, town overlooking the Wye, the original Castle, perched above the Wye, or development and tourism bodies along the English-Welsh Westonbury Water Gardens which has the largest water studded with bookshops, and with two start point for the 18th Century ‘Wye enjoy a day at the races at Chepstow border to promote walking and sustainable tourism driven cuckoo clock in the world. National passing its doors, this vibrant, Tour’, remains a popular destination. Racecourse. The start (and finish) of and transport along either side of the Offa’s Dyke Path pretty friendly town has huge individuality and a East & West the Offa’s Dyke Path offers shops, National Trail. riverside village with the Sun growing programme of festivals, including the a unique riverside walk, cross on a crafts, and cafes as well as access to The partners, including four protected landscapes, are Inn - a rare parlour pub. Other famous Festival of Literature and the Arts. traditional hand-pulled ferry then wander many other walks. Explore working together to develop more circular walks and to market towns and villages hold literally means ‘end of the hills’. downstream, marvelling at the canoeists’ The magnificent improve access across the trail, which runs along King regular farmers’ markets, have At its historic heart, you’ll find a working flour antics in the rapids, re-crossing the river , award winning cake Discover Offa’s 8th century earthwork border, so that even more award winning butchers and mill and bakery. Nearby is Pwll y Wrach (the deep in the forested gorge on a wire at the Old Station or local Welsh visitors can enjoy the wonderful landscapes, heritage and bakers, micro breweries, cider Witches Pool), Llanelieu’s notorious whipping footbridge, before returning past early wine at Parva Farm Vineyard. Enjoy all that it has to offer along the way. makers and farm gate sales. tree and the remains of Castell Dinas – the industrial remains for refreshments in a Stunning views nearby. There are many great buses along the borderlands which Medieval castle highest castle in England and Wales. riverside pub. Monmouth Restored Georgian drop walkers off at the start of their walks. ruins at Wigmore, Skenfrith, a thriving little town on the Wye Gorge catch the 69 bus from Shire Hall, Monmouth castle and Grosmont, Ewyas Harold and Photo credits: Wales on View, Brecon Beacons National Park with Iron Age hill fort Chepstow to Tintern and return along the regimental museum (birthplace of Authority, Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB, Offa's Pembridge Castle at Welsh rising above, and the Monmouthshire and Brecon Offa’s Dyke Path National Trail through Henry V), unique medieval stone Dyke Path National Trail, County Council, Shropshire Newton. Canal meandering through the valley below. the dramatic gorge, with stunning views of Tintern Abbey bridge and independent shops all Council, Shropshire Hills AONB, Visit Herefordshire, Visit Also walk the Trail, , Family-run shops, award winning pubs and and . nestled between two rivers. Wales, Wrexham Borough Council, Wye Valley AONB. , Vaughan’s Way and many old drovers restaurants, and an enviable art and craft gallery. Also visit Monmouth - bustling historic borderland Also visit The foodie mecca of to sate the w Map: www.asduncanillustration.co.uk roads; try to catch a country show, ploughing match, Also visit Abergavenny - ‘Gateway to Wales’, the pretty market town, Old Station Tintern - award-winning it appetite you’ve built up, or walk the Monnow Valley Walk, g h n O Design: www.thinkgraphic.co.uk village fete or one of our more eccentric events such as the , Priory, Capel-y-ffin, Patricio visitor centre and café, or hire a canoe to experience the i Wye Valley Walk, . f k f l wheelbarrow race at Kington festival. a

Church or walk the or . ‘Picturesque’ on the river itself. a W

L BA O N H N www.breconbeacons.org T A www.wyevalleyaonb.org.uk www.visitwyevalley.com www.visitherefordshire.co.uk U E A includes B L

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BRECON BEACONS NATIONAL PARK Map Borderland timeline 700BC-50AD An irresistible 280 Iron Age Hills Forts established 47-410 AD Roman invasion, conquest and occupation of Wales and borders – camps and forts in many borderland 270 locations such as Ruthin, , Abergavenny, Monmouth, and Wroxeter. 757-796

OFFA 260 King Offa of Mercia’s reign Wales/England 780-790 wi Offa’s Dyke built Borderlands th g 1086 n O

i 250 f Domesday Book awarded Norman Marcher k f l a Lords lands along Welsh English Borderlands a

