Offa's Dyke Path
National Trail following the English-Welsh Border
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.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
Printed book
A guidebook with detailed route descriptions, stage breakdowns, accommodation listings, profiles and maps - everything you need on the trail.
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
eBook
The complete digital edition of the guidebook, with full route descriptions, accommodation listings, profiles and maps, ready to use on any device.
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
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
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 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.
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.
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