Offa's Dyke Path National Trail
Offa's Dyke Path National Trail
5
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
Closed
About
This 177-mile long trail runs from Sedbury to Prestatyn, mostly through Wales.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.8
32 reviews
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sstaley
Upminster, UK1,028 contributions
Dec 2021 • Couples
Spectacular views of the Shropshires Hills, Montgomery Canal and Clwydian Mountains. We went there during wintertime, so it was not an easy one. Although we enjoyed the walk, even our dog had a great time.
We stayed at Mill Farm Cottage, which is only a 10mins drive to Offa’s Dkye.
We stayed at Mill Farm Cottage, which is only a 10mins drive to Offa’s Dkye.
Written 19 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
David0ff82
Liverpool, UK1,461 contributions
Aug 2019
Was in the area August 2019 with my partner, his sister and her family we headed to the platform area which has benches and views across out to the sea, whilst my partners sister sat and read a book the rest of did the walk taking in some more lovely views. Pathways becomes narrow in places and at times there is quite a drop to one side. As long as you take care the walk is enjoyable.
Written 29 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
nicehike
Cardiff, Wales7 contributions
Mar 2011
If you want a walking break that is more enjoyment than slog in an outstandingly beautiful landscape, you can hardly do better than cover the Abergavenny to Knighton stretch of the Offa’s Dyke path. Its 50 miles of Welsh borderland can be covered comfortably in 3-4 days. I found the hilly countryside surprisingly empty, mainly farms and sheep, giving an unrivalled sense of stillness and tranquillity. But I was glad to be travelling south to north when the gale was blowing on Hergest Ridge! There are attractive small towns en route to browse around, such as Hay, Kington and Presteigne. So plenty of cultural and historical diversion there, and convenient for overnight stops!
You can get to Abergavenny by train and return from Knighton (note, only 4 trains per day!). The local trains are comfortable, clean and punctual. There are many and varied places to stay every night. I obtained the accommodation list from the Offa’s Dyke Centre (Knighton) and stayed at a guest house, hotel, pub and farm. I found the accommodation along the route to be of good standard variety and a friendly reception guaranteed, which added to the enjoyment. It was gratifying to think that this relatively short, carbon-free, inexpensive trip had taken me a world away from my urban home.
You can get to Abergavenny by train and return from Knighton (note, only 4 trains per day!). The local trains are comfortable, clean and punctual. There are many and varied places to stay every night. I obtained the accommodation list from the Offa’s Dyke Centre (Knighton) and stayed at a guest house, hotel, pub and farm. I found the accommodation along the route to be of good standard variety and a friendly reception guaranteed, which added to the enjoyment. It was gratifying to think that this relatively short, carbon-free, inexpensive trip had taken me a world away from my urban home.
Written 8 April 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andersons103
Kinver, West Midlands, UK65 contributions
Sept 2013 • Solo
Having just finished the five days walking over the southern section I am full of praise for the trail. There are train travel options at both Chepstow and Knighton which makes access very simple, the route is well way-marked and covers varied landscapes. Accommodation options along the way are easy to find. The guide books break the route into convenient 15 - 17 mile chunks each day which is enough to let you know you have been walking but never a chore. The walk is almost entirely off road and the countryside stunning. If you are new to long distance trails or not sure if you are fit enough, this is a good way to ease yourself in as while on one hand you are in perfect rural countryside in reality you are never that far from civilisation!
Written 16 September 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mary-Su70
Street, UK36 contributions
Jun 2016 • Solo
Have just completed most of the Southern section, walking from Kington and Hergest Ridge to Chepstow in four days and one morning. Having done the Ridgeway two years ago I prepared myself for Offa's Dyke with training walks carrying full pack etc but this one is much more arduous, it's not for the faint hearted (Or unfit).
I started at Hergest Ridge on the Wednesday morning and saw nothing but sheep and the odd wild pony, and the larks singing overhead were lovely.
