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Regions - Trip reports, destination advice, recommended routes, etc. => Wales => Topic started by: peapod21 on 18:35:18, 04/10/18

Title: Offa's Dyke Path - Advice, Tips and Help
Post by: peapod21 on 18:35:18, 04/10/18
Hi all,


I'm looking to undertake my first long distance walk next year and have decided upon the Offa's Dyke Path. Having never undertaken a long distance walk before I was hoping you good folks could give me some assistance in planning, minimum gear/equipment, recommended accommodation, camping or B&B, all the things you can't find in the guide books or websites.


My initial thoughts are to camp over B&B based on cost alone. I plan to walk North to South. I live in Monmouth, so this provides me a free stop before the end in Chepstow. Ideally I would like to complete the distance inside 10 days, so looking to average 20 miles a day. Is this realistic or do the hillier sections provide a greater challenge requiring shorter day distance.


Like I said, this is a whole new experience for me. I've done numerous day walks, but its time to go long!


Thanks in advance, Chris
Title: Re: Offa's Dyke Path - Advice, Tips and Help
Post by: phil1960 on 18:47:04, 04/10/18
I believe Sussamb on this forum has fairly recently walked Offas Dyke North to South, hopefully he will see this and be able to advise  O0
Title: Re: Offa's Dyke Path - Advice, Tips and Help
Post by: peapod21 on 18:53:02, 04/10/18
Thanks Phil  O0
Title: Re: Offa's Dyke Path - Advice, Tips and Help
Post by: sussamb on 07:54:30, 05/10/18
Yep, I did it a few years ago North to South but b&b'd it so not much help on camp sites I'm afraid.  I did a TR which is at http://www.walkingforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=31217.15 but afraid the photos are no longer available thanks to photo bucket  >:(
Title: Re: Offa's Dyke Path - Advice, Tips and Help
Post by: Dyffryn Ardudwy on 17:30:25, 05/10/18
The best thing to do first, is to buy one of the good guides to the entire walk, then you will know what to look out for on your journey.

Its also worth contacting the Offas Dyke Society.
They used to be located in the old school in Knighton, and they have an extensive acommodation list and nearby businesses that sell supplies.

You may be camping out, or using local b&bs, but either way, the information provided by the Offas Dyke association is more than useful for a first timer attempting the traverse.
I found that the middle sections, near Craven Arms and Clun, to be the most impressive, but their also the remotest sections as well.

Probably the best times to attempt it, would be in early summer, when you have more daylight, and hopefully more settled weather, but over the years, living mainly in South Wales, ive visited over half the entire route, and it is a stunningly beautiful Long Distance Walk.

At around 177 miles long, its a nice distance, but a lot of it traverses very remote countryside, sometimes along way from habitation.

My fondest memory, was getting my car stuck in very deep mud adjacent to the Hatterall Hill section in Mid Wales, back in 1983.

A kindly farmer pulled me out, otherwise i do not know what i would have done, i was stuck fast.
Title: Re: Offa's Dyke Path - Advice, Tips and Help
Post by: ninthace on 17:55:14, 05/10/18
I think DA refers to https://offasdyke.org.uk/
They have accommodation information at https://offasdyke.org.uk/where-to-stay/accommodation-on-offas-dyke/
Cannot vouch for its accuracy or currency though.
Title: Re: Offa's Dyke Path - Advice, Tips and Help
Post by: sussamb on 18:31:27, 05/10/18
At around 177 miles long, its a nice distance, but a lot of it traverses very remote countryside, sometimes along way from habitation.


Not sure which parts you're referring to but I'd hardly say a lot of it traverses very remote countryside. 
Title: Re: Offa's Dyke Path - Advice, Tips and Help
Post by: gunwharfman on 19:17:22, 05/10/18
Monmouth has a good camp site, right on the edge of town. I camped at Knighton, just £5 for the night, I had the site all to myself. Just walk to the railway bridge, turn left down a narrow road, (the railway line, on the left, is parralel to the road) after about a third of a mile a cottage on the left has a camping sign. Once on site its easy to walk back the way you came. At the railway bridge, this time turn right, woithin a couple of hundred yards good pub on right. Or come out of site, turn left at road then turn left again at Offas Dyke signpost into town alongside river. In the morning there is a good cafe to have breafast in the centre of town.

