Disputed territory

Living half a mile from the border, it seems legitimate to exploit the English regulations from time to time. I have already revisited the Frodsham/Helsby hills so today started a little further afield (actually, around the same distance from HK) from Weston Rhyn near Chirk. This entire run was in England, despite the place names (and, arguably, the historical reality). From Weston, I ran on the lovely lane that climbs westwards to the secluded border village of Bronygarth. From here, I joined Offa's Dyke, which immediately becomes very steep as it climbs onto the crest of the border hills south of Chirk. Interestingly, on this section the official footpath follows the Dyke itself - and, indeed, the Dyke itself follows the exact line of the modern border. The weather was not as good as the forecast - dark grey skies and a very strong wind. But it was absolutely glorious, albeit rather slow running - views east over Shropshire to the flat Midlands, and west over the Welsh hills. This is classic borderland, really beautiful. Eventually the route drops down to Craig Nant before another climb up Selattyn Hill which I remembered from last time I was here many years ago (I had a number of walks along OD, getting all the way down to Clun, in the early 2000s when dad often dropped me off en route to Cardiff). From Selattyn, much quicker running to the Old Racecourse above Oswestry before dropping through Candy Wood and then the long route back. This was not quite so much fun - little lanes to Oswestry - through the eerily quiet, shut down centre - then out via the Gobowen road. From Gobowen, I crossed the main road to join more small lanes back to Weston.