Offa’s Dyke – walking on the Dyke (760AD)

On Offa's Dyke itself

We had just left the Kington Golf Course – the highest in Britain and began our walk up the hills. The cold wind picked up again on these exposed slopes. We were now walking across high fields with increasing winds. It was difficult to see the next signpost and we became separated. I saw Carol diverge and called after her, but with the strong wind against me my shouts were drowned out. I dropped my pack and ran after her as she got further and further away.  I managed to catch her up and we returned to where I had left my pack.

From then on we made sure that we would remain in visual contact. The ferocity of the wind made for difficult communication, so we resorted to hand signals to communicate any changes in direction.

On Rushock Hill we came upon another section of the Dyke and followed it along until the path swerved off near an adjoining hill. It felt unusual to be walking on the remains of this ancient earthwork, now diminished by centuries of weathering.

I imagined the Saxon workers and slaves as they laboured, digging and heaping the soil to create the huge, long earthwork that ultimately delineated the border between Saxon Mercia and the ancient Britons or Wealch as the Saxons called them.

  “All praise then to King Offa and those
  who built this mighty earthwork – long since dead.
  His name lives on in hearts and minds of those
  Who once again in Offa’s footsteps tread.”
   – H.Edwards.

We were fairly high up here (around 340m 1200 ft) and as we rounded Rushock Hill a pass between it and Herrock Hill allowed a magnificent view over a valley with the buildings of Lower Harton clustered around a brook. And to the southwest a panorama over the Radnor Valley. We descended through fields dotted with sheep and reaching the bridge near the farms, had a rest.

The path followed the B4362 and again we were careful to minimise our exposure to passing traffic. At the T intersection we walked across Ditchyeld Bridge a 17th century construction listed as “of historic interest”. Current traffic was routed over the modern bridge alongside it.

We still had some way to our night’s accommodation at Discoed.

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