#14 on my Bucket List
Achieved 7th April – 17th April 2019
Offa’s Dyke Path is a 177-mile National Trail that runs from Prestatyn in North Wales to Sedbury Cliffs near Chepstow in South Wales. For much of this distance it closely follows Offa’s Dyke itself, an 8th century earthwork built by Offa, King of Mercia from 757 to 796 A.D.
Established wisdom dictates that it be walked from the South to keep the prevailing wind and the sun at your back. I chose to start in the North however, partly because we live nearer to the North but mostly because I enjoy the idea of walking towards the sun and warmer, more southerly climes. This also had the advantage that I was walking from the familiar to the unfamiliar.
My itinerary was something of a moveable feast, although I was aiming to meet up with my wife and children to coincide with my eldest daughter, Tara, returning to university in Bristol.
I used the Trailblazer guidebook Offa’s Dyke Path: Prestatyn – Chepstow by Keith Carter, although I think the most recent edition includes both directions. Daily mileages are taken from this and are approximate. Walking to and from accommodation isn’t included.
Offa’s Dyke North to South
My route
Day 1 Prestatyn – Bodfari (12 miles)
Day 2 Bodfari – Llandegla (17 miles)
Day 3 Llandegla – Castle Mill (17 miles)
Day 4 Castle Mill – Four Crosses (15.5 miles)
Day 5 Four Crosses – Brompton Crossroads (21.5 miles)
Day 6 Brompton Crossroads – Knighton (14.5 miles)
Day 7 Knighton – Kington (13.5 miles)
Day 8 Kington – Hay-on-Wye (14.5 miles)
Day 9 Hay-on-Wye – Pandy (17.5 miles)
Day 10 Pandy – Monmouth (17 miles)
Day 11 Monmouth – Sedbury Cliffs (20.5 miles)
The Trailblazer Guidebook is also avaialable secondhand on the Abe Books website (https://affiliates.abebooks.com/OrNV0Q)
