Offa’s Dyke Pathway- Hergest Ridge, Herefordshire.
Jan 12, 2014 16:05:41 GMT
Post by lugg on Jan 12, 2014 16:05:41 GMT
One of my favourite short walks can be found just outside Kington, a small market town, in North Herefordshire. He walk forms part of the Offa’s Dyke national trail which follows the border of England and Wales from Prestatyn in the north to Chepstow in the south. So named after Offa’s Dyke as much of the trail follows the earthworks created by King Offa in the 8th century.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Offa's_Dyke
Yesterday was a rare, sunny day so daughter, dog and I headed for the hills.
www.herefordshirewt.org/documents/HergestK.pdf
Kington itself can be glimpsed through the trees towards the bottom right of the pic below and the centre of the following photo,
It is possible to see 4 English counties and huge areas of Powys, Wales from the ridge and today the weather was perfect.
Looking across Herefordshire to Gloucestershire ( the hill with the trees ( May Hill) in the centre of the horizon is in Gloucestershire)
And towards Worcestershire
Across Radnorshire, Powys; the mountains on the horizon are in Shropshire,
Across Powys to the Brecon Beacons
I am not sure if this gorse is early or late flowering;
When I look out at views like this I realise yet again how lucky I am to live in such a beautiful part of England,
There is one blot on the landscape though,
But generally the main industry is farming. The ridge is common land so a number of farmers graze their sheep here,
It’s a gentle incline, but a bench or two offer the opportunity to soak up the scenery,
Zeb was thoroughly enjoying himself;
Hopefully he did not lap up any of the rare fairie shrimp found in some of the transient ponds;
This area has always been associated with horses , the trail was once an old drovers route and an old horse racecourse was sited near to the summit until the 19th century. Near to the summit we came across a small herd of wild Welsh Mountain ponies.
On the top , most of the trees struggle for survival ..
… but these Monkey puzzle trees do remarkably well, I guess they are too spiny to be grazed
The sun was setting as we headed down and the reflected colours were beautiful,
Last leg through the beech trees, then time for a warm drink and home.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Offa's_Dyke
Yesterday was a rare, sunny day so daughter, dog and I headed for the hills.
www.herefordshirewt.org/documents/HergestK.pdf
Kington itself can be glimpsed through the trees towards the bottom right of the pic below and the centre of the following photo,
It is possible to see 4 English counties and huge areas of Powys, Wales from the ridge and today the weather was perfect.
Looking across Herefordshire to Gloucestershire ( the hill with the trees ( May Hill) in the centre of the horizon is in Gloucestershire)
And towards Worcestershire
Across Radnorshire, Powys; the mountains on the horizon are in Shropshire,
Across Powys to the Brecon Beacons
I am not sure if this gorse is early or late flowering;
When I look out at views like this I realise yet again how lucky I am to live in such a beautiful part of England,
There is one blot on the landscape though,
But generally the main industry is farming. The ridge is common land so a number of farmers graze their sheep here,
It’s a gentle incline, but a bench or two offer the opportunity to soak up the scenery,
Zeb was thoroughly enjoying himself;
Hopefully he did not lap up any of the rare fairie shrimp found in some of the transient ponds;
This area has always been associated with horses , the trail was once an old drovers route and an old horse racecourse was sited near to the summit until the 19th century. Near to the summit we came across a small herd of wild Welsh Mountain ponies.
On the top , most of the trees struggle for survival ..
… but these Monkey puzzle trees do remarkably well, I guess they are too spiny to be grazed
The sun was setting as we headed down and the reflected colours were beautiful,
Last leg through the beech trees, then time for a warm drink and home.
