Shropshire's Great Outdoors

Offa’s Dyke Path Circular Walk 5: Tower and Ramparts

A walk on the border exploring Offa's Dyke Country

A 7 mile, 4 ½ – 5 hour undulating figure of eight walk with the option of making it either a 2 ¼ mile walk to Selattyn Tower or a 4 ¾ mile walk over to Bronygarth. The first loop gradually climbs up along the Offa’s Dyke Path along an old lane to the woodland on top of Selattyn Hill where the Tower is located, from here amazing view can be had. Passing through old field systems and relics of farmsteads the walk meets the road back to near the carpark (2 ¼ miles).

From here the walk heads north along the Offa’s Dyke Path National Trail passing old limekilns and runs parallel to the Dyke giving good view of the surrounding countryside and Chirk Castle, after dipping down through Nanteris Wood the walk leaves the National Trail and travels along an old track to pass through Pentre Newydd. The walk heads across fields and follows quiet roads climbing as it goes to final drop down the valley side of Morlas Brook back to the car park (4 ¾ miles).

 

Selattyn Hill & Tower

Human presence stretches back in time as it appears the earthwork are a typical example of an early Bronze Age ring-cairn, comprising a low, stone bank enclosing a flat open area. A gap in the bank on the southwest side of the cairn may be an original entranceway into the cairn or may be partly or entirely the result of later erosion.

The Tower was erected on Selattyn Hill in 1847 by a Mr Crewe of Pentrepant to commemorate Prince Gwên, one of the sons of Llywarch Hen, a sixth century British prince, who, according to legend, was killed in a battle between the British and Saxons near to the Morlas Brook.

During World War II, the tower was used as a look-out post by members of the Local Defence Force Volunteers. The tower was already in a ruinous state, and the LDF volunteers put up a corrugated iron roof over the tower.

Craignant Lime Kilns

The Lime kilns were used to turn the local quarried lime stone (which is thought to have come from the site of the car park) to produce quicklime for use on the surrounding fields.

Offa’s Dyke & National Trail

The walk follow a well preserved section of the Dyke and actually defines the present day boundary between England and Wales. Two sections of the Offa’s Dyke Path Nation Trail are followed on the loops of the circular walk.

Full Trail details can be found on www.nationaltrail.co.uk/offas-dyke-path.

 

Walk directions

  1. Start

    Turn right from the car park towards Selattyn along the road to meet Offa’s Dyke Path. Turn right up the track and follow the National Trail to the top of the hill.

  2. Step 2

    Cross the stile near the gate and go straight on along the field edge, leaving Offa’s Dyke Path, to reach a stile and gate. Follow the track to enjoy the excellent views from Selattyn Tower.

  3. Step 3

    Pass the tower to drop down to the finger post and notice board at the track. Go straight across and over the stile to the right of a bench, then down the field to the stile in the stone wall. Head for the stile by the gate and continue straight on along an old stone walled track to a gate. Turn left and follow the track with the fence on the right to the wood. Continue along the inside edge of the wood to meet a track and finger post. Bear right and head down to the road.

  4. Step 4

    Turn left along the road (take care) to meet the Offa’s Dyke Path again and either return to the start point or continue below for the BRONYGARTH CIRCUIT.

  5. STEP 5 - BRONYGARTH CIRCUIT

    To continue, follow the National Trail down past the limekilns on the left, and keep going to where the National Trail drops down, near Bronygarth, to meet a track with an information board on the left. The earthwork is as impressive here as anywhere along its 80-mile length.

  6. Step 6

    Turn right and follow the track along to the bend in the road, heading straight on down towards Pentre Newydd. Take the path just past the buildings and go up the field to the stile in the right-hand corner. Cross the stile, continue up to the stile to the left of the wood and follow the right-hand hedge at the edge of the wood passing a small outcrop of rock, to reach a gate. Just after, swing right to meet the road.

  7. Step 7

    Turn right and walk steeply up the hill to continue past the mast on the left to the drive at Fron Heulog.

  8. Step 8

    Turn left and follow the drive to the farm. Go on with the fence on the left to a wicket gate. The route then follows a double-hedged track straight on through several gates to meet the road.

  9. Step 9

    Go straight on to the staggered road junction taking the road on the right along a lane passing Fron Rough. Then head back up the hill to re-join Offa’s Dyke Path and return to the start.

Route leaflet

PDF information may be outdated

This route leaflet may not include recent changes. Some pubs or cafes listed might have altered or closed. For the latest route details, please consult this webpage.

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