Secret Hills Walking Holidays

Radnorshire Hills and Elan Valley

We walk in the lofty Radnorshire Hills in a triangle with Knighton, Presteigne and Llandrindod Wells as the points.

Also - because it is within easy travel distance - we walk the lovely hills and valleys of Elan - with it's reservoir and secluded valleys, near Rhayader.

The walking is good, never too severe but these are lofty hills so expect some climbing.

We stay at the Metropole Hotel in Llandrindod Wells.

Name	Start Date	Location	For	Nights	Days	Price
Radnorshire Hills and Elan Valley	30th September 2012	Radnorshire Hills and Elan Valley	All	4	4	£410	More Details

Fetaures of Radnorshire

A lonely place in many ways - great airy spaces with little population, - but great walking.

Offa's Dyke

The Welsh name of Knighton is Tref y Clawdd, the “town on the dyke,” a reminder of the fact that Offa’s Dyke is still the most memorable ancient monument in these parts. The origin of this great military work has been described by the poet Michael Drayton in six lines;

Offa, when he saw his countries go to arack,

From bick’ring with his folk, to keep the Britons back,

Cast up that mighty mound, of eighty miles in length

Athwart from sea to sea, which of the Mercian strength

A witness though it stand, and Offa’s name does bear

Our courage was the cause why first he cut it there.”

Considerable sections of this mighty barrier can be seen and studied in the vicinity of Knighton, particularly on Frydd Hill. The town itself is essentially what might be called a “pleasant” place in a hilly, wooded region, rich in beautiful if quiet scenery. The remains of ancient encampments in the neighbourhood show that long before it became part of the official “marches” it was debatable ground between contending nations, and of course it has its memories of Owen Glendower. What part of Wales has not? Did he not rout at Pilleth the forces of Sir Edmund Mortimer and make that estimable gentleman his prisoner?

Conspicuous among the natural beauties of the county are the valleys of its rivers, notably those of the Ithon the Teme and the Wye,

Further south, the well-known spa of Llandrindod Wells has attractions for the crotchety and afflicted as well at those quite sound in wind and limb. It lies amidst charming surroundings and wears a very modern look, which belies the fact that the virtues of its waters were well known in the eighteenth century, when a premature attempt to rival Bath was stifled, apparently from want of capital and distractions caused by the Napoleonic Wars.

Though Radnorshire has none of those most entrancing of its reached which have made the fortune of the district between Ross and Chepstow, there is hardly a point in the many miles of the course of the Wye which is not plentifully endowed with all the essential features of good riverside scenery