Also a good site at Hay, to the left out of the town centre. Plus, a few miles before Welshpool, you will pass a mobile homes site on your right with an old mansion at the entrance. A great site, I had a pitch by the side of an ornamental lake and a wonderful meal in the mansion, which is a restaurant as well.

There were others but can't remember them at the moment. I will send again when I do.

If you want to really lengthen your route why not try this. Get to Knighton then vere off on the Glynders Way, up to 9 days extra and it rejoins the Offas Dyke Path at Welshpool.
Title: Re: Offa's Dyke Path - Advice, Tips and Help
Post by: Mel on 19:23:36, 05/10/18
My fondest memory, was getting my car stuck in very deep mud adjacent to the Hatterall Hill section in Mid Wales, back in 1983.

A kindly farmer pulled me out, otherwise i do not know what i would have done, i was stuck fast.


You do know the Offa's Dyke Path is a walking trail don't you  :-\
Title: Re: Offa's Dyke Path - Advice, Tips and Help
Post by: Dyffryn Ardudwy on 10:47:03, 06/10/18
The very best sections of it, above Clun on the Shropshire border, is mainly agricultural land, owned and managed by local farmers.


I think it was around this area of the Dyke, that there was significant damage by 4x4 vehicles some years ago, using a right of way, actually destroying a section of the Dyke itself.

The llanfair Hill section is particularly impressive, and hellish boggy after heavy rain.


You can easily drive there and park your car, and walk for miles, often without speaking to anyone, its a stunning area of outstanding natural beauty, but heaven forbid if you get your car stuck, as the i did.
Had it not been for the local farmer out for a gaunt in his tractor, there would have been no way i could have got out of the mire. :-[
Title: Re: Offa's Dyke Path - Advice, Tips and Help
Post by: richardh1905 on 18:11:13, 06/10/18

I have no idea of your fitness level, but if you have not done a long distance walk before, 20 miles a day for 10 days with a heavy pack might be a bit ambitious; best to get some training in to get a feel for it.



I haven't done Offa's Dyke, but I walked from Swansea to Conwy many years ago, averaging about 15 miles a day.


PS - the Doethie valley was wonderful.
Title: Re: Offa's Dyke Path - Advice, Tips and Help
Post by: bricam2096 on 12:44:04, 13/10/18
bumping this thread rather than starting a new one  O0

Offa's Dyke is on my "to do" list, very probably for next year but I'm trying to decide which direction to do it in so would welcome opinions.

As far as transport to the start/finish is concerned I can get to Prestatyn in the morning for a half day walk to Bodfari but at the other end I'd probably have to stay the night in Chepstow.

On the other hand I like the idea of finishing in Prestatyn early afternoon and being home for teatime. As anyone whow's done multi day walks knows, it's a nice feeling doing that last day knowing you are going home to your own bed that night  :D :D

Prevailing wind suggests South to North but what about the views? Ascents?

Opinions from those that have done it very welcome  O0
Title: Re: Offa's Dyke Path - Advice, Tips and Help
Post by: peapod21 on 13:00:25, 13/10/18
These were thoughts questions I had too Bricam. I'm only doing North to South as I'm essentially walking home (Monmouth), so I can ditch the gear for the last day to Chepstow.


Nearly all the guide books run South to North, the only exception I've found is the Trailblazer guide which runs North to South. Might be worth getting that and a comparitive guide to inform you.


Thanks to everyone for their info so far.  O0
Title: Re: Offa's Dyke Path - Advice, Tips and Help
Post by: barewirewalker on 13:52:52, 13/10/18
There is a little bit of not so generally known knowledge that you may feel amused to carry along with you. During my time on a Local Access Forum I became interested in the attitude of landowners and followed up on some articles written by a then vice president of the Country Landowners' Association, by name of Harry Coterrel from Herefordshire. A particular phrase he used has stuck in my mind, he stated in one article that Landowners were the people best suited to decide where visitors should walk in the countryside.