Hay on Wye to Pandy was a hell of a day, climbing up to Hay Bluff and then eleven miles along the ridge of the Black mountains, you must carry all your food and water for this day, there is nothing up there but stunning views, wild ponies, and trig points, very long day but I did it in nine hours. It can seem neverending though, so I plugged in my ipod and strode along listening to Jeff Wayne's musical version of "War of the Worlds"
Was very lucky with the weather, overcast but warm, the odd spot of very light refreshing rain, and much of the time glorious sunshine. There was a thunderstorm late in the day on day four but it soon passed. I camped all along the way, no need for wild camping as there are plenty of sites with very helpful proprietors. I stayed at Radnor's End in Hay ( small site with lovely chatty old man who took my payment, basic showers and loos, no shop), The Rising Sun Inn in Pandy (Family run pub with a few feral little boys and a tiny site with numbered pitches, the owners will make you a packed lunch for four pounds), Monmow Bridge Caravan park in Monmouth (Lovely owners, but bid odd pitching a one man bivvy near so many motor homes!!), and Beeches Farm Campsite, five miles from Chepstow, the best, windswept hill with views, busy at weekend, but lovely helpful owners who will also make you a packed lunch, (and really hot showers!!)
Pandy to Monmouth is an easy day, passing through famland and stopping off at many tiny churches,(One offering tea and coffee for walkers) including St Cadoc where there is a fifteenth century painting of George and the Dragon on the wall, and original 13th century stained glass in the windows, but you must again carry all your food and water because there are no shops on route, although a kind lady who lives right on the trail did let me refill my bottles at the tap in her garden, think she was called Jenny, lovely lady.
White Castle is also on route, and free to get in and have a look at the castle and deep moat, it was so hot I stopped for a rest here.
From Beeches Farm to Chepstow is pretty stunning, taking in The Kymin and an old Naval Temple and mainly woodland walking high above the River Wye, with a brilliant view of Tintern Abbey from the "Devil's Pulpit".
The walk into Chepstow itself is a bit anti climactical, I did not want to go to Sedbury Cliffs so asked two folk for directions and had to cross a busy bridge to go to Chepstow town, the view of the Castle from the path is great though.
Monmouth to Chepstow is more arduous, a lot of up and down, steep climbing along muddy woodland tracks, and not always waymarked so I got lost a couple of times,
It's a great walk, I always start early, half six in the morning at the latest, so often I walked alone for hours and never met anyone until at least midday, it did occur to me that as a single woman walking alone this could be a problem if I had had an accident, especially as the first day I had no phone signal for hours but there's no point letting these worries put you off as you'll sit at home watching "Jeremy Kyle" in your safe warm house until you're ninety years old and regret not doing more....
Most of it is beautiful, quiet woods, rivers and streams with footbridges, rolling hills, the Black Mountains, but some is just a slog past housing estates, or through insect ridden fields. The nastiest section is the bit leading to Bettws Dingle where the trees have all been cut down ,it looks totally devastated and is unpleasant on a hot day, got bitten by a horse fly here (I think).
However it is definitely worth it and I can't wait to plan and do the Northern section.
Walked 70 miles over the four days (Including getting lost), but other walkers were very helpful (Mainly retired couples or single men)
It's a bucket list walk and I highly recommend it.
I started at Hergest Ridge on the Wednesday morning and saw nothing but sheep and the odd wild pony, and the larks singing overhead were lovely.
