Offa's Dyke Path (Welsh: Llwybr Clawdd Offa) is a long-distance footpath loosely following the Wales–England border. Officially opened on 10 July 1971, by Lord Hunt, it is one of Britain's National Trails and draws walkers from throughout the world. About 60 miles (97 km) of the 177-mile (285 km) route either follows, or keeps close company with, the remnants of Offa's Dyke, an earthwork traditionally thought to have been constructed in the late 8th century on the orders of King Offa of Mercia.[1]
Traveling south to north, starting by the Severn Estuary at Sedbury, near Chepstow, and finishing at Prestatyn on the north coast, the walk will take an average walker roughly 12 days to complete.[2] Roughly following the border in parts, and elsewhere the ancient monument of Offa's Dyke, as well as natural features such as the Hatterrall Ridge, the Dyke Path passes through a variety of landscapes. The route traces the eastern edge of the Black Mountains, traverses Clun Forest, the Eglwyseg moors north of Llangollen and the Clwydian Range.
Various bodies on either side of the border are collaborating on a sustainable tourism partnership, a principal focus of which is Walking with Offa, both on the trail but also in what has been dubbed Offa's Country i.e. in a corridor along the border.[7]
In June 2021, during the footpath's 50th year, an Offa's Dyke Rescue Fund was launched to restore eroded and other damaged parts of the route and to buy parts of the path at risk of sustained damage or negligence from local land owners. The fund is working in consultation with CADW and English Heritage and the National Trail Unit.[8]
On 22 August 2021 BBC's Countryfile programme celebrated 50 years of the path.[9]
References
^"Long Distance Walkers Association". www.ldwa.org.uk. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
^"Distances". Offa's Dyke Association. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
^ abCarter, Keith (2011). Offa's Dyke Path. Trailblazer Publications. ISBN978-1-905864-35-5.
^"A History of The Welsh Marches". www.ludlow.org.uk. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
^"Offa's Dyke Association". Retrieved 3 December 2020.
^"Walking along an ancient border". BBC. 9 November 2011. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
^"Rescue fund is launched to protect ancient monument, Heritage groups join forces to prevent 1,200-year-old Offa's Dyke from crumbling away". Shropshire Star. 21 June 2021. p. 3.Report by Charlotte Bentley.
Offa's Dyke Path National Trail - Long Distance Walkers Association
Map of the Offa's Dyke Path in 2 mile sections
January 20, 2023
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Offa s Dyke Path Welsh Llwybr Clawdd Offa is a long distance footpath loosely following the Wales England border Officially opened on 10 July 1971 by Lord Hunt it is one of Britain s National Trails and draws walkers from throughout the world About 60 miles 97 km of the 177 mile 285 km route either follows or keeps close company with the remnants of Offa s Dyke an earthwork traditionally thought to have been constructed in the late 8th century on the orders of King Offa of Mercia 1 Offa s Dyke PathOffa s Dyke Path signpost in DenbighshireLength177 mi 285 km LocationEnglish Welsh borderEstablished1971DesignationNational TrailTrailheadsSedbury 51 37 57 N 2 38 54 W 51 6324 N 2 6482 W 51 6324 2 6482 Offa s Dyke Path Sedbury trailhead Prestatyn 53 20 32 N 3 24 45 W 53 3423 N 3 4126 W 53 3423 3 4126 Offa s Dyke Path Prestatyn trailhead UseHikingElevation gain loss9 085 metres 29 806 ft Highest pointHatterrall Ridge 703 m 2 306 ft SeasonAll year Contents 1 Walking trail 2 Route 2 1 Chepstow to Monmouth 2 2 Monmouth to Hay on Wye 2 3 Hay on Wye to Knighton 2 4 Knighton to Montgomery 2 5 Montgomery to Llanymynech 2 6 Llanymynech to Trevor 2 7 Trevor to Prestatyn 3 Promotion and media 4 References 5 External linksWalking trail Edit Offa s Dyke Path Monument at Prestatyn Traveling south to north starting by the Severn Estuary at Sedbury near Chepstow and finishing at Prestatyn on the north coast the walk will take an average walker roughly 12 days to complete 2 Roughly following the border in parts and elsewhere the ancient monument of Offa s Dyke as well as natural features such as the Hatterrall Ridge the Dyke Path passes through a variety of landscapes The route traces the eastern edge of the Black Mountains traverses Clun Forest the Eglwyseg moors north of Llangollen and the Clwydian Range The route passes through the counties of Monmouthshire Gloucestershire Powys Herefordshire Shropshire Wrexham Denbighshire and Flintshire The Welsh Marches Marchia Wallie is a term used to describe this border region between England and Wales since it was recorded in the Domesday Book in 1086 3 4 It passes through or close to the towns of Chepstow Monmouth Hay on Wye Kington Presteigne Knighton Montgomery Welshpool and Oswestry then in and around the North Wales towns and villages of Llangollen Llandegla Bodfari and Dyserth The half way point of the path is