Having known a few of this breed, I immediately felt that there was a serious flaw in this statement and tracked down his location. His families estate is called Garnons, about 2000 acres, which he purports to manage. If you paste SO 39681 43846 into Streetmap (http://www.streetmap.co.uk) then click up on the next bar of map size, which is the OS 1:50k Landranger series you will see Offa's Dyke clearly written above Garnons and marked on Garnons Hill.

It is 11 miles east of where the Offa's Dyke Path crosses the River Wye at Hay, this particular landowner, became a president of the CLA, which published it's first policy on access in 17 years in 2012. Curiously no mention was made that landowner's should be aware of important features within the boundaries of their holdings and have a responsibility to make them accessible to all. If we realise that the original Offa's Dyke ended abruptly against the north bank of the River Wye, near where a roman road had earlier crossed it's line and close to a ford, we may start to understand how poorly equipped those, who hold the freehold of our countryside, are in managing it.
Title: Re: Offa's Dyke Path - Advice, Tips and Help
Post by: bricam2096 on 14:10:22, 13/10/18

Nearly all the guide books run South to North, the only exception I've found is the Trailblazer guide which runs North to South. Might be worth getting that and a comparitive guide to inform you.


Yes, I have that guidebook and it suggests walking that way because "the route improves in quality as you head South".

It will probably depend on what availability I can get when I get word of when my holidays will be next year. It could be late April or possibly June (at which point I might prefer the sun at my back)
Title: Re: Offa's Dyke Path - Advice, Tips and Help
Post by: sussamb on 18:14:53, 13/10/18
As far as transport to the start/finish is concerned I can get to Prestatyn in the morning for a half day walk to Bodfari but at the other end I'd probably have to stay the night in Chepstow.

On the other hand I like the idea of finishing in Prestatyn early afternoon and being home for teatime. As anyone whow's done multi day walks knows, it's a nice feeling doing that last day knowing you are going home to your own bed that night  :D :D


I did north to south and enjoyed the first half day to Bodfari.  Personally at the end of a LDW I like to stay overnight rather than rush back home.  Gives me a chance to unwind and reflect  O0
Title: Re: Offa's Dyke Path - Advice, Tips and Help
Post by: bricam2096 on 18:26:22, 13/10/18

I did north to south and enjoyed the first half day to Bodfari.  Personally at the end of a LDW I like to stay overnight rather than rush back home.  Gives me a chance to unwind and reflect  O0

I just hate long drawn out journeys home, I don't mind it going to the start. When I did the Pembrokeshire Coast path, it was a morning bus to Havefordwest and then train journeys that lasted over 8 hours to get home, the journey to Manchester had about 24 stops and it was a long day.

Getting to/from Chepstow is about 4 and a half hours, getting to/from Prestatyn is about 3 and a half so if I finished there before lunch time I still have a few hours to unwind and reflect before heading home  :D

Like I said, it might depend on accommodation when I go to book as some parts don't seem to have many options.
Title: Re: Offa's Dyke Path - Advice, Tips and Help
Post by: sussamb on 20:37:44, 13/10/18
Yep accommodation is tight in some places so worth booking as far in advance as possible  O0
Title: Re: Offa's Dyke Path - Advice, Tips and Help
Post by: bricam2096 on 20:49:17, 13/10/18
Yep accommodation is tight in some places so worth booking as far in advance as possible  O0

If I could do it now, I would. Unfortunately I have to hand in my holiday form along with the rest of my colleagues and hope they get back to me quickly but I'll be surprised if I get them back before December like most years. In the last few years I have got the weeks that I asked for but I can't risk booking accommodation then getting different holiday dates.

Can't wait until I win the lottery/premium bonds and can retire and go wherever I like, whenever I like  :D
Title: Re: Offa's Dyke Path - Advice, Tips and Help
Post by: harland on 21:42:56, 13/10/18
A number of the on-line booking sites allow you to cancel free of charge a short time before you go.
Title: Re: Offa's Dyke Path - Advice, Tips and Help
Post by: bricam2096 on 22:05:33, 13/10/18
A number of the on-line booking sites allow you to cancel free of charge a short time before you go.