Hay on Wye to Pandy was a hell of a day, climbing up to Hay Bluff and then eleven miles along the ridge of the Black mountains, you must carry all your food and water for this day, there is nothing up there but stunning views, wild ponies, and trig points, very long day but I did it in nine hours. It can seem neverending though, so I plugged in my ipod and strode along listening to Jeff Wayne's musical version of "War of the Worlds"
Was very lucky with the weather, overcast but warm, the odd spot of very light refreshing rain, and much of the time glorious sunshine. There was a thunderstorm late in the day on day four but it soon passed. I camped all along the way, no need for wild camping as there are plenty of sites with very helpful proprietors. I stayed at Radnor's End in Hay ( small site with lovely chatty old man who took my payment, basic showers and loos, no shop), The Rising Sun Inn in Pandy (Family run pub with a few feral little boys and a tiny site with numbered pitches, the owners will make you a packed lunch for four pounds), Monmow Bridge Caravan park in Monmouth (Lovely owners, but bid odd pitching a one man bivvy near so many motor homes!!), and Beeches Farm Campsite, five miles from Chepstow, the best, windswept hill with views, busy at weekend, but lovely helpful owners who will also make you a packed lunch, (and really hot showers!!)
Pandy to Monmouth is an easy day, passing through famland and stopping off at many tiny churches,(One offering tea and coffee for walkers) including St Cadoc where there is a fifteenth century painting of George and the Dragon on the wall, and original 13th century stained glass in the windows, but you must again carry all your food and water because there are no shops on route, although a kind lady who lives right on the trail did let me refill my bottles at the tap in her garden, think she was called Jenny, lovely lady.
White Castle is also on route, and free to get in and have a look at the castle and deep moat, it was so hot I stopped for a rest here.
From Beeches Farm to Chepstow is pretty stunning, taking in The Kymin and an old Naval Temple and mainly woodland walking high above the River Wye, with a brilliant view of Tintern Abbey from the "Devil's Pulpit".
The walk into Chepstow itself is a bit anti climactical, I did not want to go to Sedbury Cliffs so asked two folk for directions and had to cross a busy bridge to go to Chepstow town, the view of the Castle from the path is great though.
Monmouth to Chepstow is more arduous, a lot of up and down, steep climbing along muddy woodland tracks, and not always waymarked so I got lost a couple of times,
It's a great walk, I always start early, half six in the morning at the latest, so often I walked alone for hours and never met anyone until at least midday, it did occur to me that as a single woman walking alone this could be a problem if I had had an accident, especially as the first day I had no phone signal for hours but there's no point letting these worries put you off as you'll sit at home watching "Jeremy Kyle" in your safe warm house until you're ninety years old and regret not doing more....
Most of it is beautiful, quiet woods, rivers and streams with footbridges, rolling hills, the Black Mountains, but some is just a slog past housing estates, or through insect ridden fields. The nastiest section is the bit leading to Bettws Dingle where the trees have all been cut down ,it looks totally devastated and is unpleasant on a hot day, got bitten by a horse fly here (I think).
However it is definitely worth it and I can't wait to plan and do the Northern section.
Walked 70 miles over the four days (Including getting lost), but other walkers were very helpful (Mainly retired couples or single men)
It's a bucket list walk and I highly recommend it.
Written 27 June 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chris W
22 contributions
Sept 2019
We walked 7 days from Chepstow to Knighton in first week of September 2019. It's a superb trail through beautiful landscape all the way. We were surprised to see almost no walkers on this path. The path has excellent way-marking except for the stretch from The Hendre to Pandy where we got lost a couple of times. Guide books mention hundreds of stiles but we found that nearly all have been replaced recently by high quality kissing gates. The scenery is gorgeous throughout. Beautiful woodland in Wye Valley, rolling farmland from Monmouth to Pandy which includes the exquiste 12th century White Castle, the tremendous ridge of high level moorland of the Black, finally the very pretty hills from Hay to Knighton. My walking app stats: 90 miles total, 11,500 feet ascent. We walked 13 and a half miles average for 6 days, plus a 6 mile half day. This was about right for a couple of fairly fit late 60s walkers. There are a lot of hills, always up and down, but the path is well maintained for much of its length. Our itinerary: 1.Chepstow (Sedbury Cliffs) to Prospect Cottage (highly recommend). 2. Prospect to Penylan Farm (near The Hendre) - lovely accommodation. 3. Penylan Farm to Pandy. 4. Pandy to Llanthony (this was our 6 mile half day but is a 1400 ascent over the southern ridge of Black Mountains). 5. Llanthony to Hay on Wye. 6. Hay to Kington. 7. Kington to Knighton. A splendid walk through gorgeous scenery.