marked by the Offa s Dyke Centre in Knighton 52 20 45 N 3 03 06 W 52 3458 N 3 0517 W 52 3458 3 0517 Offa s Dyke Centre Coordinates 52 20 45 N 3 03 06 W 52 3458 N 3 0517 W 52 3458 3 0517 Offa s Dyke Centre 5 There used to be around 600 stiles along the route but many of these have now been replaced by kissing gates a certain vigorous king called Offa had a great dyke built between Wales and Mercia from sea to sea AsserRoute EditPlaces on the route and highlights on or near the trail 3 Chepstow Castle from Offa s Dyke Path Chepstow to Monmouth Edit Sedbury Cliffs Severn Estuary Severn Bridge Chepstow Chepstow Castle River Wye View of Tintern Abbey from the Devil s Pulpit Redbrook Iron railway bridge The Kymin naval temple Tintern Abbey from Offa s Dyke Path Monmouth to Hay on Wye Edit Monmouth Monnow Bridge White Castle Llangattock Lingoed St Cadoc s church Pandy Hatterrall Ridge is the highest point on the trail at 703 m 2 310 ft Black Mountains Monnow Bridge at Monmouth St Cadoc s at Llangattock Lingoed The summit of the Black Mountain crossed by the Offa s Dyke Path Llanthony PrioryHay on Wye to Knighton Edit Hay on Wye Newchurch Gladestry Hergest Ridge with wild ponies 425 m 1 390 ft Kington Hawthorn Hill 406 m 1 330 ft Dyke near Clun Knighton to Montgomery Edit Knighton Offa s Dyke visitor centre Panpunton Hill 374 m 1 230 ft Cwm Sanaham Hill 406 m 1 330 ft Llanfair Hill highest point of the dyke at 430 m 1 410 ft Churchtown and Edenhope Hill Knighton in Powys Montgomery to Llanymynech Edit Montgomery Chirbury Beacon Ring Iron Age hill fort Caer Digoll Buttington Alongside Montgomery Canal and dyke beside River Severn Four CrossesLlanymynech to Trevor Edit Llanymynech Moelydd 285 m 940 ft Trefonen Oswestry old racecourse at Racecourse Common Craignant Chirk Castle Llangollen Canal Pontcysyllte Aqueduct World Heritage Site over the River Dee Path through Racecourse Woods Pontcysyllte Aqueduct Trevor to Prestatyn Edit Trevor Llangollen Castle Eglwyseg Crags Llandegla Forest with mountain bike trails Llandegla Clwydian Range of hills Around Moel y Plas 440 m 1 440 ft Moel Llanfair 447 m 1 470 ft Moel Gyw 467 m 1 530 ft and Foel Fenlli 511 m 1 680 ft Moel Famau 555 m 1 820 ft and Jubilee Tower at summit Around Moel Dywyll 472 m 1 550 ft Moel Llys y Coed 465 m 1 530 ft and Moel Arthur 455 m 1 490 ft Penycloddiau hill fort at 440 m 1 440 ft Bodfari Rhuallt Prestatyn Offa s Dyke Monument on the beach Eglwyseg Crags from the Path View from Jubilee Tower vte Offa s Dyke PathLegend Prestatyn A55 near St Asaph Bodfari Moel Famau A495 near Ruthin Llandegla Forest Llangollen Canal over Pontcysyllte Aqueduct A5 near Llangollen Chirk Castle near Chirk Llanymynech River Severn A458 near Welshpool Montgomery Knighton A44 at Kington Hay on Wye Hatterrall Ridge in the Black Mountains Llangattock Lingoed White Castle A40 at Monmouth Tintern Abbey A48 at Chepstow Sedbury Cliffs at River SevernSources 6 Promotion and media EditVarious bodies on either side of the border are collaborating on a sustainable tourism partnership a principal focus of which is Walking with Offa both on the trail but also in what has been dubbed Offa s Country i e in a corridor along the border 7 The path was the focus of an episode of the Channel 4 program Britain s Ancient Tracks with Tony Robinson In June 2021 during the footpath s 50th year an Offa s Dyke Rescue Fund was launched to restore eroded and other damaged parts of the route and to buy parts of the path at risk of sustained damage or negligence from local land owners The fund is working in consultation with CADW and English Heritage and the National Trail Unit 8 On 22 August 2021 BBC s Countryfile programme celebrated 50 years of the path 9 References Edit Long Distance Walkers Association www ldwa org uk Retrieved 15 April 2020 Distances Offa s Dyke Association Retrieved 3 December 2020 a b Carter Keith 2011 Offa s Dyke Path Trailblazer Publications ISBN 978 1 905864 35 5 A History of The Welsh Marches www ludlow org uk Retrieved 15 April 2020 The Offa s Dyke Centre Offa s Dyke Association Retrieved 3 December 2020 Offa s Dyke Association Retrieved 3 December 2020 Walking along an ancient border BBC 9 November 2011 Retrieved 15 April 2020 Rescue fund is launched to protect ancient monument Heritage groups join forces to prevent 1 200 year old Offa s Dyke from crumbling away Shropshire Star 21 June 2021 p 3 Report by Charlotte Bentley BBC One Countryfile Offa s Dyke Path External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Offa s Dyke Path Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Offa s Dyke Path Map all coordinates using OpenStreetMap Download coordinates as KMLThe Offa s Dyke Association Offa s Dyke Path on the National Trail website Offa s Dyke Path National Trail Long Distance Walkers Association Rambers Association Offa s Dyke Path National Trail Map of the Offa s Dyke Path in 2 mile sections Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Offa 27s Dyke Path amp oldid 1119121570, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
