Offa's Dyke Path

Offa's Dyke Path is a popular walking route through the border regions of England and Wales. The dyke itself (Clawdd Offa in Welsh) has partially disappeared in places, although in the parts where it is preserved, it's about 20m wide and 2.5m high. In particular, there is an 130km (80mi) section between the Wye Valley and Wrexham where the Dyke is easily seen. The route is approximately 289km (177mi) in length, and takes between 12 to 14 days. The path was inaugurated in 1971 and thousands of people walk the route each year.
Much of the history of the Dyke is based on some speculation, but it is named after Offa, King of Mercia between 757 and 796 AD. It's believed that construction was started around 785 AD but it's not known if the Dyke represented an agreed border or a defensive structure. However, some sections still form the England/Wales border more than twelve centuries later.
Relations between the Welsh and the English haven't always been comfortable. To quote George Borrow in Wild Wales: "It was customary for the English to cut off the ears off every Welshman found east of the dyke, and for the Welsh to hang every Englishman whom they found to the west of it." Thankfully it's more civil these days.
There is much variety in the route, passing as it does through historic towns such as Knighton, Kington, Hay-on-Wye and Monmouth, some wide river valleys, moorlands, remote villages and woodlands. The route passes near old forts and castles, including famous ruins such as Tintern Abbey near Chepstow.
All of Offa’s Dyke Path follows legally defined Rights of Way for all walkers and is clearly signed with an acorn symbol. Some, but not all, sections are also available for horseriders and cyclists.

The route is quite convoluted in some places so a set of Ordnance Survey maps covering the area would be a help.
Or a realistic and sensible lightweight alternative would be the National Trail Guides 'South' and 'North' by Eric & Kathy Kay and Mark Richards (Aurum Press) which include an OS Explorer strip map which is all that is necessary.

The south trailhead is at Sedbury Cliffs, near Chepstow. The train station at Chepstow is about 3km (2mi) from the trailhead where there is a commemorative marker, about a mile east of Chepstow on the east side of the River Wye.
The north trailhead is at Prestatyn which is 0.5km (0.3mi) from the train station.
After backpacking all the nineteen (2017) British National Trails, mostly wild camping and this one twice. This trail has got to be walked south to north. Maps go this way and the worst terrain is met near the end, when the backpacker is fitter. Also at Sedbury is one marker in a field where as at Pestatyn there is a bustling seaside resort, markers and at least a tempting paddle in the sea.

There are many types of accommodation along the route, including inns, B&Bs, campsites, hostels and self-catering facilities.
Listed below are a very small selection of things to see and do, places to stay and where to find food.
A sample 12-day walking itinerary from north to south would be as follows:

• to Bodfari - 21km (13mi)

• Downing Arms Inn

  phone: +44 1745 710265
  address: Mold Road, Bodfari LL16 4DW
  After 54 years backpacking this has got to be the friendlist pub ever. Note no food on Sunday but order from nearest town Chinese and eat on plates with cutlery kindly supplied by pub. Camp in garden or use bunk room Good modern facilities. (2014)

• Valeside B&B

  phone: +44 1745 710495
  address: Bella Vista, Tremeirchion Road, Bodfari LL16 4EG
  2 dbl (one en suite), 1 en suite twin.

• Station House Caravan Park

  phone: +44 1745 710372
  address: Station House, Bodfari LL16 4DA
  Campground with a local pub nearby.

• to Llandegla - 27km (17mi)

• The Plough Inn

  phone: +44 1978 790672
  address: Ruthin Rd, Wrexham

• Llyn Rhys Campsite

  phone: +44 1978 790627
  address: Llandegla LL11 3AF
  Has 40 pitches and 4 caravan sites.