Written 9 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ColinHutch40
Bootle, UK85 contributions
May 2018 • Solo
What a great challenge this was, I hiked the full path in 12 stages starting from Sedbury Cliffs at Chepstow and finished in Prestatyn, walking into the sea.
The views at points where outstanding, with plenty of challenging hills and mountains...
The path was well sign posted and very easy to follow, although I would advise having a map and compass.
The views at points where outstanding, with plenty of challenging hills and mountains...
The path was well sign posted and very easy to follow, although I would advise having a map and compass.
Written 29 May 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tony B
Glasgow, UK365 contributions
May 2017 • Friends
We four friends, all over 65, walked the northern section of the walk starting from the Bedford Arms Hotel in Llanymynech and finishing four days later at Prestatyn. We delighted in walking across the amazing Pontcysyllte Aquaduct and watched narrow boats crossing as we walked alongside high above the valley. We also loved the long stretches of green lanes with views of blue hills on the far horizon. The final part includes a twenty mile ridge walk with another great view of Prestatyn from the escarpment above the town. We stayed in excellent inns and B&Bs each night and had our bags delivered each day. An excellent and lovely trail.
Written 15 May 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Domesticanw
London, UK163 contributions
Jul 2014 • Couples
Clearly marked, glorious landscape, rolling hills, sheep gambling, woodland, streams, stiles, gates, grass and stony paths and almost no other walkers. An antidote to the M1 of walks: the Pennine way.
Written 4 August 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Daryl S
12 contributions
Sept 2014 • Friends
Chepstow to Prestatyn, Sept. 24 to Oct. 8.
I've had a walk in Britain on my to-do list for many years, so when a friend brought Offa;s Dyke Path to my attention, I was raring to go. I emailed 5 companies that organized the walk and picked Celtic Trails because I liked the way they responded to my questions and that they were local, based in Chepstow.
I was not disappointed. Their service was excellent, responding immediately to the many questions I asked, and helping us en route. At one point, my cell phone stopped working. Penny immediately mailed me a replacement, at no cost. I got it in a day. When we decided after 5 days to do the whole trail, having booked only the southern half, Penny had the northern half all organized and the info mailed to us within 2 days.
To get to Chepstow from Heathrow, we took a taxi, at ÂŁ150 as it seemed less complicated than taking the train, and about the same price. Later we found out that National Express(bus) runs that route at ÂŁ36. You may have to wait a while, whereas the taxi was right there.
The walk is challenging. My partner and I did the whole trail in 13 days, with one rest day in LLangollen. Mind you, we did get the rep as being the fastest walkers on the trail. Most of our days were in the 5-6 hour range. The trail seems easy, but day after day of small ups and downs got to me and I did a fair amount of hiking in BC before I came. It's the accumulative effect, so being well prepared physically will make the trip much more pleasant.
We were lucky with the weather, for the most part. Apparently it was the driest in recorded meteorological history. We had one very rainy, windy time, for about 4 hours one day. Luckily I was well-prepared for the rain. Thanks, Goretex.
I walked most of it in shorts, except for the last few days when there was occasional rain. I had to do some dodging of the omnipresent nettles. (Should be the national flower of the UK.) Even then I got the occasional sting. I used trail shoes instead of heavy hiking boots and they were adequate.
Don't expect to be going through one quaint Welsh or English town after another, as most of the trail is away from towns except at the end of the day. Sometimes the B&B is out of town. Most times there were no places to procure lunch en route.
The accommodations were generally first class and the owners very helpful and pleasant. Lots of choice for breakfasts and very nice dinners where there was no restaurant or pub close by. It was great to have bags transported to the next B&B and be picked up when necessary, then taken back to the trail. Our hosts were very accommodating when it came to times picked up and dropped off.