– they ruled the borderlands for the next five W Top Borderland centuries mountains and hills 240 1066-1400 Hatterall Ridge 700m - Brecon Beacons Many borderland castles built such as Chepstow, Monmouth, Grosmont, White Castle, Twmpa 680m - Brecon Beacons Montgomery, Powys, Chirk, Castell Dinas Bran Hay Bluff 677m - Brecon Beacons 230 1300 Black Hill 640m - Brecon Beacons Mappa Mundi created (now at Moel Fferna 630m - Berwyn Mountains – Cathedral) Clwydian Range and Dee Valley 220 1400-1409 Myndd Troed 609m - Brecon Beacons Owain Glyndwr leads series of revolts against Sugar Loaf 596m - Brecon Beacons English Crown /Edward IV Blorenge 561m - Brecon Beacons 1402 Moel Famau 554m - Clwydian Range 210 Battle of Radnorshire Glyndwr’s forces defeat English under Edmund Mortimer Brown Clee 540m - Shropshire Hills 1535/6 Stiperstones 536m - Shropshire Hills Dissolution of the monasteries – Long Mynd 516m - Shropshire Hills 200 Tintern and Valle Crucis Abbeys dissolved Corndon 513m - Powys during the Reformation. Eglwyseg Mountain 511m - Clwydian Range 1643-4 Moel Fenlli 511m - Clwydian Range Civil war siege of Brampton Bryan, 190 Skirrid 486m - Monmouthshire Herefordshire; Siege and massacre at Hopton Moel Arthur 456m - Clwydian Range Castle, Shropshire; and Battle of Montgomery, Powys, won by the Parliamentarians. Llanfair Hill 432m - Shropshire Hills

180 1782-1850 Hergest Ridge 426m - Powys/Herefordshire Wye Tour starts as a result of visits by famous Beacon Ring 408m - Powys painters like William Turner as part of the Picturesque Movement

170 1795-1812 Montgomery, Shropshire Union, Llangollen and Top Borderland Monmouthshire and Brecon Canals built 1790s-1830 Clwydian Range: 160 Ladies of Llangollen popularise visits and early Moel Arthur tourism to the Dee Valley Moel Fenlli 1801 Chirk Aqueduct built and 1805 Thomas Telford Penycloddiau 150 completes Pontcysyllte Aqueduct the highest Powys: Aqueduct in Britain Beacon Ring, near Welshpool 1850-1860s Roundton Hill, near

140 Railways reach key borderland towns Shropshire: transforming many of their economies Old Oswestry, near Oswestry and 1850-1910s Bury Ditches, near Bishops Castle Tourism develops in Welsh spa towns such as

Herefordshire: 130 and Credenhill, near Hereford 1900 Wapley Hill, near Presteigne Hoffman Kiln at the longstanding Llanymynech , near Limeworks and mines built Brecon Beacons: 120 1955 Crug Hywel, Crickhowell Snailbeach mines Shropshire, worked since Castell Dinas, near Talgarth Roman times, closed 1957 Monmouthshire: 110 Pentwyn, near Pandy Brecon Beacons National Park designated 1958 Shropshire Hills designated an AONB

100 1971 Wye Valley AONB designated Offa’s Dyke Path designated a National Trail Top 1985 Borderland 90 Clwydian Range AONB designated 2009 Castles Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal designated a Clwydian Range and Dee Valley: World Heritage Site 80 Rhuddlan 2011 Denbigh Clwydian Range AONB extended to Ruthin nclude the Dee Valley

Dinas Bran 70 Chirk Shropshire: Whittington 60 Top Shrewsbury Borderland Stokesay Abbeys, Hopton Churches Clun 50 and Priories St. Asaph Cathedral Powys: Powis Valle Crucis Abbey, 40 Montgomery near Llangollen Clifford Shrewsbury Abbey Hay-on-Wye Hereford Cathedral Herefordshire: 30 Brecon Cathedral Wigmore Croft Tintern Abbey

Pembridge 20 Longtown Goodrich Brecon Beacons: Tretower 10 Crickhowell Monmouthshire/Wye Valley: km Abergavenny OFFA'S White Castle DYKE Grosmont PATH Skenfrith HEIGHT Monmouth AND Raglan DISTANCE St Briavel’s PROFILE Chepstow