• to Froncysyllte - 19km (12mi)

• Valle Crucis Abbey

  address: Llangollen
  Cistercian abbey built in 1201

• Abbey Farm Caravan Park

  phone: +44 1978 861297
  address: Llangollen LL208DD

• The West Arms

  phone: +44 1691 600665
  address: Bridge St, Llangollen LL20 8PF

• Pontcysyllte Aqueduct World Heritage Site

  phone: +44 1978 292015
  address: Froncysyllte
  Longest and highest aqueduct in Britain. The visitor centre is in Queen's Square, Wrexham, a few km north of the aqueduct.

• Oaklands B&B

  phone: +44 1978 820152
  address: Llangollen Rd, Trevor LL20 7TG

• Duke of Wellington (Pub)

  phone: +44 1978 820000
  address: Acrefair, Wrexham LL14 3SG

• to Trefonen - 21km (13mi)

• The Barley Mow Inn

  phone: +44 1691 656889
  address: Chapel Lane, Trefonen SY10 9DX
  Pub food and pub drinks from the Thomas Mcguinness range of beers together with those from their own Offa's Dyke Brewery (which actually straddles the border between England and Wales): Harvest Moon 3.4% Dark Mild, Harvest Gold 3.8% Light Bitter, Barley Blonde 4.0% Cask Lager made with saaz hops and Thirst Brew 4.2% Premium Bitter.

• Forest Cottage Self-Catering

  phone: +44 1691 658032
  address: 1 Forest Cottage
  B&B; Self-catering accommodation

• Glan-yr-Afon B&B

  phone: +44 1691 653085
  address: Glan-yr-Afon, Candy SY10 9AZ
  Bed and Breakfast with 3 bedrooms (1 en suite) welcomes families and also has camping facilities. Evening meals and packed lunch (£4) available on request.

to Buttington Bridge - 24km (15mi)

• Moors Farm

  phone: +44 1938 553395
  address: Oswestry Rd, Welshpool SY21 9JR
  6 en suite B&B bedrooms with TV, DVD, radio alarm clocks, hairdryers, bath robes. Also self-catering accommodation. Camp site has ceased.

• Leighton Arches Caravan Site

  address: Welshpool
  Campground

• to Brompton Crossroads - 19km (12mi)

• Blue Bell

  phone: +44 1588 620231
  address: Churchstoke, Montgomery
  Hotel

• Drewin Farm

  phone: +44 1588 620325
  address: Churchstoke
  B&B

• Dragon Hotel

  phone: +44 1686 668359
  address: Market Square, Montgomery SY15 6PA
  Accommodation and food in an historic 17th century, former Coaching Inn at the centre of the attractive, quiet, village-sized former county seat of Montgomeryshire. 20 en-suite B&B bedrooms, many with exposed ancient timbers and Wi-Fi. Cosy restaurant; indoor swimming pool and sauna. Restaurant and Bar are open daily for lunch and dinner. Food is served 12.00-14.00 & 18.45-21.00.

• Mellington Hall Hotel

  phone: +44 1588 620456
  address: Mellington, Churchstoke SY15 6HX
  1870s Gothic mansion set in 280 acres of mature gardens and tranquil parkland with mullioned windows, oak panelling and beautiful staircase. 10 individually designed rooms and suites, all en suite with unlimited Wi-Fi. No pets allowed. Afternoon tea and home made cakes in the Offas Dyke Bar. Lunch 12.00–14:00, Dinner 18.30–21:00 served in one of 4 restaurants: the Cwm Dining Room, the Mahogany Panelled Restaurant, the William Morris Room, or the Shropshire Lounge. Local ingredients and suppliers are used wherever possible with many ingredients traceable to source. Graded *** with Welsh Tourist Board. The most luxorius camp site I have met. Camp by lake next to facilities block. Phone owner for entrance code. Pay £5 pppn (2014) in the morning to groundsman. 5 star hotel next door are polite but claim to know nothing about camping as its under separate ownership. Hotel

to Knighton - 24km (15mi)

• Offa's Dyke Centre

  phone: +44 1547 528753
  address: West St, Knighton

• to Kington - 21km (13mi)

• The Oxford Arms

  phone: +44 1544 230322
  address: Kington
  accommodation and food

• Burton Hotel

  phone: +44 1544 230323
  address: Mill Street, Kington
  Hotel and Guest House.

