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Offa's Dyke Path

National Trail following the English-Welsh Border

This guidebook describes Offa's Dyke Path National Trail, a 177 mile (283km) long-distance walk along the English-Welsh border between Sedbury (near Chepstow) and Prestatyn. The guidebook is split into 12 stages with suggestions for planning alternative itineraries. With OS 1:25,000 map booklet.

Seasons

This walk is exceptional in all seasons, though the Black Mountains and Clwydian range deserve respect in winter conditions, and especially in mist, since there are few landmarks on the Black Mountain ridge

Centres

Chepstow, Hay-on-Wye, Kington, Bishops Castle, Montgomery, Welshpool, Oswestry, Llangollen, Denbigh, Prestatyn

Difficulty

The trail includes a couple of unavoidably long stages and there are some mountain and moorland stages, but the route poses no special difficulties and caters for walkers of all levels of ability provided that sensible advance planning is undertaken

Must See

Geology - limestone gorge of the lower Wye, igneous intrusions around Hergest ridge, Breidden Hills dolerite, limestone escarpments north of Llangollen Uplands - Black Mountain moorlands, remote Clun Forest, Clwydian ridge Lowlands - orchards and meadows, Montgomery canal, broad Severn valley Historical attractions - Tintern abbey and Llanthony priory, border castles, Pontcysyllte aqueduct
ISBN
9781852847760
Availability
Published
Published
14 Mar 2016
Reprinted
28 Nov 2023
Edition
First
Pages
192
Size
17.20 x 11.60 x 11.50cm
Weight
330g
Overview

A guidebook to walking Offa’s Dyke Path National Trail, following Britain’s longest ancient monument: the eighth century earthwork that once marked the boundary between the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Mercia and the Welsh kingdoms to the east. The 285km (177 mile) route from Sedbury Cliffs near Chepstow to Prestatyn is suitable for walkers of most abilities.

The route is described from south to north in 12 stages of between 17 and 29km (11–18 miles), with additional suggestions for faster and slower itineraries.

  • Contains step-by-step description of the route alongside 1:100,000 maps
  • Includes a separate map booklet containing OS 1:25,000 mapping with the route line
  • Public transport information for those wanting to break the trail into shorter sections
  • Handy trek planner, route summary table and accommodation listings help you plan your itinerary
  • GPX files available to download

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Mike Dunn Cicerone author DUNN

By Mike Dunn

Mike Dunn was born and bred in Leicester but has now lived in Penarth in the Vale of Glamorgan for over 30 years. He worked for the Welsh Assembly Government, latterly specialising in environmental and conservation issues, and has also written widely on landscape, walking, pubs and real ale. His books includeThe Penguin Guide to Real Draught Beer, Walking through the Lake District, Walking Ancient Trackways and Real Heritage Pubs of Wales (with Mick Slaughter). He is married and has two daughters, and his interests include playing and organising tennis (he's a former member of the Tennis Wales Board), birdwatching, cricket and real ale. Mike's favourite locations for walking are the Welsh borders, the Hebridean Islands and the Lake District. 

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