Places to see and things to do in the Knighton area
Sightseeing, shopping, walking, cycling.................
Knighton is the first/last Welsh station on the Heart-of-Wales railway line. This impressive route between Shrewsbury and Swansea winds through rugged beauty, tranquil villages and picturesque Victorian spa towns and is one of the most scenic lines in the United Kingdom. The route offers a feast of panoramic views including the beautiful Loughor estuary, the meandering river Tywi, red kites in the skies above the Eppynt hills, and the Radnor Forest. There are impressive viaducts at Cynghordy and Knucklas: 2 of the 7 bridges crossed on a journey that also includes 6 tunnels.
The Spaceguard Centre observatory sits on a hill above Knighton and offers daily guided tours of its work. The Centre aims to bring the wonders of the universe to everyone in a fun and understandable way.
Knighton also makes an excellent base for exploring the central Marches and even the Wye Valley. Some of the nearby attractions are:
The village of Pilleth (Bryn Glas) where, on 22nd June 1402 Owain Glyndwr won an important battle against Henry IV in his bid for Welsh independence.
The historic border towns of Monmouth, Presteigne and Bishop's Castle.
The historic cities of Shrewsbury (reached on the Heart of Wales railway line) and Hereford and the historic towns of Ludlow and Leominster.
The Welsh Spa towns of Llandrindod Wells and Builth Wells (both on the Heart of Wales railway line)
The National Trust properties of: Berrington Hall, Croft Castle, Attingham Park, Wilderhope Manor and Cronkhill
Hergest Croft Gardens near Kington has four 'District Gardens' extended over 50 acres with over 4000 rare shrubs and trees.
The Acton Scott estate, location of the BBC2 Victorian Farm programmes.
Hay-on-Wye, internationally famous for its bookshops and Literature Festival can be visited on a day-trip from Knighton; it is approximately an hour away by car.
The coast at Aberystwyth can be reached in about 1 1/2 hours by car.
Walking
Offa’s Dyke National Trail runs the length of the English-Welsh border for 177 miles (295km) from Sedbury Cliffs on the Severn Estuary (near Chepstow) to the North Wales resort of Prestatyn on Liverpool Bay.There are a number of circular walks around Knighton that follow the National Trail for part of their route, allowing you to see the Dyke itself and experience the glorious hills of Powys and South Shropshire. Packs are available from the Offa's Dyke Centre featuring easy-to-follow maps and written route instructions.
For about 70 miles (116km) the Trail follows the course of the Eighth Century Offa's Dyke earthwork. While it is not the longest National Trail, it is the most attractive and varied. The route crosses high moorland, wide, cultivated river valleys and ancient woodland. It passes through historic towns and isolated hamlets. Hill forts, castles, abbeys and surviving remains of former habitations can all be seen en route. The flora and fauna are as rich and as varied as the scenery.
Knighton marks the approximate half-way point so the National Trail is usually split into two sections either side of Knighton. For this reason a number of people stay in Knighton at the beginning or end of a multi-day walk.
Glyndwr's Way National Trail was opened in 2002. Its enigmatic name derives from the early fifteenth century folk hero Owain Glyndwr, who won significant battles close to the route and who held a Welsh Parliament in Machynlleth. As with the Offa’s Dyke Path there are circular walks around Knighton that follow the National Trail for part of their route, allowing you to have a ‘taster’ of the Way and the inspiring Powys countryside. Packs are available from the Offa's Dyke Centre featuring easy-to-follow maps and written route instructions.The full Trail is a long distance walk of 135 miles (217km) which can be enjoyed as a continuous journey, typically taking around nine days, or over a series of weekend or day trips. It begins at Knighton and meanders through the open moorland, rolling farmland, woodland and forest of Mid Wales, through the town of Machynlleth, which was the capital of Wales in 1404, finishing by the Montgomeryshire Canal in Welshpool. Here Glyndwr's Way is about 3 miles (5km) from Offa's Dyke Path National Trail, which can be followed all the way back to Knighton, adding about 30 miles (50km) to the walk.
