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Offa's Dyke Path

National Trail following the English-Welsh Border

ISBN

9781852847760

Availability

Published

14 Mar 2016

Reprinted

28 Nov 2023

Edition

First

Pages

192

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 11.50cm

Weight

330g

Delivery & Returns

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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. Historical attractions - Tintern abbey and Llanthony priory, Pontcysyllte aqueduct

ISBN

9781852847760

Availability

Published

14 Mar 2016

Reprinted

28 Nov 2023

Edition

First

Pages

192

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 11.50cm

Weight

330g

Delivery & Returns

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

Table of Contents

CONTENTS

Route summary table

Overview map and profile

Trek planner

Map key

Introduction

From the Severn to the Irish Sea

Planning your trip

Selecting a schedule

When to go

Travel to the Path

Transport along the Path

First and last nights

Accommodation

Facilities

Baggage transfer

What to take

Planning day by day

Using this guide

Maps and GPS

Waymarking

Weather forecasts

Phones and wi-fi

Emergencies

All about the Welsh Marches

Geology and landscape

Plants and wildlife

Border prehistory

Offa and the Dyke

The Welsh Marches after Offa

Offa’s Dyke Path

Stage 1 Above the Lower Wye Gorge

Stage 2 Sheep and cider in remote Monmouthshire

Stage 3 Crossing the Black Mountains

Stage 4 Gladestry and Hergest Ridge

Stage 5 The Radnorshire Hills

Stage 6 Ups and downs in deepest Shropshire

Stage 7 The Vale of Montgomery and Long Mountain

Stage 8 Across the Severn valley

Stage 9 Exploring the unknown Marches

Stage 10 The Vale of Llangollen and Eglwyseg Rocks

Stage 11 The Clwydian Range

Stage 12 Northern hills and coast

Appendix A Useful contacts

Appendix B Accommodation along the route

Appendix C Topographical Welsh glossary

Appendix D Further reading

Updates

January 2024

B&B Trefonen

We have been informed about a new B&B on the ODP, 1 mile north of Trefonen, just outside Candy Woods, and 3 miles out of Oswestry. There is also a small pop-up campsite and an honesty shop open during the day for walkers to help themselves to a hot drink (and water) and something to eat. www.oldmillcandy.co.uk

October 2023

Updates

Page 63 – it has been reported that the toilets opposite the entrance to St Teilo’s church in Llantilio Crossenny are normally available when the church itself is open.

Page 65 – Bad news where the path between White Castle and Caggle Street 'crosses high above a little stream on a single-plank footbridge': the bridge has collapsed and it seems unlikely that it will be repaired in the foreseeable future. This necessitates a significant diversion (clearly signposted), initially following a section of the Three Castles Walk and then turning left along the B4521 to rejoin Offa’s Dyke Path in the hamlet of Caggle Street.

Pages 94-95 – good news from Lower Harpton, where the 'unpleasant but unavoidable' road walking along the twisting B4362 no longer has to be negotiated. A new right of way (opened in March 2023) has been created through the fields to the east of the road, crossing the Riddings Brook (here the boundary between Wales and England) on a new footbridge and then emerging to cross the B4362 at Ditchyeld Bridge.

Page 151 – for the avoidance of doubt, the 'obvious junction of paths' referred to in the second paragraph is to the west of and below Craig Arthur.

Page 63 – it has been reported that the toilets opposite the entrance to St Teilo’s church in Llantilio Crossenny are normally available when the church itself is open.

Page 151 – for the avoidance of doubt, the 'obvious junction of paths' referred to in the second paragraph is to the west of and below Craig Arthur.

June 2019

Route Updates and corrections

Page 45

Refreshments: there is an excellent village shop on the Hewelsfield road out of Brockweir, but it is a few hundred metres from Brockweir bridge, to the north-east of the main route over St Briavels Common (this is the shop referred to on page 51).

The Brockweir Inn is closed for renovation and is expected to reopen in late 2019.

Page 99

It’s reported that the phone box near the junction of the Whitton road (B4357) and the lane to Rhos-y-Meirch has been removed.

Page 117

The reference to fish fossils being found at Devil’s Hole in the Camlad valley should be deleted – these were actually discovered at a completely different Devil’s Hole at Morville, to the west of Bridgnorth!

June 2016

Page 153

Good news from Llandegla, where a new community-run shop incorporating a cafe has been established to replace the village shop and post office, which closed in 2015. In addition the village church has recently developed a visitor centre including displays on local history and places of interest.

May 2016

Pages 10, 19, 106 & 181

Springhill Farm, north of Knighton on Stage 6 of the trail, no longer offers camping or bed-and-breakfast accommodation. This also affects the alternative itineraries listed on page 19 of the guide, although fortunately, there are a few alternatives in and close to Newcastle-upon-Clun, only a mile or so further north along the trail. In addition to the Quarry House (listed on page 181) the Crown Inn has now fully reopened, and Little Hall Cottage also offers b&b.

Downloads

Offa's Dyke Path - GPX File

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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