Offa’s Dyke Path

Arrive in Chepstow and spend the evening at your first night’s accommodation.

From the bridge by Chepstow Castle follow a well-marked trail northwards for the day. Chepstow Castle dates from 1067 and is open throughout the year.

The path is often high above the river affording good views of the wooded valley. You will pass by Tintern Abbey, founded in 1131 by monks of the Cistercian Order before you arrive in Redbrook which overlooks the River Wye.

From Redbrook you climb above the River Wye before the route descends into Monmouth, a lovely historic town with a castle and beautiful 13th-century gatehouse on the bridge over the River Monnow.

From here you follow field and woodland paths through a picturesque rural landscape to Llantilio Crossenny, before ending your day at White Castle, a 12th century Norman stronghold. You will spend the night in the nearby town of Abergavenny.

This morning you will return to White Castle, where your route crosses farmland, which accompanies you by way of Llangattock Lingoed and Pandy. Then it’s a long, steady climb up onto the panoramic Hatterall Ridge to the first summit of the Black Mountains (464m) followed by an easy, gradual climb to the highest point (703m).

Depending on availability, you will spend the evening in either Llanthony – with its famous Priory, or Longtown – a lovely village in the Olchon Valley.

A steep climb this morning take you back to rejoin the ridge, which follows not only the English/Welsh border but the boundary of the Brecon Beacons National Park. This superb ridge walk ends at Hay Bluff from where there is a fantastic view north over Hay and the Wye Valley and west towards the Brecon Beacons. From here you descend steeply and mostly through farmland to the border town of Hay-on-Wye.

Hay-on-Wye is a pretty little town, famous for its wealth of second-hand book shops. There are bookshelves on the street and in back yards, on walls and in tin sheds, in a cinema, in gardens, cafes, and the biggest of all is in the castle!

This is an enjoyable day of contrasts which stays on the Welsh side of the border for most of the day. It takes you along the River Wye, through a short stretch of forest and up onto a couple of lovely stretches of the moor before descending to Kington.

Offa’s Dyke is your constant companion today. Although hilly the walk is relatively straightforward with superb views and features some of the best-preserved examples of the dyke along the whole route. A steep descent brings you into the small town of Knighton.

Half way! Knighton`s Welsh name, Tref-y-Clawd, is Town on the Dyke, indicating that Offa’s Dyke actually passes through the town. Suitably enough, the Offa’s Dyke Centre opened here in 1999.

This section of Offa’s Dyke is bleak and challenging and perhaps the hardest day of the walk. The relentless pattern of hills means steep climbs, a relatively level section of the ridge then a steep drop, followed by another brutal climb. Nevertheless, the scenery is spectacular.

The section of the route near Llanfair Hill is often regarded as the finest on the route, both for seeing the dyke and for the views. We recommend an early start to allow for plenty of rest stops

Today is on the easy side after the hills of the previous day with pleasant, flat walking which gradually builds to steep ascents. A short detour can be made into the delightful town of Montgomery, overlooked by its castle ruins.

Long Mountain dominates the skyline in front of you. Follow the Roman road up Long Mountain before branching off through woodland to Beacon Ring Iron Age hill fort. From here you descend to Buttington, before continuing to your accommodation in Welshpool; a 13th-century market town that developed under the protection of Powis Castle.

From Buttington, Offa’s Dyke Path follows the River Severn northwards for a considerable distance. This flattish day then takes you by way of Four Crosses on to Llanymynech, where the English/Welsh border runs down the main street.

Passing through the villages of Porth-y-waen and Nantmawr, you climb once more to take in the fine views from Moelydd (285m). You will spend the evening in nearby Oswestry.

From the hills, you return to tourist territory in Llangollen, a bridging point of the River Dee.

The section along Craig Forda to the former Oswestry Racecourse is delightful in all seasons and ahead is Chirk Castle, a magnificent 14th Century home. The route then takes you through an area dominated by remnants of the industrial age of the early 19th Century. There is a fine railway viaduct on the Wrexham line, the Llangollen Canal and best of all the towering 120-foot arches of Thomas Telford’s Pontcysyllte canal aqueduct constructed in 1805.

Then you return to the magnificent countryside with the superb Eglwyseg ridge above Llangollen. Beyond the Eglwyseg Mountain, another climb takes you into the Llandegla Forest before descending into the attractive village of Llandegla.

From the base of Moel y Waen it’s a steady climb to the top of Moel y Plas. From the top of Moel Llanfair, the view into the valley below is dominated by the Denbighshire town of Ruthin with its red stone castle. You will spend the evening in nearby Llanferres.

After being transferred back to Clwyd Gate, your penultimate day on Offa’s Dyke Path continues as you make your way through the wild beauty of the heather-covered moors along the Clwydian Range. You will climb to reach Moel Famau, the highest point of these hills at 544m and topped by the ruins of the Jubilee Tower, erected in 1810 to mark the jubilee of George III.

Further hills and accompanying hill forts lead you north before descending to the tiny village of Bodfari.

There are several stiff ascents to tackle on this final day but ahead are alluring coastal vistas as you head towards the coast at Prestatyn.

North of Rhuallt you gain expansive views of the sea to the north and west. A wonderful grand finale is the hair-raising section of path along a clifftop before descending to Prestatyn where your walk ends on award-winning sands.

After breakfast, you will start your journey home after a wonderful walking holiday on the Offa’s Dyke Path.