Offa's Dyke Path - 16 Days & 15 Nights

Arrive in North Wales and in the resort town of Prestatyn. Its easily accessible from Manchester on the North Wales coast line train via Chester or Crewe in approximately 2-2.5H. This small town is located on the Irish Sea Coast and became famous for its beach and promenade entertainers. See the Welsh hills in the distance beckoning you into their dramatic landscapes. 

If you wish, and depending on how cold today is, dip your toe into the Irish Sea at the start of this epic walking journey. As you make your way south and inland the views of the Clywdian Hills and the panorama of Snowdonia become more and more impressive. Today is quite easy walking along lanes and field paths. At one point you will see St Asaph Cathedral in the distance which towers above the relatively flat landscapes, even though it is the smallest cathedral in England and Wales. Cross a main road and then you walk further into the Clwydian range of hills and the Dee valley, an Area of Oustanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

Tonight overnight in the small hamlet of Bodfari, although (at the time of writing this) your accommodation here is not in Bodfari itself but in the countryside close to the trail.

There is also the possibility that you will overnight in Prestatyn for 2 nights instead of 1 if there is no accommodation available in Bodfari when you want to travel. However, a transfer will be included.

Elevation Gain/Loss: +570m/-510m

If you spent the night in Prestatyn again there will be a short (30min) transfer to the trailhead in Bodfari this morning.

Today's walking journey takes you along the ridge of the Clywdian Hills and is one of the highlights of the entire walk! Follow green lanes, or locally known as Byways Open To All Traffic (BOAT's). North Wales is littered with these overgrown lanes, enchanting forest tracks and unsurfaced rough roads. You then head into the hills rising to the ridge and Jubilee Tower on top of the iconic peak, Moel Famau and passing a string of hillforts along the way. The scenery is breathtaking and you will need to pause to take in this magnificent scenery.

Overnight in the medieval town of Ruthin, which is nestled within the twisting Clwydian Hills. Although a few kilometres off the trail (necessary as there is not accommodation on the trail in this area), it is a nice walk to get here and the town itself is layered with history and there little independent shops and plenty of pubs and restaurants.

You may also overnight in Llanbedr-Dyffryn-Clwyd which is closer to the trail than Ruthin.

Elevation Gain/Loss: +905m/-890m

Either retrace your steps back to the trail at the Moel Famau Car Park, from Llanbedr-Dyffryn-Clwyd or take a different route back to the trail from Ruthin. Pass some more hillforts today as you keep walking within the Clywdian Hills, including Moel Llanfair with its superb view of Ruthin and Moel y Plas. Then make your way to Llandegla, once noted for its cattle fairs and village blacksmiths. Here is the Church of St Tecla standing on a river terrace above the Alwyn, where there is an ancient well which was said to cure epilepsy.

After following the trail through Llandegla Forest, largely consisting of Sitka Spruce. Now ascend to World's End, a picturesque spot and once the site of a silver and lead mine. On your way into Llangollen which is about 3km from the trail, pass Castell Dinas Bran, long attractive as a defensive site where an ancient hillfort once stood and a medieval castle was constructed. Its ruins are still there and it remains an important site in the Vale of Llangollen.

Overnight in Llangollen a town of many highlights and seeped in myth and legend.

Elevation Gain/Loss: +750m/-725m

Look forward to an extremely varied day of walking today as you leave the lovely town of Llangollen behind. Once you rejoin the Offa's Dyke Path you will have the choice of walking on the main path or taking the route that brings you to Britain's highest navigable aqueduct, Pontcysyllte, set 40m above the River Dee. Only take this route if you have a good head for heights. For those without vertigo, it can be an exhilarating experience, for those with it, terrifying! It is a World Heritage Site and serves to connect the Llangollen Canal, which is a dead-end canal to the Shropshire Union Canal.

Now approach the regions of Chirk and to Castle Mill, where, if you turn around you can see the distant Peckforton Hills of Cheshire on a clear day. To the left is Chirk Castle as it stands dominant on the skyline. Finished in 1310 it was Edward the I's final show of power over the Welsh after having successful campaigns in North Wales. With its formidable defensive walls, it is easy to see why it has become a statement of dominance.

Overnight in the Chirk area. If you have time explore this delightful border town.

Elevation Gain/Loss: +480m/-450m

After a sustaining breakfast, your walk today is straightforward but with a variety of landscapes, from the gentle slopes and wild panoramas of Moelydd and Settalyn Hill to the twists and turns through the Oswestry uplands. As you approach Llanymynech see the bare limestone cliffs of Llanymynech Rocks, a Nature Reserve, which straddles the Welsh and English border. Enjoy the profusion of wildflowers here with varieties such as cowslips and orchids.

Arrive in Llanymynech, a small village which straddles the Welsh and English border.

Elevation Gain/Loss: +645m/-780m

Today's walk will not disappoint as you walk out of the North Welsh Hills and into the rolling landscapes of the Welsh Marches. There are delightful sections along the River Severn and a towpath walk along the Montgomery Canal which has exceptional ecological and historical interest. This is a day of truly relaxed walking and virtually no elevation gain and loss.

