Offa's Dyke Path South
- Walk the southern section Offa's Dyke Path, a classic National Trail
- Unspoiled landscapes of the Black Mountains in the Brecon Beacons National Park
- An ancient earthwork built by King Offa which marks the Welsh-English border
- Hillforts, norman castles, ruined monasteries that weave a rich historical tapestry
- Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, such as the Wye Valley
Gallery
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive in Knighton and OvernightArrive in Knighton to embark on the southern section of the Offa's Dyke Path. Knighton is accessible by train as it has a railway station. The closest large hub is Birmingham and the train ride there is approximately 2H.
Knighton is home to the Offa's Dyke Centre and is spelt Tref Y Clawdd in Welsh, which means ’the town on the dyke’.
A relaxed and contemporary B&B set among the rolling hills of the Welsh Marches. Our four spacious rooms provide a comfortable base from which to explore the delights of Knighton and the Marches.
Situated in the centre of the market town of Knighton, close to the Offa's Dyke centre, this traditional 14th Century coaching inn boasts tons of character with its original beams, open fires. It has a bar and pool room and a courtyard where you can sit outside. Relaxed atmosphere with 8 ensuite bedrooms.
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 Burton Hotel has been under the same family ownership for over 35 years and offers modern accommodation in the centre of Kington. In addition of comfortable and well fitted bedrooms, guests can relax by the pool or at the spa.
Church House is a beautiful Georgian town house with a spacious garden in the old part of Kington, a quiet and ancient market town in the lovely rolling hills of west Herefordshire, just 2 miles from the Welsh border. The house faces south-east, and all the rooms have fine views over the garden. The house is largely furnished with furniture in keeping with the house’s 18th century character.
Kick-off your boots and relax in the communal lounge or by the fire as Ali welcomes you with a hot drink and treats. Cosy rooms with a super comfortable bed for a restful nights sleep. Recharge your batteries in the morning with a healthy breakfast and enjoy the relaxed, friendly atmosphere and quirky interior (circa 1700), before heading back out on the trail again.
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
Elmsleigh is situated in Thirty Acres, Cusop, a pleasant stroll from the characterful book town of Hay-on-Wye on the Welsh/English border. Located in an area of outstanding beauty, Elmsleigh is moments from the Offa's Dyke Path and the Wye Valley Walk and conveniently situated for the Black Mountains and the Brecon Beacons National Park.
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:Â +611m/-560m
They have now been at the pub for several years and with the amazing support of everyone, The Crown Inn is once more the central meeting place for the local populace. They pride themselves on being able to cater to everyone's needs and on having close links with local groups such as The Young Farmers Club and our local school. They have seven rooms available upstairs from the Crown Inn pub which is accessible via a separate private entrance outside which is accessible 24 hours. All the rooms have en suite bathroom/shower, tea/coffee making facilities & TV with all linen & towels provided. Free wi-fi.
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.
Your overnight is in Llangattock Lingoed (quite a mouthful!) a village with a distinctive white-washed church.
If there is no available accommodation in Llangattock Lingoed you will stay overnight in Pandy or Llanvihangel Crucorny. You can walk to your accommodations from the trail, so the walk today will be shorter, and the walk tomorrow will be longer.
Elevation Gain/Loss:Â +510m/-500m
Paul and Karen welcome you to The Old Rectory, a 17th-century property which stands in an acre of garden, in the unspoilt rural hamlet of Llangattock-Lingoed nestling in the welsh border countryside.
Nestled in the tranquil village of Llangattock Lingoed on The Offa's Dyke Path, The Hunters Moon Inn is a traditional British Pub that has been trading since the 13th century. Great food, Great Ales, Great B&B
A warm Welsh Welcome awaits you at Penyclawdd Farm and a full Welsh breakfast to set you up for the day. Penyclawdd Farm is situated in Llanvihangel Crucorney within the foothills of the Black Mountains. Rooms are equipped with en-suite facilities, TVs, and tea making facilities. The farmhouse has excellent laid out gardens ideal for guests to relax during their stay.
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.
If you have spent the night in Pandy or Llanvihangel Crucorny the walking distance will be longer today than listed.
Elevation Gain/Loss: +245m/-390m
Myrtle Place is a quiet bed and breakfast in the historic town of Monmouth. Surrounded by stunning scenery
The Mayhill Hotel is right on the Offas Dyke footpath, a stones throw away from the river wye. Each newly refurbished room at The Mayhill comes with an en-suite bathroom and a TV. The hotel also features an on-site licensed bar with a large beer garden.
