A dyke, or large earthen bank with a ditch to one side, was built alongside the border between England and Wales in 757 AD. Ordered by, and named after the King of Mercia (Mercia is now known as the Midlands) King Offa, it was constructed to mark out and protect his territory, as well as forming a natural border between the two British countries.
Today, Offas Dyke has a path running more or less alongside it for a distance of 177 miles, which is one of a small number of routes on the National Trail system that run next to a manmade structure, one of the other famous ones being Hadrian’s Wall. The path runs from Prestatyn on the North Wales Coast to a clifftop sight near Chepstow in the South, and is notable for passing through eight different counties, and crossing the Anglo-Welsh border 20 times. The path also takes in Hatterall Ridge in the Brecon Beacons National Park, and 3 areas of outstanding natural beauty; so there is plenty to see while out walking in this area.
Although walking the whole Offas Dyke Path in one trip could take around two weeks, the path is also popular with fundraisers, some of whom have run the route in half that time. Every visitor is different, and the National Trail team have taken this into account, making it easy to plan a whole trip along Offas Dyke, or take in various sections of the route. Official guidebook suggestions include a 17.5 mile route from Sedbury Cliffs to the historic town of Monmouth, another 17.5 mile stretch from Pandy to Hay-on-Wye, which is an upland section in the Black Mountains, and a 13.5 mile route from Kington to Knighton, known for its remote hills, and sections of well preserved Dyke. There’s also a shorter flat walk of 10.5 miles between Buttington Bridge and Llanymynech, and towards the end of the path, a 17.5 mile section that takes in the Clwydian area of outstanding natural beauty, and a selection of ancient earthwork forts.
There is a vast selection of accommodation available alongside, or close to, the Offas Dyke path, with the largest concentrations at key points along the route, including Prestatyn, Ruthin and Denbighshire, Monmouth and the Wye Valley, Llangollen and Welshpool. Services include camping and caravan parks, bed and breakfast, traditional pubs and inns, and hotels to suit all budgets. Transportation isn’t so widespread, though Chepstow and Prestatyn at either end of Offas Dyke are close to local train stations, and there are numerous local bus services that stop at various points near the trail. The National Trail team also produce maps on their website which mark off services, such as shops, medical care, and places to eat, along with attractions near the Offas Dyke Path. All this means there is plenty of help available, to make sure any visit that you make to the Offas Dyke Path is a well organised and successful one.