Along the Trail are some of the finest landscape features in Wales including the tranquil Radnorshire Hills, the shores of the Clywedog Reservoir and heather clad Plynlimon. There are spectacular views over Cadair Idris, Lake Vyrnwy, the Cambrian Mountains and Y Golfa. The route reaches its highest point at Foel Fadian (1530ft/510m) from which on a clear day views stretch out along the majestic Dulas valley to Machynlleth and the sea.
Glyndwr’s Way has been developed primarily for walkers, although there are sections suitable for horses and cyclists. However, Glyndwr's Way is not suitable for use as a long distance bridleway or cycle route.
The Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty starts at the eastern edge of Knighton and provides excellent walks and a wealth of wildlife.
The Kerry Ridgeway starts a short distance from Knighton. This gentle 15 mile (25km) route through the dimpled hills of the central Welsh Marches, walks through history from the Stone Age, via Bronze and Iron Age relics, to a Norman motte and bailey high above Bishop’s Castle. Walkers, horse-riders and cyclists can all legally use this route.
The Herefordshire Trail passes within 6 miles (10km) of Knighton. This long distance circular path links the five market towns of Leominster, Bromyard, Ledbury, Ross-on-Wye and Kington along with some of the picturesque villages and hamlets for which Herefordshire is renowned. The 150 mile (250km) route takes walkers through spectacular countryside enabling them to enjoy unequalled views across Herefordshire and neighbouring counties. The landscape varies from the Malvern Hills in the east to the Black Mountains in the west, through rich arable land, apple orchards, hop fields, woodlands speckled with wild flowers, and river valleys. (Ffrydd House hostel offers a free collection/drop off service to Brampton Bryan for those walking the Herefordshire Trail. Please contact us for more details.)
Cycling
Wales is "The Big Country" when it comes to cycling with something for everyone who can ride a bike.For leisure cyclists, Visit Wales has identified Knighton as a Cycle Break Centre. Cycle Break Centres are selected because they give holiday makers access to some of the loveliest day cycling in Wales while staying in welcoming holiday areas. Packs are available from the Offa's Dyke Centre featuring easy-to-follow maps and written route instructions. The Knighton pack offers 5 circular rides ranging from 9 to 33 miles (15 to 55km) in length.
For those interested in cycle touring, Knighton offers the Radnor Ring Cycle Route. It goes past the front door of Ffrydd House hostel, around 84-miles of quiet country lanes, crossing some of mid Wales’ most spectacular scenery, and brings you back to Knighton. There are exciting off road alternatives for those with mountain bike skills. The route is fully signed as Regional Route 25 and links with National Cycle Route 8 - Lôn Las Cymru - the long distance route across Wales.
There are also good opportunities for mountain biking in Kinsley Wood on the eastern edge of Knighton and on local bridleways. More extensive off road cycling facilities are to be found nearby at Hopton Wood, 9 miles (15km) from Knighton. You can travel from Knighton, along with your bike, to Hopton Heath station on the Heart of Wales railway line. Hopton Wood lies amid the glorious scenery of the South Shropshire Hills and offers 19 miles (32kms) of forest roads, tracks and single tracks covering 350 hectares of woodland. There are colour coded routes for both leisure and thrill seeking off road cyclists and mountain bikers. There are also exciting off road opportunities at Radnor Forest where there are two main trails: the 5-mile (8km), “Easy” grade Rhiw Pool Trail and the 10-mile (16km) “Moderate to Strenuous” Black Mixen Trail.
Knighton is also an excellent base for linking routes into the trails of Llanwrtyd Wells, where a series of mountain biking trails have been developed, and the Elan Valley. Llanwrtyd Wells can be reached from Knighton on the Heart of Wales railway line which carries cycles. For those looking for an adventurous cross-country ride the Trans Cambrian Way is a 100 mile route from the English border at Knighton to the Irish Sea at Machynlleth. The epic 3 or 4 day trip takes you across the remote hills and moorland of central Wales.
Please note that the nearest hire facility is 12 miles (20km) away so you may want to bring your own cycle. However, the cycle hire company will deliver bikes to Ffrydd House for an extra fee of around £21. Please contact us for more information.
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