Offa's Dyke Path National Trail

Start: Chepstow
Grid Ref: ST 556929
End: Prestatyn
Grid Ref: SJ 092851
Distance: 288 km
Walking Time: 15 days
Counties Traversed: Gloucestershire, Hereford, Worcestershire, Shropshire, Powys, Wrexham, Denbighshire
Explorer™ Maps: 201, 216, 240, 256, 265

The Trail takes its name from the 8th. Century king Offa, who built an earthwork to define the English Welsh border and keep out the Celts. Offa's Dyke Path (Llwybr Clawdd Offa) follows the undulating borderlands of England and Wales, passing through a stunning and ever-changing landscape. The trail follows this archaeological route for about 100km of its length.

Starting from Sedbury Cliffs, just south of Chepstow, the first part of the route climbs the beautiful, wooded slopes of the Wye Valley past the ruins of Tintern Abbey and descending to the river at Monmouth. The route then crosses the pastoral landscape of the Monmouthshire lowlands to Pandy. From here there is a splendid ridge walk across the Black Mountains including a demanding hill walk along Hatterall Ridge. This section definitely requires compass navigation in poor visibility. Do not attempt this walk without OS 1:25,000 maps and a guide book and having researched escape possibilities. The path leaves the mountains to descend into Hay-on-Wye, famed for its numerous bookshops.

After Hay-on Wye the route crosses the sparsely populated beautiful Radnorshire Hills, where constant climbs once again make for strenuous walking. After Clun Forest the trail descends to the Vale of Montgomery, follows the eastern edge of the Berwyn Hills and then descends to the river tDee near Llangollen and the World Heritage Site of the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. From Llangollen the final stretches of the Path take in the rugged beauty of the Clwydian range with its fascinating hill forts, before making a last plunge to the Irish Sea coast at Prestatyn.

The official guide book describes the route in twelve day walk stages. This is a pretty tough itinerary with daily distances of up to 18 miles across undulating terrain. By starting at Sedbury Cliffs the route can claim to be a coast to coast trail, but commencing from nearby Chepstow will save time on the first stage.

Sedbury Cliffs to Monmouth 17.5 miles
Monmouth to Pandy 16.75 miles
Pandy to Hay-on-Wye 17.5 miles
Hay-on-Wye to Kington 14.25 miles
Kington to Knighton 13.5 miles
Knighton to Brompton Crossroads 15 miles
Brompton Crossroads to Buttington Bridge 12.25 miles
Buttington Bridge to Llanymynech 10.5 miles
Llanymynech to Chirk Mill 14 miles
Chirk Mill to Llandegla 15.5 miles
Llandegla to Bodfari 17.5 miles
Bodfari to Prestatyn 12 miles