Walking in the Wye Valley. Mike Dunn

have been felled in places to reveal views of the Wye, with the magnificent sight of Tintern Abbey the highlight. The path used to run along the top of the earthwork, with the stones used in its construction exposed and tree roots making this section tricky to negotiate, but a new path has been constructed just to the left to preserve the Dyke.

      A right turn onto a path running just below the Dyke provides excellent views of the ditch and rampart from below. The new path eventually arrives at a wide track; turn left here, and when Offa’s Dyke Path swings away to the right at an informal parking area, take the very roughly surfaced lane going up past cottages to the B4228. Turn left here, then right after 100m or so onto a thin but clear path (not marked on the map, but within the open access land of Parson’s Allotment, close to where Bronze Age flints were found) that crosses an open area, enters woodland and passes a few big boulders to meet a track. Go straight across here, then half-left onto another, straight track that goes through mixed woodland and then negotiates a coppice with the Church of St Michael and All Angels in Tidenham Chase visible on the left across the road. The land for the church was given by the owner of Chase Farm, who became the first organist; the second was her friend Miss Grace, who gave her name to the lane crossed earlier.