Description
Walking with Offa -South
Walking grade 
Nestled in quietly spectacular countryside between wild Welsh uplands and Herefordshire hills, the superb Burton Hotel in Kington provides a luxurious base for this walking holiday.
This holiday is now named Exploring the Welsh Marches and can be booked through Ramble Worldwide Holidays.
Price: from £869
Single supplement: £200
Duration:
5 nights – 4 days walking
2024 departures: June 2nd, July 28th, September 1st
More long-distance paths converge on the tiny town of Kington than almost anywhere else in the UK. The reason? The quietly spectacular countryside that surrounds it. Situated on the border between the hills of Herefordshire and the wild uplands of Wales, Kington makes the perfect base for our walking break. Together we will explore the surrounding area, making full use of local long-distance trails as they wind their way over ridges and through valleys, Offa’s Dyke, the Mortimer Trail, the Herefordshire Trail and the Arrow Way.
With its comfortable and spacious rooms and excellent restaurant the Burton Hotel is a true gem. The pool and spa add a touch of luxury to this warm and welcoming hotel.
Holiday highlights
- Walk the best sections of surrounding long-distance footpaths as they traverse the ridges and valleys of beautiful Marches countryside.
- Relax in the stunning Cloud Nine swimming pool and spa at the end of the day’s walk
- Enjoy the stylish comfort, spacious rooms and excellent restaurant food in the Burton Hotel
- Explore the quirky border market town of Kington
Accommodation
We stay in the family-run Burton hotel in the attractive Herefordshire market town of Kington. Its classic rooms are all en-suite, spacious and stylishly decorated. The stunning pool and spa area is a perfect retreat for a swim and relax after a good day on the trail.
Breakfast and dinner are taken each day in the hotel restaurant.
Parking is available at the hotel.
Included
- Half board en-suite accommodation
- Guided walking each day and half day on the day of departure
- Evening meals taken in the hotel restaurant
- Use of the hotel swimming pool and spa facilities
- Bus travel to walks
Not included
- Lunches
- Incidental expenses such as drinks
Day-today Itinerary
The following is the proposed itinerary for this short break. However, please bear in mind that in the event of local conditions changing, for example, due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances, then it may be necessary to change the itinerary.
Day 1
Arrive at the Burton Hotel, Kington and check into your room. Meet at 7 pm in the hotel bar for a short briefing about the week ahead before dinner. The hotel has ample car parking.
Meals included: dinner
Day 2: Rushock Hill and Titley circular
Today we head north 
out of town to pick up the Mortimer Trail, a long-distance path that runs from Ludlow to Kington through land once owned by the powerful Norman family, the Mortimers. We climb up onto Rushock Hill, for stunning 360o views across to Herefordshire and the full length of the Black Mountains. Descending, we follow a green lane as it swings round to the village of Titley and then onto the Herefordshire Way which follows the River Arrow as it winds its way back into town.
17 km 10.5 miles) ascent/descent 420m
Meals included: breakfast and dinner
Day 3: Hergest Ridge
Today we head west from Kington on Offa’s Dyke path as it heads over Hergest Ridge, a landscape so beautiful that it inspired Mike Oldfield to write the album of the same name in the 1970s. We head up gradually from Kington, taking in the magnificent views before heading down to the village of Gladestry where there may be time for a quick pint in the local pub, the Royal Oak before heading back via a lower level route to Kington.
15 km (9.5 miles) ascent/descent 350m
Meals included: breakfast and dinner
Day 5: Offa’s Dyke Knighton to Prestigne
Today we tackle one of the most beautiful stretches of the Offa’s Dyke path. We walk from the hotel, following the trail north around Rushock and Herrock hills and over Evenjob hill before dropping down to Dolley Green. From here we take a route to the lovely border town of Prestigne where there should be time for a cup of tea -or other refreshment before catching the bus back to Kington. We spend much of the day following well preserved sections of the trail (some of the best on the route) and even pass close to one of Owain Glyndwr’s battle sites where he fought the English at the Battle of Pilleth.
14.5 km (9 miles) ascent/descent 500m
Meals included: breakfast and dinner
Day 5: Stanner rocks and Old Radnor
The far-reaching views on today’s walk across the borders of England and Wales are truly stunning. Our figure of eight route has stacks of varied scenery and takes us past some of the oldest rocks in Wales. We head out along the north side of Hergest ridge and then cross the old New Radnor Leominster railway line to pick up a route though the wooded area of Stanner rocks to the village of Old Radnor itself. The views from this hilltop village are spectacular and make an excellent lunch stop. From here we complete our figure of eight, heading around Hanter hill and then up onto Hergest ridge to return to Kington.
16 km (10 miles) ascent/descent 500m
Meals included: breakfast and dinner
Day 6: Farewells until next time
The holiday finishes after breakfast and then it’s goodbye – until next time!
Kit list
For walking each day:
- Good walking boots or shoes
- Waterproof jacket and trousers
- Lightweight, quick drying trousers
- Base layer
- Mid-layer such as a fleece jacket and an additional ‘spare’ layer depending on the forecast
- Walking socks
- Warm hat and gloves -just in case the weather turns
- Sun hat, sunglasses, lip salve and high SPF sun block
- Day sack (25 litre capacity is a good size) to comfortably carry your kit, lunch and water
- Dry bag or rucksack cover to keep the contents of your daypack dry
- Water bottle
- Basic first aid kit (plasters, blister treatment, antiseptic etc)
- Some snacks to keep you going
- Walking/trekking poles (if you use them)
Maps
OS Explorer maps 201 Knighton and Presteigne,
Group size
This guided holiday will have a maximum group size of 12.