I know but sadly the others don't so I stand to lose a bit of money if my holiday dates are not the ones that i hope for. Once I get my dates I can press on and book all my long distance walks for the year.  O0
Title: Re: Offa's Dyke Path - Advice, Tips and Help
Post by: sussamb on 10:26:38, 14/10/18
If you'd like the details of the accommodation I used pm me  O0
Title: Re: Offa's Dyke Path - Advice, Tips and Help
Post by: bricam2096 on 14:06:06, 14/10/18
If you'd like the details of the accommodation I used pm me  O0

I read your TR the other day and you list them on that  O0 Oh, and you'll be pleased to know that your photos are once again on the report  O0
Title: Re: Offa's Dyke Path - Advice, Tips and Help
Post by: sussamb on 16:23:50, 14/10/18
So they are, probably cos Photo Bucket are offering me another cheap deal if I'll sign up with them  :o
Title: Re: Offa's Dyke Path - Advice, Tips and Help
Post by: rural roamer on 19:57:45, 14/10/18
We walked it at the beginning of last June over 12 days N to S, see my planning and trip report here:
http://www.walkingforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=34086.0 (http://www.walkingforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=34086.0)
You are right about the wind, it was mostly coming from the south or south west so we were walking into it most of the time but didn’t trouble us too much. Except the last couple of days when the temperature rose, it was humid and there was no wind at all, how we longed for a breeze then! We also used the Trailblazer guide and found it good, hardly used the GPS. Most people do walk it the other way, we only met one other person going our way and she was doing JOGLE. And everybody we stopped and chatted to said we were the only ones they’d met going N to S. The main reason we did that was because when we started to book we realised that we would be in Hay on Wye during the festival and there was no accommodation left! And I’d already booked the time off work. Also we drove from Suffolk and found a B&B in Prestatyn where we could leave the car for £2 a day. We then got the train back to Prestatyn the day after we finished. I think Chepstow is a better finish than Prestatyn but you still have the Clwydian hills near the end if heading north. I think it helped having the Hay onWye to Pandy section in the Black mountains near the end rather than the beginning. If you need your bags transported there is no baggage transfer service but most of the B&Bs offer this service and we just ended up using a couple of taxis which all worked fine. Don’t forget that the end (or beginning) is not actually in Chepstow its another 1.5 miles. We stayed in a mixture of B&Bs, farmhouses and pubs and all were good, they are listed on the link but let me know if you want any more info. I don’t think we booked until about Feb/March time and we managed to get most of where we wanted to go.
Title: Re: Offa's Dyke Path - Advice, Tips and Help
Post by: rural roamer on 08:12:42, 18/10/18
Can't wait until I win the lottery/premium bonds and can retire and go wherever I like, whenever I like  :D


I’m retiring in March next year - fed up with my husband sending me photos of his walks while I’m at work!  O0
Title: Re: Offa's Dyke Path - Advice, Tips and Help
Post by: peapod21 on 18:03:47, 18/10/18
Well, I've picked my dates, planned my itinerary and have got a walking buddy too.


To those who have done it before, how far in advance did you book you accommodation? I'll be camping for the most part so was wondering if there was still a need to book campsites and pitches as far in advance?
Title: Re: Offa's Dyke Path - Advice, Tips and Help
Post by: sussamb on 19:07:48, 18/10/18
When you going?  We're doing it over Jun/Jul and already have accommodation booked, but then we're using b&b's.  I guess if you're planning on camping you can leave it later, or not at all if you're wild camping?
Title: Re: Offa's Dyke Path - Advice, Tips and Help
Post by: dank86 on 02:44:06, 14/12/18
I started it last year but had a gear malfunction so going to re attempt in April I reckon probably north to south as well. Im based near Chepstow so walking home is nicer I reckon.
Title: Re: Offa's Dyke Path - Advice, Tips and Help
Post by: sussamb on 08:02:11, 14/12/18
When you going?  We're doing it over Jun/Jul and already have accommodation booked, but then we're using b&b's.  I guess if you're planning on camping you can leave it later, or not at all if you're wild camping?


