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Offa’s Dyke Path 2024/2026
  • Susan Wagland
  • Susan Wagland

Offa’s Dyke Path 2024/2026

This National Trail runs for 177 miles from Chepstow to Prestatyn. I walked from Chepstow in August 2024 and resumed at Montgomery on 8th June 2026, mostly camping. Read more
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  • Trip start
    July 31, 2024
  • Susan WaglandOffa’s Dyke Path 2024/2026Traveler
    CampsiteRiver Wye at Redbrook

    Hendre near Monmouth

    August 15, 2024 in Wales ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C

    My first attempt at this path ended with heat exhaustion in a campsite in Monmouth.
    Two weeks later I restarted and on the first day I walked a few km to Hendre. I liked the track names: Drybridge Road and Watery Lane. There were blue fields of borage. Hendre campsite is quiet and pretty, with ponds.Read more

  • Susan WaglandOffa’s Dyke Path 2024/2026Traveler
    Walking friends for the day

    Knighton

    August 20, 2024 in Wales ⋅ 🌙 13 °C

    Knighton where I had a yummy take-away pizza beside my tent. Next day I walked to a crossroads where I had hoped to ring from a pub for a taxi back to Knighton, but the pub had been closed for years. After much online searching I located a Knighton taxi lady who picked me up on her way back from Birmingham airport. I caught a train home from Knighton.Read more

  • Susan WaglandOffa’s Dyke Path 2024/2026Traveler
    On top of Beacon Ring
    On top of Beacon RingIn WalesPath is well markedPath runs on top of the Dyke hereNo fingerpost here just a house with that nameFoxglovesWelshpoolView from Beacon RingFarm with three legged dog

    Beacon Ring

    June 8 in Wales ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    Thank you Kristin and Steve for putting me on the train to Montgomery in the morning, you guys are awesome! I started my walk at 3pm in bright sun, warm enough for a lady at a farmhouse to ask if I needed water - after she'd apologised for her three legged Jack Russell running up to me and barking.
    I camped on Beacon Ring Hill, on the less windy side and sheltered in trees. There is a hill fort here but you can't see any mounds. The trees were planted for the coronation in 1953. It was a cold night and but I was warm and cosy in my tent. To eat dinner, I sat on a log, balancing bread, hummus, local Shropshire Blue cheese, and an apple.
    It rained for half an hour while I was packing up the tent in the morning. Walking off the hill at 6:30am gave me gorgeous views over Welshpool.    Read more

  • Susan WaglandOffa’s Dyke Path 2024/2026Traveler
    Early this morning
    Early this morningWelshpoolButtington Bridge, perilous to cross - no pavementClose up of the bridgeSheep, Severn and Breidden HillsCantilever bridge on Montgomery canalThey let me through eventuallyWindy elderflowerMy camping spot and picnic table

    Four Crosses

    June 9 in Wales ⋅ 🌬 14 °C

    After descending from Beacon Hill, I stopped at a Greggs for breakfast, then followed the River Severn. It was flat, but very uneven ground and I was tired. It rained a bit, but mostly it was a day of sunny intervals and a very strong, cold wind.
    I camped at Hayfield Camping, on a spot near trees for the best shelter from the wind. There was one other camper, called John.
    Phil, the amenable campsite owner, charged my phone, moved a picnic table for me and raised the shower temperature to my preference. I bought dinner at a Chinese take-away.
    On the way, I met an Australian couple, and two women with three dogs, and a lot of cows.    Read more

  • Susan WaglandOffa’s Dyke Path 2024/2026Traveler
    Canal crosses river Vrnwy
    Canal crosses river VrnwyLock keeper's houseEntering EnglandLadies with dogs at NantmawrTop of MoelyddTriffids?Path beside DykeTea and cakeFairy mushroom on the DykeHorse sculpture at old racecourseBaker's HillFriendly SparLlangollen Hostel

    Craignant

    June 10 in England ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C

    It was a glorious morning beside a canal and then in hilly Wales. First I walked with John, an ex-civil servant and bin man. I crossed into England, and the hills became steeper. There were super views from Moelydd, lovely woods, and views from Racehorse Common, east and west. Roadside verges were bursting with wildflowers. The last few miles were over a sunny moor.
    The Australian couple, Phil and Denise, had no trouble with the cows yesterday - he was once a cowhand. The cows caused problems for the ladies with dogs.
    After my picnic lunch of bread, cheese, yogurt and chocolate in a meadow, ten minutes later, I passed a B & B place with honesty box tea and cake, so I stopped again for the cake.
    As the forecast for the next day was rain, I booked accommodation for this and the next night in Llangollen. But my transport plans did not go as expected. Arriving in Craignant after 16 miles walking, I wanted to phone for a taxi based in Llangollen. But there was no phone signal in this deep valley, and Llangollen was 10 miles away. A lady in a farmhouse let me use her phone, but the taxi firm did not answer. I had to hitch. Eventually a car stopped and a nice man took me to Glyn Ceriog village, where there was signal. The village Spar shop lady knew a local taxi man who took me the final 4 miles.
    In Llangollen Hostel, I had a room to myself and hung my tent up to dry on the other bunk beds.    Read more

