Friday 3rd May 1.03 pm Service bus 41 from the Offa’s Dyke Centre to Hawthorn Hill then walk back into Knighton along Offa’s Dyke Path with Dave McGlade. 3 miles mostly downhill, gentle.
Join us for our 50th anniversary year AGM. Watch this space for full details of events over the weekend. They include the official launch of the ODA’s Offa’s Dyke Path ‘Walkers Passport’ – be one of the first to get your Passport stamped at the Offa’s Dyke Centre. Proceeds from the Passport support the ODA’s Conservation Fund so the more that we sell the more conservation projects that we can support.
The guest speaker after the AGM business meeting is the University of Chester’s Professor Howard Williams. Other speakers to announced.
On the Sunday National Trail Officer Rob Dingle is leading a walk along the Trail (which for this stretch is next to the Dyke) from Springhill south to Knighton. Meet 9.30am at the Offa’s Dyke Centre. Transport provided but numbers are limited and tickets must be booked in advance.
This year’s address is by Professor Howard Williams, University of Chester: ‘Hydraulic Borders? Water and Offa’s Dyke’
There will then be a short presentation by Niall Heaton: ‘How it All Started’
ESSENTIAL TO PRE-BOOK TICKETS – Depart the Offa’s Dyke Centre at 9.30am for minibus transport to Springhill. National Trail Officer Rob Dingle will then lead a walk south along the Trail, shadowing Offa’s Dyke, returning to the Offa’s Dyke Centre in time for the afternoon lectures.
Transport provided by the ODA. No charge but donations invited. Is this your first section of National Trail? Then you could collect your first Passport stamp at the Centre. Passports cost £5 and proceeds support the ODA’s Conservation Fund for Offa’s Dyke.
11.00am talk by ODA Chairman Dave McGlade: ‘Offa’s Dyke Association, its aims, aspirations and projects’
1.30 pm HIMALAYAN HIGHS: Trekking and climbing in Nepal for the adventurous fell walker
By David Nightingale (from the charity Community Action Nepal)
The magnificent peaks of the Himalaya are the greatest mountain range on earth. Breathtakingly beautiful and heart in the mouth terrifying at the same time.
Surely this is no place for a fell walker with bobble hat, butties and a flask?
In the slide talk ‘Himalayan Highs’ David Nightingale tells why in fact the world’s highest peaks are the perfect place for the fell walker to explore.
David explains, “Weaving through the Nepal Himalaya is a spider’s web of footpaths and trails in deep valleys and over high passes. They have linked mountain communities for centuries, making living in the mountains possible – from trade and farming, to love and marriage! It’s these very same paths that give the adventurous the opportunity to discover the world’s highest mountains”.
His talk, illustrated with great mountain photography, features treks and climbs of varying difficulties. It covers most aspects of trekking in Nepal, from trip planning and enjoying the chaos of Kathmandu to the joys and challenges of trekking and climbing through the varied landscapes of Nepal from lush lowland forests up to icy summits. David’s talk also explains the work of charity Community Action Nepal, which works with mountain communities building schools and health posts.
David has completed eight Nepal treks and climbed seven ‘modest’ Himalayan peaks up to 6,500 metres (known as Trekking Peaks). He admits to not really having a head for heights and to feeling the effects of altitude on all his treks. David has trekked and climbed in the shadow of peaks including Everest, Kangchenjunga, Makalu and Annapurna.
“My interest in Nepal began as a school boy in the 1970s, when I read the book ‘The Ascent of Everest’ by expedition leader John Hunt. The story of Hillary and Tenzing’s climb to the top of the world still enthrals me today!”
David is currently planning his 60th birthday celebrations for October this year – a Nepal trek visiting Manaslu (8,156m) the eighth highest mountain in the world, with his wife Lynne and friends. Donations received for David’s talk will go to Community Action Nepal
2.30pm, Julian Ravest, who accompanied the walking group from Springhill back to Knighton, will re-visit the archaeology but this time with aerial views: ‘Offa’s Dyke by Drone’
3.30pm Professor Keith Ray, Cardiff University ‘A missing length of Offa’s Dyke newly recovered: Lydbrook to Redbrook in Gloucestershire’
4.30 pm David Nightingale David will repeat his talk presented earlier at 1.30pm.
‘Himalayan Highs. Trekking and climbing in Nepal for the adventurous fell walker’. An illustrated talk by David Nightingale from Community Action Nepal
BOOKING ESSENTIAL for 6.30 pm informal social get together with cold buffet in the Offa’s Dyke Centre followed by an ‘Ancient Brits’ (founder members) heritage slide show. Tickets £7.50 including tea/coffee and cake. Please book and pay in advance by contacting the OD Centre asap & by 30th April. Order by card over the phone.