This guidebook to the Offas Dyke Path National Trail has been designed to allow some flexibility in following the official route, offering suggestions for circular walks covering sections of the dyke.

The walk typically takes around two weeks to complete, while this is fully described, alternative routes to places of interest, or to find accommodation are included and form part of the total mileage quoted.

Offas Dyke was constructed by the powerful King of Mercia in the late eighth century to mark out the western boundary of his kingdom.

Hundreds of years later this is the inspiration for the 170-mile National Trail traversing the border country of England and Wales. Signed and waymarked throughout, the trail was opened in July 1971.

The Offas Dike Path makes its way through varied, sometimes wild, often remote, and frequently superb scenery, linked by a succession of historic towns and attractive villages.

Undertaken in its entirety the route offers an attractive, and at times demanding, prospect for the long-distance walker. Useful information on parking, maps required and distances are included.


1 Sedbury Cliffs to Monmouth
The Lower Wye Valley

2 Monmouth to Pandy
Sheep Country

3 Pandy to Hay-on-Wye
Crossing the Black Mountains

4 Hay-on-Wye to Kington
In the Steps of the Drovers

5 Kington to Knighton
Back to the Dyke

6 Knighton to Newcastle
Teme to Clun

7 Newcastle to Montgomery
Crossing the Oldest Road

8 Montgomery to Buttington Bridge (for Welshpool)
Over the Long Mountain

9 Welshpool (via Buttington Bridge) to Llanymynech
Waterside Walking

10 Llanymynech to River Morda (for Oswestry)
The Quarry Way

11 Oswestry (via River Morda) to Trevor Rocks (for Llangollen)
The Last of the Dyke

12 Llangollen (via Trevor Rocks) to Pen-y-stryt
Under Eglwyseg Rocks and Over the Moor

13 Pen-y-stryt to Bwlch Penbarra
The Clwydian Range

14 Bwlch Penbarra to Bodfari
Mother of the Mountains

15 Bodfari to Prestatyn
The Last Lap