Five Turnings to Knighton – Offa Hoppa Walk 6

The 740 Thursday bus or 783 Castle Connect summer bus from Knighton will drop you at Five Turnings. Start from the bridle gate located to the right of the post box opposite the turning for Chapel Lawn. As the name of this tiny hamlet suggests, it was the meeting point for several old roads. This leads onto a green track which you follow through to a large pasture at a junction of bridleways. Head slightly left up the hillside to pass through trees to the right of a stream. On reaching the brow keep alongside the fence on the left to go through a bridle gate by a barred gate.

Go through the next gateway to join Offa’s Dyke Path. Go left here through a bridle gate and follow a well worn path alongside the earthworks (which are on your left) through four more bridle gates. The views across the Teme Valley to Radnor Forest are exquisite. The River Teme rises near Kerry and flows into the Severn just south of Worcester. It is a very attractive and predominantly rural river valley throughout its course. The path bends to the left beneath Panpunton Hill and descends to a signpost. Go right here to descend more steeply, firstly on a green swathe between bracken and then down rutted and braided paths that lead to a bridle gate. This can get slippery in wet weather so take extra care.

This exits onto a lane. Cross over and go through another bridle gate. Head slightly right and then left to cross the railway line. Look and listen for trains before crossing. Walk over a footbridge spanning the crystal clear waters of the River Teme and then go left to walk along the riverside, passing through three bridle gates, to walk beneath a wooded slope. Go right, as way-marked, up to the Offa’s Dyke Centre on West Street.

From the Offa’s Dyke Centre turn left along the road into the town centre. Turn left opposite the Knighton Hotel on Station Road for the Railway Station or go right into Bowling Green Lane for the Bus Station.