Welshpool your overnight stop is not on the trail so you will have to divert off it to your accommodation, but again, you will be lucky enough to be walking along the picturesque Severn Way. Welshpool itself, a medieval town has many attractions, including Powis Castle with its magnificent 17th-century gardens.

Elevation Gain/Loss: +40/-35m

Make your way back to the path from Welshpool and start heading south once more. After a few kilometres reach the big circular hill fort of Beacon Ring and as you climb to the top the views just get better and better. The Dyke is in evidence throughout the walk through the Plain of Montgomery and onto the remote country of the River Camland, keep an eye out for the diverse birdlife. 

Arrive in Montgomery, a border town with an old fashion feel and a mix of Georgian and Victorian architecture such as its Town Hall. Its 13th-century castle towers over the town on a rocky spur.

Elevation Gain/Loss: +501m/-392m

Set off for the town of Brompton from where the path undulates through an area known as the Switchbacks. make your way through Nut Wood and to the isolated Church of St John the Baptist in Churchtown. Pass a holy well and see fine views over the Clun Valley before arriving in Newcastle on Clun with its prominent church and a footbridge over the River Clun.

Elevation Gain/Loss: +619m/-578m

Today see the great views of the hills of south Shropshire in all of its glory; green and rolling scenery, Long Mynd and Stiperstones. The track runs parallel to the Dyke for a while and across the slopes of Llanfair Hill and then through Oakland as you approach the top of Papunton Hill through the bracken and gorse.

Finish in the town Knighton, Tref Y Clawdd in Welsh, which means ’the town on the dyke’.

Elevation Gain/Loss: +425m/-470m

The Welsh Marches are at their finest today and there are wide-ranging views, all magnificent. The walk is varied and starts off walking atop the Hawthorn and Furrow hills with open views across the surrounding countryside. A steep forested slope hides the massive hillfort of Burfa Bank but you pass Burfa Bog a low-lying piece of grassland which attracts lovely butterflies. Reach the common at Bradnor Green and cross Kington Golf Course, supposedly the highest course in England, because you are now in England and not Wales!

Elevation Gain/Loss: +645m/-670m

The next part of the trail sends you on a traverse over Hergest Ridge where animals graze wild and you are afforded spectacular views over the Black Mountains and Shropshire Hills. This part of the Offa's Dyke Path is classed as one of the finest. Then as you approach your overnight destination there is easy riverside walking and you can spot Castle Clifford above the River Wye.

Reaching the town of Hay-on Wye which was founded by the Normans after the Conquest, you will be delighted by its quaint and charming streets. It is famous for its numerous bookshops and there are plenty of pubs and restaurants in which to spend the evening.

Elevation Gain/Loss: +510m/-580m

Today you begin crossing the Black Mountains, a sublime range in the Brecon Beacon National Park. The climb up to Hatterall Ridge, the highest point on the trail but surprisingly easy with its gentle ascent. You are rewarded with some of the best views on a clear day. The open moorland gives a real sense of space and freedom. Drop down from the ridge to spend the night in Longtown. Your accommodation will welcome you warmly after your day of exhilarating walking in the mountains.

Elevation Gain/Loss: +611m/-560m

After a sustaining breakfast make your way back up to the ridge. The village of Pandy is certainly a welcome sight in the distance. It consists of just a few cottages and farms but of particular interest is Cwm Farm, a cider house built in 1754 which is virtually unchanged but has also been completely restored to its former glory with a cider press and mill.

The path then continues through farmlands with patchwork fields, wide hedgerows and apple orchards, passing through pretty small villages towards the Wye Valley. The riverside town of Monmouth in the heart of this valley is delightful with its 13th-century fortified bridge and small museums.

Elevation Gain/Loss: +905m/-890m

The final section of your journey is an epic one as you are walking through the Wye Valley, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Cross the wide bridge in Monmouth where the trail diverts off the River Wye for a while, then meets it again in Redbrook. It is hard to imagine that this small village was once a bustling river port exporting copper products and where, at one time, corn and paper mills stood, plus a malthouse and brewery. Continue on to the Devil's Pulpit where you will have amazing views over the ruins of the Cistercian Tintern Abbey, a Gothic masterpiece.

Continue on through the Hudnalls, a large and well-wooded common, or take the alternate trail alongside the River Wye if you wish which takes you to Brockweir village where you can see the whitewashed 19th century Moravian Chapel. For those of you who wish to complete the Offa's Dyke in its entirety you can walk all the way to Sedbury Cliffs on the Severn Estuary, the official finish point. Or cross the bridge and walk straight into Chepstow where you will spend your final night.

Elevation Gain/Loss: +880m/-885m

Today depart from Chepstow which had a train station and is therefore easily accessible to Londonand Cardiff. You can also take trains north which will involve a changeover.