• to Hay-on-Wye - 23km (14.5mi) - Hay-on-Wye is well known for its many antiques and bookshops and antiquarian fair. There are also ruins of two Norman castles.

• Radnor's End Apartment & Campsite

  phone: +44 1497 820780
  address: Hay-on-Wye HR3 5RS
  toilets, showers, washer, dryer, fridge, freezer, children's play area.

• The Swan at Hay Hotel

  address: Church St, Hay-on-Wye HR3 5DQ

• Davlyn B&B

  phone: +44 1497 820275
  address: Hay-on-Wye
  Wi-Fi.

• to Pandy - 27km (17mi) - This section is either within or abutting the Brecon Beacons National Park and includes the "summit" of the route at 700m (2,300ft).

• White Castle

  address: Llanthony Crosseny, Abergavenny NP7 8UD
  One of the best preserved of 3 castles near the Dyke south-east of Llanvetherine. Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult.

• The Old Pandy Inn

  phone: +44 1873 890208
  address: Hereford Rd, Pandy
  Accommodation and food service; Free Wi-Fi.

• The Park Hotel

  phone: +44 1873 890271
  address: Pandy
  Accommodation and food services.

• to Monmouth - 28km (17.5mi)

• Monnow Bridge & Gate

  address: Monmouth
  The only medieval fortified bridge in Britain with the gate tower in the middle of the bridge.

• The Bell Inn

  phone: +44 1600 713612
  address: Redbrook Rd, Redbrook
  Accommodation and food services

• The Boat Inn

  phone: +44 1600 712615
  address: Lone Lane, Penault (Redbrook) NP25 4AJ
  Lunches served W-M 12:00-14:30 ; Evening meals W-Sa 18:30-20:30 Amazing old style pub. Not to be missed

• Robin Hood Inn (pub)

  phone: +44 1600 715423
  address: 126 Monnow St, Monmouth
  Wetherspoons, Kings Head, Monmouth

• to Sedbury Cliffs - 28km (17.5mi)

• Tintern AbbeyView the Abbey from Devil's Pulpit on the opposite east bank of the River Wye.

• The Village Inn (Pub)

  phone: +44 7798 866569
  address: Beachley Rd, Sedbury NP16 7AA
  Probably the closest a pub could be to the end of the hike....

• Chepstow Castle

  address: Chepstow
  Possibly the oldest (surviving) stone castle in Britain.

Although few of the villages and towns along the route have hospitals or medical centres, fixed line telephones and mobiles are common and in any emergency you should just dial 999. Then tell the emergency operator whether you need the Fire, Police or Ambulance services.
When it’s less urgent than a 999 call, contact the local police in England and Wales on 101. This number should be answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Don't refer to the Welsh as "English".

Cell phone coverage is patchy in some parts, but all all towns and most villages along the trail have a public phone box. Most of them need coins and do not accept cards.
Many of the pubs and hotels will have Wi-Fi service.

• Clwydian Way - If the Offa's Dyke Path has whetted your appetite for long distance walking, consider this 196km (122mi) circle route that connects at Prestatyn and Llangollen. The route south from Prestatyn to Llangollen actually intertwines with the Offa's Dyke Path.

• The Wales Coast Path (Welsh: Llwybr Arfordir Cymru) intersects with both the start and the finish of Offa's Dyke Path and offers a 1,400km (870mi) long dedicated footpath along the entire coastline of Wales - the first country in the world to provide such an opportunity. This path runs through eleven nature reserves and Lonely Planet rated the coast of Wales first in its Best in Travel: top 10 regions for 2012.
• Either at the beginning or the end of your hike, a visit to Bath, Bristol or Cardiff would be worthwhile.