Weird.  This comment was in reply to a query about the C2C but just seen its in an Offas Dyke thread  :o


For the avoidance of doubt it's the C2C I'm doing next Jun/Jul  O0
Title: Re: Offa's Dyke Path - Advice, Tips and Help
Post by: dave_p on 11:03:44, 14/12/18
I walked Knighton to Prestatyn on ODP last year.  Worked out around 100 miles.  I plan to do Knighton to Chepstow next spring.


It was my first attempt at a long distance trail.  I walked solo, camped all the way without booking anywhere.  Had a brilliant time.  My choice was influenced by:  Easy rail access either end.  Rail escape routes at Welshpool and Chirk if I wanted to bail out.


I averaged 12 miles a day for 8 days which was plenty enough for me.  My longest days were 15 miles or so, over the Clun switchbacks and over the Clwydians.


I used the Trailblazer guide and read it backwards!


I made a little youtube video of my walk:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raierOxeY9w


I'd recommend camping because you're free with your schedule.  If the weather is poor and you want to cut the day short, you can.


There were two guys walking at roughly my pace at the same time who I saw pretty much every day.  They wild camped the whole thing and had no bother.  I was happy to pay for campsites because I like a shower after I've pitched up.  I was close to a pub pretty much every night.  The only exception was the night before the Clwydians.  The last proper campsite listed in my guide was Llandegla, but that left a long haul of about 20 miles to Bodfari with a bad weather forecast.  I didn't fancy it.  I considered wild camping but I called ahead to Gweryd Lakes, a set of fishery lakes, about 4 miles further on.  The guy said they were new owners and didn't offer camping anymore unless you were fishing.  Anyway I got chatting to him and he ended up letting me stay.  The place was really beautiful and I was the only one there overnight once the last angler had gone home at about 8.  I'd lugged a few beers up from Llandegla and had a marvellous times lazing by the lake getting a bit drunk and reading my book.  The showers etc were excellent too. 


Let me know if you want any more pointers.
Title: Re: Offa's Dyke Path - Advice, Tips and Help
Post by: gunwharfman on 20:02:26, 14/12/18
I like Knighton, nice little place. I've been there twice, once when I walked Offas Dyke going north and the second time when I walked the Glyndyre Way. A couple of nice pubs, a £5 a night camp site and first thing in the morning a great little place to get a bite to eat and coffee.

My suggestion for a really good long distance path is Offas Dyke from Chepstow to Knighton, then hike the Glyndyre Way to Welshpool. Then hike either north to Prestatyn, or south back to Knighton and then catch the train home. Personally I would choose to go south.
Title: Re: Offa's Dyke Path - Advice, Tips and Help
Post by: FTSTTLB on 17:19:31, 03/02/19
Hello everyone, we did the first part of the path, starting from Prestatyn. We did Hadrian's Wall Path one year earlier, so this was our second long distance trail. This was our schedule

Day 1: Prestatyn - Bodfari (Difficult one for accomodation)
Day 2: Bodfari - Clwyd Gate (We stayed in Llanferes (Druid Inn) and got a ride from the owner the next day)
Day 3: Clwyd Gate - Llangollen
Day 4: Llangollen - Chirk
Day 5: Bit of resting (visited some Welsh friends)
Day 6: Chirk - Llanymynech
Day 7: Llanymynech - Buttington (We stayed in Welshpool)
Day 8: Welshpool - Montgomery
Day 9: Montgomery - Knighon (Had to take a cab to Brompton Crossroads, which was a bit expensive)
Day 2, Day 3 and Day 9 were probably the toughest one. We do take our backpacks with us and had some unnecessary km's in Llandegla forest on day 3)I wouldn't say we're expert hikers, but we do had some experience and were well prepared. Some strechtes can be tough, but it's a wonderful trail (well, the first bit is, hoping to finish it one day)