Llandrinio Walk 8. Carry on through the gate and follow the 11. Take care now as you will be crossing the footpath as it curves around to the left. You road and taking the pavement to the left, away are now following the Severn Way and walking from the bridge. Follow the pavement towards A circular walk around the village of atop what is known locally as “the argae”, a the church. As you near the church you will see Llandrinio along sections of the Severn Welsh word for dam/dyke. The argae is a that the pavement crosses the road again. Way and Offa’s Dyke Path, with views crucial part of the local flood defences. All of Visibility is good but take care. the land around you is part of the of the Breidden Hills flood plain and is completely covered in water 12. Llandrinio Church is dedicated to the Saints when the river floods. It’s hard to imagine Trinio, Peter and Paul, and was thought to have when the river is low. The River Severn ( Afon originally been a wooden structure dating back Hafren in Welsh) is Britain’s longest river at 210 to the 6th Century. The present-day church and miles. Follow this well-defined path through churchyard are lovely tranquil places to visit. If several fields staying on top of the argae. you have time, take a tour of the churchyard. The building to the side of the churchyard is the 9. As you follow the Severn Way look up to old primary school. Cross the road again to the take in the view of Rodney’s Pillar. The pavement. monument was built by the gentlemen of who supplied the oak to build 13. You are on the homeward straight now; stay Admiral Rodney’s naval fleet in Bristol. The on the pavement as you walk into the village pillar sits atop , an extinct passing the Punch Bowl Pub on your right and volcano. Part of the hill is a quarry and the the many old properties and new developments dramatic quarry face can be easily seen. There reflecting the history of the village. has been a quarry here since 1866. Sometimes blasting can be heard as they blast out the hard igneous rock, basalt. Most of this rock is 14. You have arrived back by the shop and used for road construction. petrol station; maybe have a browse for a bargain in the 50:50 shed shop then cross over to the car park. 10. As you approach the end of this section of the walk along the Severn Way you will see Llandrinio Bridge which was built in 1775. There has been a river crossing at this point This walk is one of a series of since Roman times and it is thought that the trails developed by Girlguiding road would once have been a turnpike road Montgomeryshire as part of a with tolls being collected to allow you to cross. wellbeing initiative to get Look carefully to the left of the bridge, under outdoors and enjoy nature. the shrubbery… can you see an old pill box disguised to look like a farm building? It’s positioned there to protect the road, should an The walk promotes our varied and beautiful invasion occur! countryside in peaceful surroundings. Look out for other trails from Girlguiding units around the county.

Please keep dogs on leads and leave gates as you find them. More walking trails, including • 4.5 miles ( 7.5 km) Welsh language versions, can be found at • Easy, mainly off-road www.girlguidingmontgomeryshire.org.uk • 1.5 - 2 hours 4. Once you are on the Dyke turn left and follow Offa’s Dyke Path towards the road. Offa’s Dyke is a large earthwork whose construction is believed to have been ordered by King Offa of Mercia in the DIRECTIONS 8th Century. It is estimated that it would originally START have been 20m wide and 8m high. Its probable intention was to divide Offa’s Kingdom of Mercia Start at Llandrinio Village Hall, postcode from the rival kingdoms in what is now . SY22 6SB . There is plenty of parking here. 1. With the Village Hall in front of you walk to the right-hand side of the building and towards the B4393. Cross over the road and you will find 5. Take care crossing the road here even though Difficulty: Easy, flat and mainly off-road. there is excellent visibility. Distance: 7.5 km approx. 1.5 – 2hours. yourself at the fantastic local village shop. An opportunity to stock up on supplies if needed! Walk to the far right-hand corner of the car park just 6. Continue to follow Offa’s Dyke Path. There are past the 50:50 shed shop and you will see the first often sheep or cattle in the next few fields, and gate with footpath signage. seeing the lambs in spring is a delight. Looking into the distance ahead, you can see the outline of the INTRODUCTION Breidden Hills with Rodney’s Pillar on the summit. 2. Follow the footpath around the edge of the Keep following the footpath until the field field until you come to another gate on your right. boundary of the last field is reached. Cross the An easy circular walking route around the village Ignore this gate and carry on for a further 75 paces stream/boggy area and carry on around the hedge of Llandrinio within the River Severn floodplain, where the footpath bears off to the left on a boundary to the lane, following the path signage. close to the English border. The walk is mainly bearing of 300 degrees (WNW). Follow the footpath on agricultural land with some pavement on this bearing across the field until you reach a sections along B4393. Stout shoes footbridge in the corner of the field. Cross the 7. Arriving at the fingerpost by the lane, follow its recommended! Remember to leave gates as you bridge and follow the direction of the signage direction, cross the lane and go through the double find them, keep dogs on a lead and respect any straight across the next field, keeping an eye on gates and yard of Nea Brook House. Please leave crops or livestock you may encounter. the fingerpost and gate straight ahead. the gates as you find them. Staying close to the left-hand side of the yard, follow the track going in Your route takes you along sections of the front of the farm house and through the first gate. Severn Way, following Britain’s longest river, 3. Cross the road and turn right. Stay on the Continue along this grassy track until you reach the plus Offa’s Dyke Path, King Offa’sth 8 Century pavement until you get to the lane (approx 35m). second gate and follow the footpath. Again, you earth mound defences, and takes in views of the Turn left down this lane. Towards the end of this are walking along Offa’s Dyke Path. This tree-lined Breidden Hills with Rodney’s Pillar at their lane you will see a fingerpost and gate.Going footpath is glorious in spring with all the primroses summit. through this gate you can see the line of Offa’s blooming. Let yourself imagine what it would have Dyke in the distance. It is an elongated earth been like to be constructing, walking or defending mound. Head towards it in a SW direction. this stretch of the Dyke in the 8th Century.