You are now 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. (You can walk the riverside path if you choose to). 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 Tintern, where you can view the amazing ruins of a Cistercian abbey, a Gothic masterpiece.
Elevation Gain/Loss: +800m/-805m
A 17th Century former farmhouse set just 50 yards from the banks of the River Wye, less than a mile from historic Tintern Abbey.
It has been a guesthouse for some years with a loyal following. Now with new owners since early 2019, Marta and Roger Brook.
Your final day of walking takes you firstly to 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. Here 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: +260m/-255m
The friendly proprietors at The Coach And Horses Inn, Chepstow, offer a very warm welcome and highly rated pub B&B accommodation, with seven well-furnished rooms. With a prideful and quality demanding chef, loving owners and caring staff we provide only the best in service. We serve everything from real ales to fine wine. Whether you are popping in for a drink, booking a room for the night or having a three course meal we guarantee you will not be disappointed.
The Three Tuns Inn is located in the old part of Chepstow just in front of the Castle and the lower end of Bridge Street, with its elegant row of early 19th century houses, the street descends to the River Wye which is crossed by the beautiful cast Iron bridge dating back to 1816. The interior of the property has been completely refurbished with a comfortable bar area and four exquisitely restored B&B guest rooms.
This charming 17th Century, ivy-clad 3 Star Hotel is situated in a prime location along the River Wye and directly opposite Britain’s oldest stone-built castle. The attentive staff promise a warm welcome to every guest, priding themselves on providing a family-run feel to the establishment. Intimate lighting and in-keeping decor maintain the hotel’s cosy atmosphere, the perfect place to relax.
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.
Other Information
Is it for me?On this long-distance trail enjoy varied scenery with a mix of open country, stunning mountain views, wooded valleys and plenty of wildlife. If you are a history buff then this would be very interesting for you as this trail reveals a rich tapestry of times gone by and the conflicts between the Welsh and the English. Depending on the itinerary you take, this route is rated anywhere between strenuous and strenuous to challenging. If you don't have time to complete the whole trail at once this is an ideal opportunity to split it into two in manageable sections, both time-wise and walking-wise.
Classic Routes | If you’re the active, outdoorsy type, who’s interested in taking on the great routes of the world or looking for a challenge, then our Classic Routes are for you. We’re talking the West Highland Way, Tour Du Mont Blanc and the Passau to Vienna Danube Cycle Path, to name but a few!
Inn to Inn Walking | Walk from place-to-place changing accommodations each night. Generally staying in B&B’s, inns, and guesthouses.
Solo Travellers
As a guide, we would suggest that the minimum age of traveler this tour would be suitable for is: 12 Years
The Offa's Dyke Path South passes through such a vast amount of varying landscapes, rolling hills, escarpments, ridges, countryside, wooded areas, riverside trails and moors. There will be long quite remote stretches, especially in the Welsh Marches. You will find that whilst there are not areas of very steep climbs that the accumulation of elevation gain and loss may prove tiring on some days. The most challenging parts of this section will be in the Black Mountains.
The grade of this walk is moderate. Most walks are between 13 and 24km per day, but with average daily walking distance at 20km. You will be walking on a combination of terrain. The majority of the walking however will be on dedicated countryside trails. Sometimes you will walk on paths that are rooty and uneven and at other times they will be smooth.
You will experience a wide variety of accommodations, from simple B&B's to small hotels. However, wherever you stay, you will be well looked after and warmly welcomed. Because some of the areas on this route are very remote, we have specifically designed the itinerary to provide you with the best accommodations available. As a result of this on occasion some overnight stops are off the trail. These dsitances off the trail can be anything between 1-5km, but we have calcluated the daily distances with this in mind. So, for example, when you walk to Llangollen, which is off the trail, the distance from Ruthin or Llandegla is incorporated. By arranging the distance walked this way, there will be no surprises, although the km amounts in the guidebook will vary from what you will find on our itineraries.
Single Rooms & Solo Walkers
If you require single rooms we would be happy to accommodate you although there is a single room supplement payable.
We welcome solo walkers on the Offa's Dyke, although you should, of course, take extra care in the outdoors when walking solo and you must have the ability to read a map and compass.
The Offa's Dyke Path is well waymarked and should be relatively easy to follow most of the time. Navigation is also straightforward as you can use the Macs Adventure Smartphone App which has maps and the GPS tracks. Simply download the GPS tracks for offline use and follow the route on your phone with the assurance that navigation on this tour will be made simple and you cannot get lost. You will find more information on downloading the app in your Macs Adventure Account.
