Offa's Dyke Path - introduction
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This 177-mile path is rated by many the best of Britain’s wonderful national trails. It traces, in part, the course of the earthwork marking the western boundary of the ancient English kingdom of Mercia in the time to the eighth century King Offa.
In places the earthwork still imposes, in others it cannot be traced other than by archaeologists. Indeed, for the most part, what course it once had is many miles away. From time to time the present England/Wales border is coincident with the path.
The path passes through some of southern Britain’s quietest country. Chepstow and Prestatyn, southern and northern termini, are towns of reasonable size; in between lie Monmouth, Hay, Kington, and finally Knighton, from where nothing more than a village lies directly on the path in over ninety miles.
The following pages give details of my own walk during the autumns of 1990 and 1991.
Guidebooks
The two Aurum Press National Trail Guides, one for south of Knighton and the other for north, are all but indispensable, and widely available in the UK or through the net. Joint authors: Ernie & Kathy Kay and Mark Richards. ISBN numbers: Offa's Dyke Path South 1 85410 671 6; Offa's Dyke Path North 1 85410 771 2.
The Offa's Dyke Association publishes an accommodation guide to the path, and the Ramblers' Association site has an on-line accommodation listing.
Transport
Chepstow, Knighton and Prestatyn all have rail stations. Abergavenny (for Pandy), Welshpool (for Buttington, Powys) and Chirk are nearby. The main inter-city routes are run by Virgin Trains (to Prestatyn) and First Great Western (to Newport, for Chepstow). Arriva Trains Wales run most of the local services.
The small towns, and some of the major roads, have bus services - after a fashion. As a southerner, I found it more convenient to reach Chepstow by the London to Cardiff National Express coach, which calls at the town’s bus station, from where local buses run to Buttington Tump. Some other local bus routes may be relevant. Monmouth has a reasonable service. Pandy, Hay and Kington are linked to Hereford and elsewhere. Northwards from there, things are sparse except for some main roads until Llanymynech and beyond; the Denbighshire area (Llangollen northwards) has good services.
Official sites
- Ramblers' Association: links to accommodation along the way, neighbouring paths, local Councils and more.
- Offa's Dyke Association: this voluntary group runs the Offa’s Dyke Centre in Knighton, which all end-to-end walkers should visit. (Offa’s Dyke Centre, West Street, Knighton LD7 1EN; phone 01547-528753).
- Wales Tourist Board site.
Towns along the path
- Chepstow - ancient castle guarding the Severn crossing. Famous racecourse.
- Monmouth - another ancient castle town, this time guarding the Wye.
- Hay-on-Wye - second hand book capital of the world.
- Kington - quiet borderland market town.
- Knighton - half way, the original 'town on the dyke' (its Welsh name to this day).
- Llangollen - druidic centre of celtic custom.
- Prestatyn - Victorian holiday resort.
Walking tours
Several companies offer guided or self-led tours along the Path. One of the best sites is found at www.offas-dyke.co.uk - but please note that this is a recommendation for their site, not their service, which I have not tried. (Nor would I - for me, planning the logistics of a walk serves to heighten the anticipation of the walk itself).