Wales - Offas Dyke

This is a land bathed in mysterious history. A land, Celtic in origin, of saints and stones. A land where around almost every corner one finds something ancient. Almost every hilltop is clad with the remains of a fort or castle and burial mounds are scattered far and wide. The valley below hides lanes deep and narrow as they wind between hidden settlements whose habitation extends into the past as far as history can record. It’s here, where amongst wood and stream, lie hidden Sacred Places each with a legend to tell. Ancient stone wells carry saintly names such as St. Beuno’s and St. Dyfnog’s and the smallest of churches whose wooden wheels creak to ring a single bell in call to visit the space within where further treasures await discovery.

Extending virtually the whole length of the border between Wales and England, the Offa’s Dyke is renowned as the defence King Offa ordered to be constructed in the 8th Century to divide the kingdom of Mercia, England from several smaller kingdoms, later to become Wales. Views are magnificent in all directions as one hill rolls gently onto the next with wonderfully level stretches in between which wind round hilltop forts and castellated mounds. Far below, ancient villages and medieval towns dot the valley floors where many a river forms a winding silvery trail. The path is well signed and easy to follow, but there lies another, intriguing side to this part of the trail; a side which is mysterious, legendary and magical. It’s those exceptional Sacred Places which most walkers simply pass by. Our trek takes you off the beaten path to discover these Sacred Places, thanks to our local knowledge of this area that we call home.