(S/E) From the Bell Inn, turn right before zebra crossing, past Lavender Cottage on right. Follow Offa’s Dyke signpost up 67 shallow steps to lane at top. Cross straight over, continuing steeply uphill.
(1) Ignoring Offa’s Dyke signpost to left, follow lane to enter woodland where it begins to level out. After about 400m, track bends left and climbs past Highbury Fields on right. This is a long thin meadow owned and managed by the Woodland Trust. The tree-lined avenue continues past Coxbury Grove on left, a steep grass field also owned by the Trust.
(2) In wet weather, follow the track as it bends to left (ignoring gate into woodland to right). Go past driveway to house on right and follow scenic green lane for a further 400m. Continue on where Offa’s Dyke footpath crosses lane until there is a footpath to right up a sunken lane, after exposed tree roots.Take care along first 10m that may be muddy. After 60m go over stile and follow waymarker post across field. Go through kissing gate to left of farm and follow path past front of house. Climb over fence and, keeping derelict building on right, cross Offa’s Dyke footpath to go down the right side of field. (For shortcut, turn right at waymarker to rejoin main route back along Offa’s Dyke footpath.) Pass through broken wall by large pollarded tree, go down to stile and continue down through trees.Turn left along track at waymarker post.
If it is relatively dry underfoot, bear right at five-bar gate and go through gap down into Cadora Grove (Woodland Trust). Continue on this steep downhill track until it levels out and eventually comes to a junction with a footpath to the left (waymarked).
(3) For a shortcut, turn left up through wood and over stile. After 3 large pollarded trees, go through broken-down wall on right and up edge of field to waymarker. Turn left to rejoin main route back along Offa’s Dyke.
Continue on track gently down into valley. Follow route, bending sharply right, and turn left on to track at bottom. Follow this route down and up through beautiful broadleaved woodland (carpeted with bluebells in spring). Take unmarked footpath to L 100m before Woodland Trust car park for Bigsweir Wood, go through squeeze gap, turn left and through next squeeze gap, following sign for Offa’s Dyke footpath.
(4) After white houses on right, bear left, passing seat. Follow this ancient undulating path and go over stile to leave woodland and follow edge of meadow (spot the cowslips in spring). Follow path up through scrub at end and over stile. Continue on, crossing 3 more stiles, to enter Woodland Trust property at the edge of Cadora Woods. Leave this recently thinned woodland via the kissing gate and cross top edge of field, heading towards farmhouse. At waymarker, continue straight on.
(5) As views of wooded valley open up, head for top corner of field (may be muddy in wet weather). Continue along top field edge and pass through kissing gate. Follow path up to left to next kissing gate, cross track and go over stile into English Nature’s Highbury Wood National Nature Reserve. Follow path through this coppiced woodland, known for its dormice and lime kilns. After about 1.2km path starts to descend steeply to a stile and lane. Turn left and walk down lane for approximately 100m before turning left to follow Offa’s Dyke footpath, admiring views of the Wye Valley stretching out below. Follow the path steeply downhill to a stile. Turn right down lane and cross over at bottom to take steps back to main road then the Bell Inn.(S/E)