We will provide a guidebook, which you can also refer to.
- Overnights in B&B's, guest houses, small hotels
- Breakfast
- Luggage Transfers
- Detailed Information Pack, guidebook and maps
- GPX tracks and access to our GPS Macs Adventure smartphone app
- 24/7 telephone support from our UK office
- Travel Insurance (required)
- Travel to Knighton
- Travel from Chepstow
- Lunches, dinners, snacks & drinks
- Taxi transfers or public transport should you need to skip a stage
- Personal Equipment
- Additional Nights, before, during or after the walk
This walking tour can be booked between March and October, although most people choose to walk from April onwards as the weather can be quite cool and unpredicable in March. If you have walked in the UK before however, you will know that anytime of year can be unpredictable, so you should always be prepared with the right gear. Autumn can be a great time to walk as the path will not have as many people walking on it as the summer months. Spring and early summer are best times to see the flora along the way.
IMPORTANT - Please be aware we have closed off dates for booking between May and June on the Offa's Dyke path due to the Hay Festival taking place between 25 May to 3 June 2023. Unfortunately, there is no accommodation in the local area for these dates.
When travelling to the beginning of your tour you can reach Knighton by rail as it has a train station. The closest large hub to Knighton is Birmingham which you can reach in approximately 2H. Please check the National Rail website for more details.
The closest airport to Knighton is Cardiff. You can fly from Cardiff to most UK locations. You can also fly from any of the London airports which are accessible by train.
When travelling home after your tour you can get from Chepstow by train. To London journey time is 2H30, to Cardiff 45 minutes and Manchester in 4H. These are all approximate times depending on the scheduling and how many changes there are. Please check the National Rail website for more details.
The closest airport to Chepstow is Cardiff. You can fly from Cardiff to most UK locations. You can also fly from any of the London airports which are accessible by train.
If you have parked your car in Prestatyn you can return there by train. The journey time is approximately 4H with about 2 changes, probably in Newport and Crewe.
Your bags will be transferred from your accommodation as per your itinerary and moved onto your next overnight accommodation. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 20kg per person.
At Macs Adventure, we work in partnership with many luggage transfer providers who set a limit on how many bags/suitcases they will transfer per person, and also the weight of the bag/suitcase. Your booking includes transfer of 1 bag per person.  It is very important that you read the luggage information specific to your tour before departure. If you do not adhere to these limits, there is a great possibility that you will be charged locally both for extra bags or if they are too heavy. This limitation can be a challenge, especially as airlines generally have limits that are higher. However, our luggage providers have reasons for these limits (usually due to the Health and Safety of their employees), which we must respect.
Please bear in mind that the daily distances for the walks also include the extra walking to the town/village/hamlet where your accommodation is located. As a result of this the distances in the guidebook will vary from what you will find on our itineraries.
There may also be occasions however where your distance takes you directly into a town on the trail but you may have to walk a bit further to reach your accommodation if they are not exactly in the centre of town.
IMPORTANT - Please be aware we have closed off dates for booking between May and June on the Offa's Dyke path due to the Hay Festival taking place between 25 May to 3 June 2023. Unfortunately, there is no accommodation in the local area for these dates.
Please be prepared by packing all necessary items, for example, proper rain gear (jacket and pants), sun hat, sunscreen etc. Your information pack has a detailed equipment list which includes standard walking gear such as good walk boots, warm and waterproof clothes for the cooler months and lightweight clothing for summer, and a daypack.
It is a requirement of booking this tour with Macs Adventure that you have suitable travel insurance which covers you for the activity and emergency evacuation and hospital care.
This walking tour can be booked between March and October, although most people choose to walk from April onwards as the weather can be quite cool and unpredicable in March. If you have walked in the Uk before however, you will know that anytime of year can be unpredictable, so you should always be prepared with the right gear. Autumn can be a great time to walk as the path will not have as many people walking on it as the summer months. Spring and early summer are best times to see the flora along the way.
Why Macs
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At Macs, we don’t do tour buses, groups, or guides. Instead, we give you the freedom and confidence to have your own self-guided hiking or biking adventure
It's active travel, led by you.
You choose your departure date and who you travel with, we do the rest.
We sort accommodation and luggage transfers and provide your route in an easy-to-use app.
We give you everything you need to travel independently but we're here 24/7 if you need us.
Getting from A to B under your own steam is intensely rewarding. With Macs, you'll see the world, and yourself, differently.
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