Tuesday June 18th

 Offa's Dike Path- Clun to Knighton

Having spent the night at The White Horse in Clun, we were due to join Offa's Dike Path- this meant walking the Jack Mytton Way between Clun and Offa's Dike just south of Newcastle.

Walking south of the centre of Clun, just past the church, we forked right onto the minor road that was the Jack Mytton Way. This wound its way along for a couple of miles until we met a crossroads where the JMW took a track to the right, down to the farm and cottages at Burfield- passing the first indication that we were on the right path.

The first Jack Mytton Way waymarker

Just beyond Burfield, the path crossed a stream and went up to a gate where we had a little snack. While we were stopped, a farmer arrived on his quadbike, preceded by an energetic boarder collie. I remarked that it was a fine dog, to which the reply was "She's a bitch"!

About a kilometer further on, Offa's Dike became apparent, cutting a distinct grove (bounded on either side by hedges to our north) and we joined the Offa's Dike Path on a minor road for a couple of hundred metres, before leaving the road and running parallel to the dike for most of the day. Where we left the road there was the first sign for the path.

The first Offa's Dike Path sign
The Dike

The path was clear and easy to follow; we could have taken the footpath along the dike itself but we didn't want to add to the erosion, and the "official" path was easier on the feet as well.

Just before the grandly-named Garbett Hall and Selley Hall (much more contemporary that the names would suggest) we stopped for lunch with a clear view of the last significant climb. It was really impressive to see the dike's line from such a distance.

The path from our lunch spot, cutting across fields and scrubland

At the end of the rising traverse to the top of the final escarpment was a trig point; from here was the only slightly tricky bit of navigation, dropping down steeply to the path to a small plantation.

The plantation to aim for

On the way the path was bound by masses of foxgloves in full bloom.

Foxgloves a-plenty

Shortly we were dropping down all the way to Knighton, where the boundary between England and Wales was made very clear.

Know your boundaries!

We were a little early for our train and in need of refreshment so we stopped for a quick drink at The Horse and Jockey where Jacinta was engaged in conversation by a local.

We had to change in Shrewsbury, where we had quite some time before our train back to Stockport so we asked a member of the station staff if she could recommend somewhere to eat. She suggested Fireaway, which we'd not known before and this turned out to be a great choice for a generous pizza, finished in good time for our return to Shrewsbury's gothic station and our train home.
Shrewsbury Station

The end of a very enjoyable second day on the Shropshire Way and Offa's Dike Path. 10.3 miles with 550m ascent.


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