  • Susan WaglandOffa’s Dyke Path 2024/2026Traveler
    Wet
    WetCows that followed meBadger sett on the DykeMore cows that followed meChirk CastleView of the aqueductAqueductRiver DeeLovely tea roomTrevor Hall WoodsLlangollen from Panoramic WayMilestoneTonight's accommodation

    Llangollen

    June 11 in Wales ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    Marcel's taxi took me back to Craignant and I began walking in the rain. The path, in Wales, was lush fields and curious cows. A highlight was crossing the Pontcysyllte aqueduct of the Llangollen Canal. Walkers share a narrow bridge with the canal, 126 feet above the river Dee.
    Llangollen was hosting Harley Davidson bike riders for a weekend bike meeting, many camping, some in my hostel. They were in their 60s, friendly and fun.
    My Airbnb in Llangollen this night was a real B&B, and very comfortable. It's on the A5 right beside one of engineer Thomas Telford's 1815 milestones. It was nice to leave some stuff in Llangollen and walk with a lighter pack for one day.    Read more

  • Susan WaglandOffa’s Dyke Path 2024/2026Traveler
    Path of old quarry stones
    Path of old quarry stonesLlangollen station and river DeeClimbing out of LlangollenHarley riders discussing fordView behind meLlandegla ForestWindyCommunity cafe/shop

    Llandegla

    June 12 in Wales ⋅ 🌬 19 °C

    I entered the Clwydian Hills, where the villages are isolated, the path is even more isolated and very exposed. Llandegla is a village with community shop, school, pub and campsite.
    It took an hour to climb back up to the path from Llangollen with my heavy pack, with the water and food I need for the day.
    The hills are moor, heather, bracken and bilberries and extremely windy, with impressive crags. I met more middle-aged Harley Davidson riders, wondering if they could ride over a slippery ford (they did). They wouldn't have worried about that 30 years ago.
    Scots ladies Sally and Fiona have turned up with their dogs, and put their tents up near mine. They had a day off in Chirk but have caught up with me.    Read more

  • Susan WaglandOffa’s Dyke Path 2024/2026Traveler
    Vale of Clwyd
    Vale of ClwydFiona with Crumpet, Sally with Mo and LuluCheweliog FarmLunch stopUgly Jubilee Tower2At Jubilee TowerMore Moels to crossSnowdon Range, cloud on summit

    Bodfari

    June 13 in Wales ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    What a hard day. It was 19 miles by Fiona's Strava and very hilly - 3654 ft ascent. But for all that it was very rewarding with fantastic views.
    For much of the day I followed the ridge of the Clwydian Range, hill to hill, with spectacular views of the Vale of Clwyd on the left; later the Snowdon Range was visible jagged against the sky, and the sea was on both left and right. On the tops there was again a fierce wind from the left.
    I was so tired at the campsite that I could hardly think straight and my knees hurt from the descents. I was carrying food for today plus breakfast and lunch for tomorrow, as Bodfari has no shop, although there is a decent pub where I had dinner with Sally and Fiona, their dogs sprawling all over the floor, and Sally's husband Mark.
    I met the farmer at Cheweliog Farm; a couple feeding the ravens; a hare; and a lot of Liverpudlians out on the hills as it was a Saturday.    Read more

  • Susan WaglandOffa’s Dyke Path 2024/2026Traveler
    The day started with a climb out of BodfariThe sea at PrestatynAlpacasCurly horned sheep lounging aroundThe spaniel found me! Crazy stone stileThis horse pushed me up the hillPrestatyn from the Prestatyn Hillside

    Prestatyn, the end

    June 14 in Wales ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    We made it! Sally, Fiona, the dogs and I reached Prestatyn, dipped our boots and paws in the sea and had an ice cream to celebrate.
    The remaining Clwydian foothills were still substantial climbs. I was nudged up a hill by a horse. Stiles have been remarkably steep today and made of odd shaped stones. It was warm and I changed into shorts for the first time.
    Right at the end, the Path took us up a last-minute hill above Prestatyn and Rhyl, not quite what I wanted at that point, but the views were super. Would I do it again? Yes!
    Thank you Wales and England, great walk!

    Two nights in hostel or B&B, three on campsites, one wild camping.
    7 days walking, 157 km. Pack weight 8 kg before food and water. Most useful item: hooded long sleeved T-shirt: the hood kept my cap on in the wind.
    Two falls: once slipped on a wet tree root on the Dyke and fell into brambles, but protected by waterproofs. Once blown sideways into the heather on a hill. No injuries.
    Best breakfast while camping: a tin of cold rice pudding, a 500 ml tub of yogurt and a hot cross bun!    Read more

    Trip end
    June 15, 2026