The trail is generally well marked although there were a few places where we had to do some scouting to find the next marker. One or two posts were down leading to ambiguous directions. Using the guide book and the map together was very useful.
Happy Trails.
I've had a walk in Britain on my to-do list for many years, so when a friend brought Offa;s Dyke Path to my attention, I was raring to go. I emailed 5 companies that organized the walk and picked Celtic Trails because I liked the way they responded to my questions and that they were local, based in Chepstow.
I was not disappointed. Their service was excellent, responding immediately to the many questions I asked, and helping us en route. At one point, my cell phone stopped working. Penny immediately mailed me a replacement, at no cost. I got it in a day. When we decided after 5 days to do the whole trail, having booked only the southern half, Penny had the northern half all organized and the info mailed to us within 2 days.
To get to Chepstow from Heathrow, we took a taxi, at ÂŁ150 as it seemed less complicated than taking the train, and about the same price. Later we found out that National Express(bus) runs that route at ÂŁ36. You may have to wait a while, whereas the taxi was right there.
The walk is challenging. My partner and I did the whole trail in 13 days, with one rest day in LLangollen. Mind you, we did get the rep as being the fastest walkers on the trail. Most of our days were in the 5-6 hour range. The trail seems easy, but day after day of small ups and downs got to me and I did a fair amount of hiking in BC before I came. It's the accumulative effect, so being well prepared physically will make the trip much more pleasant.
We were lucky with the weather, for the most part. Apparently it was the driest in recorded meteorological history. We had one very rainy, windy time, for about 4 hours one day. Luckily I was well-prepared for the rain. Thanks, Goretex.
I walked most of it in shorts, except for the last few days when there was occasional rain. I had to do some dodging of the omnipresent nettles. (Should be the national flower of the UK.) Even then I got the occasional sting. I used trail shoes instead of heavy hiking boots and they were adequate.
Don't expect to be going through one quaint Welsh or English town after another, as most of the trail is away from towns except at the end of the day. Sometimes the B&B is out of town. Most times there were no places to procure lunch en route.
The accommodations were generally first class and the owners very helpful and pleasant. Lots of choice for breakfasts and very nice dinners where there was no restaurant or pub close by. It was great to have bags transported to the next B&B and be picked up when necessary, then taken back to the trail. Our hosts were very accommodating when it came to times picked up and dropped off.
The trail is generally well marked although there were a few places where we had to do some scouting to find the next marker. One or two posts were down leading to ambiguous directions. Using the guide book and the map together was very useful.
Happy Trails.
Written 21 October 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We are planning to walk Offa's Dyke this summer and to include one rest day. The towns of Hay-on-Wye, Buttington, and Llangollen have been suggested as good spots for a rest day. Does anyone have any recommendations?
Written 20 March 2018
I have been walking the Dyke with my son over the past 2 years on certain weekends. We have almost reached Buttington. So I can highly recommend Hay-on-Wye as a place to dwell. Beautiful country town, book shops, bars and coffee shops.
Written 8 March 2019
I walked Wainwright's Coast to Coast walk earlier in the year and that had a preferred direction and was great in terms of meeting people along the way. Is the Offa's Dyke walk similar?
Written 30 September 2017
Yes. It is south to north so any prevailing wind and sun hits your neck.
Written 8 March 2019
Hallo,
Ich bin etwas ängstlich gegenüber Vierbeinern. Gibt es viele Hunde auf dem Weg? Liebe Grüße
Written 23 May 2017
Are there sources for drinking water along the southern part of the trail?
Written 1 June 2015
On the trail itself there are very few, if any, places where drinking water is available. There are very few towns or villages outwith the main start/end points for each section (there are a few exceptions to this). It would be advisable to carry enough water for each days walking.
When you are in a town/village etc, most pubs and cafes will generally be happy to refill any water container for you.
Written 26 August 2015
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