Norton to Knighton - Offa Hoppa Walk 4

The 41/461 Kington to Knighton Offa Hoppa will drop you in Norton. Start from the entrance to St Andrew’s Church, Norton. Cross the main road to walk along Mynd Road. This leaves the village and becomes a track rising up to the edge of Taylor’s Wood. Continue ahead at the junction of tracks; this leads into a pasture still rising towards Old Impton Farm seen ahead. However, before reaching the barred gate leading into the farm, go right to climb the bank, through a barred gate next to the wood.

Continue ahead along a fence to pass a barred gate and cattle grid and when the track bends left go right at the waymark post soon to reach a gate. Go through it and follow the track up to a corner where you cut left, as waymarked, to pass through another gate. Climb up through woodland to a gate leading to a pasture. Once through, head slightly right across to join Offa Dyke Path at a signpost and gate in the far corner. The views on this section of the walk are spectacular-across to the Lugg Valley and Radnor Forest. Do not go through the gate. Instead, turn right to walk alongside the fence up to another gate on the left. Go through it and follow the fence along to the next bridle gate alongside the plantation at Hawthorn Hill. Follow the earthworks, passing through several bridle gates until you reach a stile over a fence on the right. Cross it and turn left to walk another stile at the end of the plantation and a view of a monument to Richard Price, a 19th century business tycoon.

Beyond the monument look for a stile ahead. Cross it and turn right to join Offa’s Dyke Path which zig-zags through gorse by a pool to another stile which you cross to join a track. Look for a waymark on the left and turn left here and right beneath a tall tree. Keep ahead to reach the B4355. Cross over and keep ahead, over several stiles and through gates to follow a line of the dyke to reach the main road again. Take care here. Go right to walk down the road (there’s a grass verge on the other side) to a junction.

Go left along the B4357 road to Rhos-y-Meirch. Turn first right and go through a bridle gate on the right to follow the dyke again, through four bridle gates to reach an exceptionally well preserved tree lined section to walk up to a bridle gate on your right at the top of the brow just before a small group of conifers. Go through it and turn left now following scant remains of the dyke through four bridle gates to enter the edge of a golf course.

Keep ahead with the hedge to the left, then walk alongside Great Frydd wood; turn left through a gate and follow the path to the right to descend steeply through the wood to steps. Cross a lane and drop down to a drive. Go right and pass garages.

Turn next left and then right onto the main road, then immediately left down Larkey Lane to the car park and through the arch of the Knighton Hotel. Turn right, then immediately left down Station Road and first right into Bowling Green Lane for Knighton bus station.