Telephone: +44 (0) 1722 322 652 Email: [email protected]

England and Wales: Welsh Borders (3 nights) Offa's Dyke and the Marches

https://www.onfootholidays.co.uk/routes/england-and-wales-welsh-borders/england-and-wales-welsh-borders-3-nights/

Route Summary

At a glance

Welsh Borders 3-night option (2 days walking). The shortest version of the walk. Add extra nights in any town (Hay-on-Wye recommended).

How much walking?

Full days: 22-26km per day, 6-7 hrs walking Using shortening options: 13-17km per day, 3½-4½ hrs walking using luggage taxis.

Max. Grade:

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Offa’s Dyke, the 80 mile long earthwork for centuries marking the border between England and Wales, follows a route which makes best use of the topography, running along ridge tops between (formerly) fortified valley towns. The result is some splendidly scenic walking. In the section that we have chosen for our walking, the two walks (at 22km and 26km respectively) will shake out decisively the cobwebs that may have developed during lockdown (though we offer shortening options too).

Less well known than the Dyke are the pretty little Marcher towns, settled around a castle to police the sometimes unruly frontier. Knighton, Kington and Hay-on-Wye are all historic, charming and friendly, with excellent eating and drinking in pubs and restaurants.

Our choice of Hay-on-Wye as the destination for this walk needs no apologies. Its world famous annual literary festival is matched by an astonishing number of independent second-hand bookshops of all sizes, giving limitless browsing opportunities for the walking booklover. The owners will send home your serendipitous finds anywhere in the world, unless you can’t resist taking your cherished volume down to the banks of the gentle River Wye for a lazy afternoon in the sun.

Route Highlights

● Offa’s Dyke, marking the 8th century border between England and Wales ● The world famous literary town of Hay-on-Wye ● Spectacular unspoilt and little-known hill country

We Recommend

Extra nights along the route, particularly at Hay-on-Wye - a must for the booklover.

Grading

Full days: 22-26km per day, 6-7 hrs walking Using shortening options: 13-17km per day, 3½-4½ hrs walking using luggage taxis.

page 2/6 Well marked national trails in the main. Highest point on route 450m. Easy underfoot.

Hard: Average Cumulative Uphill Stretches (CUSs) 775m per day

Medium: CUSs 490m per day using shortening options; further shortening possible by arrangement.

GPS file available for handheld or smartphone App.

Important note: Times given for each day are walking times for an “average” walker and exclude stops. “CUSs” stands for “Cumulative Uphill Stretches” and measures the aggregated ascents in each day, expressed in metres of climb. See “Walk Grading” for more information.

When to go

The best months to walk: late April, May, June, September, October

Other possible months: March, early April, July, August, November

This route is bookable throughout the spring, summer and autumn, though not during the Hay Festival period in late May/early June. Avoid the summer holidays if possible (but we can always try for you); summer weekends may necessitate a two night stay in some accommodations.

Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrive in Knighton

Arrive at this charming little town (with its own railway station) and settle into your comfortable accommodation; stressful question - where to eat?

Day 2 - Knighton to Kington

A day of ups and downs criss-crossing the English/Welsh border from golf course to golf course! The route takes in hilltops with wide views across a predominantly rural landscape (more sheep than you could ever imagine) and meandering river valleys, never far from Offa’s Dyke. (Hard: 5¾ hrs (allow 7¾ hrs), 22 kms, CUSs 820m)

Alternative: Lift (pre-arranged, supplement) to start at Dolley Green (Medium: 3½ hrs (allow 4¾ hrs), 13kms, CUSs 600m)

Day 3 - Kington to Hay

A long but majestic final day, starting west along the mighty Hergest Ridge to tiny , before the path turns south to cross the little River Arrow at Newchurch. One more bump to scale, then a gentle descent to the Wye valley and your triumphant entry into Hay-on-Wye. (Hard: 7 hrs walking (allow 8+), 26km, CUSs 750m).

Alternative: Take a lift with the luggage (small supplement) as far as Gladestry, avoiding Hergest (Medium: 4½ hrs, 17km, CUSs 450m)

page 3/6 Travel Information

ARRIVING BY AIR The best “local” airports are Cardiff, Bristol or Birmingham. Intercontinental flights use London airports or Manchester.

Flight information can change rapidly and not all flights run daily. Please do check directly with the airlines’ websites or Skyscanner (see below) before finalising any booking with us. Do not book your flights until we have confirmed that we have provisionally reserved accommodation for you.

For up-to-date schedules and flights from all airports check Skyscanner.

BRISTOL, BIRMINGHAM or CARDIFF AIRPORTS Land by: 16:00 for shuttle + train to Ludlow (c. 2 hrs) Return flight earliest: 16:00 for train connections from Hereford

HEATHROW AIRPORT Land by: 14:00 for shuttle to Reading + train to Ludlow (c. 3 hrs). Return flight earliest: 16:00 for train connections from Hereford

MANCHESTER AIRPORT Land by: 16:00 for shuttle + train to Ludlow (c. 2½ hrs) Return flight earliest: 16:30 for train connections from Hereford

See “Getting to the start of the walk” below for transfer information.

Getting to the start of the walk

ARRIVING BY TRAIN Nearest railway station: Start: Knighton (15 minute walk to accommodation, local taxis available by pre-booking) Finish: Hereford station by bus (1 hr) from Hay-on-Wye (or prebookable taxi – supplement)

ARRIVING BY CAR Very limited on-street parking in Knighton or Hay-on-Wye (or use JustPark App); pre-bookable taxi between Hay-on-Wye/Knighton.

page 4/6 Where You'll Stay

Accommodation throughout the route consists mainly of B&Bs or pubs-with-rooms, varying in sophistication. Upgrades are available throughout the route.

Night 1 Knighton – The Red Lion (B&B)

The delightful rooms and welcome belie a somewhat forbidding exterior. Popular restaurant and bar.

Night 2 Kington – The Swan (B&B)

A fine old inn (with good restaurant) under new ownership that promises much for the future.

Night 3 Hay-on-Wye – Old Black Lion (B&B)

Characterful inn of great history and quality, with an excellent kitchen.

We can also offer two upgrade hotels in Hay-on-Wye: the tiny, but gorgeous Radnor House (below left), particularly good for extra nights as it is run by keen walkers who’ll be eager to hear your experiences and offer their suggestions for additional walking in the area; and The Swan at Hay (below right), an independent hotel in a Georgian building with a good choice of rooms and facilities.

page 5/6 Prices

Price: £430

Total 3 nights in double/twin room, all breakfasts, luggage transfers between all hotels on walking route; full Walkers Pack with route directions, maps, transfer and background information; local telephone support.

All prices are per person unless otherwise indicated, and are based on a standard booking in May. Prices may vary seasonally and a fixed price will be given to you before you commit.

Single Room Supplement (SRS): From £120 Lone Traveller Additional Supplement (LTAS): From £100 Large Party Saving (LPS): Groups of more than 2 people (on an identical itinerary, on the same booking and booked at the same time) – discount of at least £10 per person Maximum party size: 8

Add Ons

Upgrade accommodation possible on some nights: Contact On Foot. Extra nights in any hotel: Contact On Foot Holidays

Taxi from Shrewsbury to Bishop's Castle: Call us for details. Taxi from Hay-on-Wye to Hereford: Call us for details.

Sending Walkers' Packs to addresses outside the UK: £10-£40 (per pack, location dependent)

On Foot Holidays Telephone: +44 (0) 1722 322 652 Griffin House, Malthouse Lane, Email: [email protected] Salisbury, SP2 7RF,

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