The best family-friendly hikes and walks around Stowe

This is the start point of the Glyndŵr's Way National Trail which winds through mid-Wales and ends at Welshpool. It's not as popular a trail as Offa's Dyke which is the main reason you'll meet other hikers here in Knighton.

Knighton is a beautiful border market town and is unique in being the only town to sit astride Offa's Dyke national footpath. It is also notable as the starting point of Glyndwr's Way, following the route of the Welsh leader's significant battles. It is also a mecca for border cyclists and there are plenty of routes to navigate the surrounding hills and stunning countryside.

Cwm-Sanaham is an elevated hilltop located near Knighton in Shropshire. From this vantage point, you can enjoy wonderful panoramic views of the surrounding countryside across rolling hills, meandering streams and picturesque landscapes.

Located close to the Anglo-Welsh border and skirted by Offa's Dyke, this enchanting wooded hill is dominated by larch and Douglas fir, planted in the 1950s to replenish timber stores in Britain after WWII. There's a wealth of trails and forest roads to explore on foot. It's an enjoyable place to visit at any time of year, but in the autumn the initials 'ER' appear on the wooded slopes, an arrangement planted in 1953 to celebrate Queen Elizabeth's coronation.

Great views. worthy of a break.

Before I tell you about the most amazing views on top of Cwm-Sanaham Hill, I want to explain about how I got to the trig point so that you can follow what I did. Firstly, there is a steep ascent up the hill which can be very tough, so it's best if you are prepared if you're tackling it. What I did was that I charged straight up the steep pathway to which I found myself on a very narrow ledge. You can take your time when walking up that first section of footpath. There is even a shear drop down below, so I walked along the path slowly and carefully. Secondly came the easier part, which was when I saw the trig point straight up ahead with the path still visible to follow. After I went past the narrow ledge, the path was then more grassy, which made things a lot more straightforward. There was no more drops to worry about, but instead the path was more even. Eventually, I arrived at the top of the hill where the trig point was located. I was then met with the most beautiful views I had ever seen, which stretched from Knighton all the way to nearby Knucklas and the rest of the Welsh valleys. It was also where I had my lunch, which was quite a relief after all the hill climbing I did. Cwm-Sanaham Hill is 406m high and it's the perfect vantage point to see some of the most glorious views in that part of Wales.

Experience from summer 2019: I wouldn't call the town a highlight anymore, vlt. once it was. In the meantime, it looks partly run down, many shops are closed and restaurants are scarce. It is simply because of the hiking trail Offa's Dike and you therefore have to get through here. I cannot recommend more than a stop-over-night here.

Knighton is a market town with winding streets and half-timbered houses. There is evidence of human settlement at Knighton since the Stone Age, but the town you see today is mostly of medieval origin. The Welsh name for the town is ‘Tref-y-Clawdd’, which means ‘town on the Dyke’, and Knighton is the only town to lie on the line of Offa’s Dyke, a large linear earthwork along the England and Wales border named after Offa, the Anglo-Saxon king of Mercia from AD 757 until 796, who is believed to have ordered its construction. As such, it is the spiritual home of Offa and the Offa’s Dyke National Trail.