town was largely destroyed by the troops of Owain Glyndŵr in 1402. It was rebuilt and prospered once more on the proceeds of the wool trade and from its strategic position on the crossroads of two cattle drovers’ routes – one from Montgomery to Hereford; the other from Aberystwyth to the markets of London and southern England.
The coming of the railway was more a result of industrial Swansea’s need for transport links with the Midlands than of Knighton’s importance, but it added greater prosperity well into the 20th century.
From the car park behind Knighton’s Offa’s Dyke Centre take the marked footpath across grassland. Fork right on the signed Offa’s Dyke route then go down some steps to the banks of the River Teme. Follow the riverside path through woods at first then across meadowland. Cross the river on a footbridge next to a railway bridge, then turn left to cross the railway with care.
Knucklas seen from Panpunton Hill
Through a gate on the far side the signed Offa’s Dyke path veers away from the river to a lane-side gate. Through another gate across the road the path begins its steep ascent of Panpunton Hill. Take the sunken right fork or the paths along its rim, ignoring confusing little paths to the left.
Once out of the woods the path becomes grassy, flanked by bracken and with Kinsley Wood to the right. As you approach trees near the top of the hill turn left, still following Offa’s Dyke path waymarkers. The clear path traverses the high slopes of the hillside with the Offa’s Dyke earthworks lying the other side of the fence. Beyond a gate the path comes to a viewpoint on the high shoulder of Panpunton Hill. There’s a conveniently sited seat dedicated to Frank Noble and a small cairn dedicated to Roy Waters. Both men were highly instrumental in bringing the Offa’s Dyke project to fruition.
The path continues alongside the line of the dyke and across high fields. After crossing a stony track, an undulating path by pine woods rounds the deep hollow of Cwm Sanaham to reach a four-way path junction. You will return to this spot, but first the route tackles its high point of the day, Cwm-sanaham Hill. The Offa’s Dyke path wanted is the narrow one arcing left as it climbs to reach the summit trig point. From here you can trace Offa’s Dyke over Llanfair Hill and look back over local hills to those of the Radnor Forest and the Black Mountains.
Return to the path junction and turn left (north) on an ascending unsurfaced vehicle track. After 120m double back right, passing some outbuildings. Follow a field path with a fence to the right across three fields. In the third field there is no path on the ground but by keeping straight ahead you will come to a bridleway coming in from the right. This is hidden by trees until the last few metres. Turn left through a gate.
The way is enclosed at first but as it squeezes between two conifer copses it veers slightly left away from a fence on the right (an arrow highlights this deviation) and descends fields as a faint track.
A waymarker post at the bottom of the field marks the start of another enclosed grassy path, which comes to the busy A488 at Five Turnings. Across the road follow a stony track to the right of Five Turnings Farm. After about a mile leave the track for a marked path through a gate on the right. After 60m go left through a kissing gate, following a hedge on the left – the fields may well have crops in them.
Beyond a deep hollow on the right (the one with Lurkenhope Farm at the bottom) the path goes over a stile on the left and angles south-east across fields. At the bottom of the first large field a faint grooved track comes in from the left and leads through a waymarked gate. Through this turn right past sheepfolds and go straight ahead through the farm gate at the end of the folds (not the one on the right). The path now follows the hedge-line on the right and the route soon becomes an easy-to-follow track with stunning views of the Teme Valley down to Ludlow.
On the path descending to Stowe and the Teme Valley
Where the stony track forks right go straight on along a grass track, but before you reach the tiny hamlet of Stowe turn right through the left of two farm gates at SO 309 735. The stony track you’ve just left descends to the same point. The signed bridleway follows the left-hand field-edges as it descends gently back to the A488.
Go over a stile on the far side of the busy road. A little footbridge ahead sets the direction of the path, which comes to another stile into Kinsley Wood, not far from the main road on the left. Some steps take the route to a forestry track. Turn left along this towards the road but then fork right on a very pleasant forestry path, which meets the A488 road by Knighton railway station.
Following the pavement that takes you safely into the town, turn left beyond the station and cross the bridge over the River Teme, then turn right at the T-junction with Broad Street in the town centre. Broad Street climbs past the shops and the clock tower onto West Street, which leads back to the Offa’s Dyke centre.
WALK 3
Mary Knoll and Ludlow
| Start/Finish | The Buttercross, Ludlow town centre (SO 511 746) |
| Distance | 4¾ miles (7.7km) |
| Total ascent | 918ft (280m) |
| Grade | Easy |
| Time | 2½hr |
| Terrain | Field paths, easy gradients on forest tracks and country lanes |
| Map | OS Explorer 203 – Ludlow Tenbury Wells & Cleobury Mortimer |
| Refreshments | Wide selection of cafés and inns in Ludlow |
| Parking | Upper Galdeford (Somerfield) and Lower Galdeford (Smithfield), all pay and display, or there’s a park-and-ride off the A49 by-pass. |
This half-day walk discovers historic Ludlow, its half-timbered houses, fine sandstone church, its castle and two fine stone bridges before taking to the pastures of Ludford, where you might see blood-red poppies among the golden wheat. Easy forest tracks then take you up into the hills of the Mortimer Forest before easing back down towards Ludlow. The views of the town, the River Teme and its castle from Whitcliffe are spectacular, and as you cross Dinham Bridge you can finish the walk in style in the riverside gardens of the Green Café.
Make your way to the Buttercross at the head of Broad Street and where King Street meets High Street in the centre of Ludlow. The 18th-century stone building has a large pillared entrance and an ornate clock tower. With your back to the building, go straight ahead down Broad Street before passing beneath the arches of Broad Gate. Continue down Broad Street to cross the Chorlton Bridge on the B4361.
The road leads uphill past the Chorlton Arms. After 600m fork right along the tarred drive of Mabbits Horn (house), ignoring the right fork track. Beyond the house the drive becomes a stony path that leads beyond a kissing gate into fields. The continuing path follows the field-edge hedge on the right. Take the right fork beyond Hucksbarn, a farm and certified campsite on the left; this hedge-lined grassy track gradually rakes up the hillside between fields often laid with cereal crops.
Beyond the cottage of Starvecrow the track becomes more prominent and climbs to the afforested brow of the
