Walton to Kington - Offa Hoppa Walk 1

The 461/462 from Hereford and Kington to Llandrindod Wells will drop you at The Crown, Crossroads, Walton. From the entrance to The Crown turn right to walk on the lane up to Old Radnor. Look for a green track to the left of the war memorial up to Old Radnor Church and the Harp Inn. There’s also a great viewpoint across the Radnor valley to the hills of Radnor Forest.

Go right to pass by the church to a junction. Turn left and follow this to the end of the village. Look for a path leading off left, by a signpost (pointing to the right, confusingly) and opposite a stile. The path climbs to a wood and heads slightly right below a summit. Keep ahead through gorse and bracken and then the path veers slightly left to descend slowly to run behind cottages to a lane. The views down the Back Brook valley are superb. Go right on the lane and follow this to Burlingjobb, turning left at the first junction, keeping ahead at the second and turning right over the stone bridge at the third. The road leads to the B4594 which you cross into Hanter Lane.

Immediately cross a stile on the right into a field. Turn left and walk ahead to go over a stile and footbridge. Head slightly left across the next field to cross a stile beneath hawthorn bushes and then head slightly left again and keep close to the hedge on your left to exit at the end of the field by way of a gate with a house to your left.

Go through a gate on the right on a track and then immediately cut left to climb the left one of two paths up a grassy bank to a junction. Go left at the waymark post and follow this track up the valley side, passing a cottage and other buildings on the right. Continue to climb with a fence to the left and then more steeply as the track bends right. At the fork keep right and rise up to a stand of coniferous trees.

This is a crossroads as shown by the finger post. Go left to climb again up the hillside. There are exceptional views to the left across to Herrock and Bradnor Hills and beyond. Keep left at the fork near the top. Continue in the same direction across the old race track, passing a large glacial boulder (The Whetstone) on your left to reach Offa’s Dyke Path at a fingerpost and information post (about The Whetstone) near monkey puzzle trees. Hergest Ridge is steeped in legend and was chronicled in the Red Book of Hergest associated with Hergest Court. Go left and follow the ODP; soon there are two parallel grassy paths; take either as they join up later as they descend across Hergest Common to a gate and tarmac road. Keep ahead but look for a junction where a bridleway cuts off right. Go along here to pass by Haywood Farm through two barred gates.

Stay on the track as it bends right and left down the hillside until a lane joins from the right. Continue through a gate next to a cattle grid along a lane to reach a cottage where the road bends left and right. Leave the lane by going ahead by a second cottage to cross a stile and head down to cross another onto a road. Turn right to walk to the entrance of Hergest Mill where you go very sharp left along a path behind the buildings you’ve just passed. Go through three kissing gates and ahead across the sports ground to a cottage. Go through a kissing gate there and ahead again along a tree lined access road. This gives out at a gate leading onto Mill Street.

Continue ahead back to the bus stops and Kington town centre.