Walking Offa's Dyke Path (North to South)
Walking Offa's Dyke Path (North to South)
Walking Offa's Dyke Path (North to South)
18 Days Starting in Rhuallt, Saint Asaph LL17, UK and ending in Chepstow NP16, UK
Visiting: Rhuallt, Prestatyn, Bodfari, Llanarmon-yn-Ial, Llangollen, Llwynmawr, Llanymynech, Buttington, Mellington, Knighton, Kington, Hay-on-Wye, Longtown, Llangattock Lingoed, Monmouth, Tintern, Chepstow
Tour operator:
Tour code:
W17OF
Group Type:
Independent
Guide Type:
Self Guided
Physical rating:
Medium, 3 out of 7: Moderate
Age range:
8 to 99
Special diets catered:
Please advise requests
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Walking southwards enjoy the changing landscape from the dramatic heather clad uplands of the Clwydian Range and Black Mountains, to the peaceful rolling hills of Shropshire and Powys and the riverside meadows of the Wye and Severn valleys as you walk through three Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Along the way you'll pass through areas of Site of Special Scientific Interest and discover a rich history from Iron Age forts, to Norman castles and to more recent areas of industrial heritage.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Arrive In Rhuallt
Location: Rhuallt
Meals Included: Dinner
Arrive in the small village of Rhuallt, near the start of the trailhead at Prestatyn.
Day 2 : Prestatyn To Bodfari (Rhuallt)
Location: Prestatyn, Bodfari, Rhuallt
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
After a short transfer to Prestatyn start your journey along the trail. From the beach head into the first of three AONB's you'll discover; the Clwydian Range. The stone stiles you'll go over today are unique to this section of the trail. There are spectacular views across to Snowdonia as you head toward Bodfari where you will be collected for a transfer to Rhuallt.
Day 3 : Rhuallt (Bodfari) To Llanarmon-Yn-Lal
Location: Rhuallt, Llanarmon-yn-Ial
Meals Included: Breakfast
The day starts with a transfer back to the route at Bodfari. You'll walk the Clwydian peaks and discover a series of Iron and Bronze Age hillforts at Foel Fenlli, Moel Arthur and Penycloddiau. The tallest summit in the range is Moel Famau at 554m and is crowned with the remains of the Jubilee Tower. Leave the trail to arrive in Llanarmon-yn-Ial.
Day 4 : Llanarmon-Yn-Lal To Llangollen
Location: Llangollen
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today your walk takes you through Llandegla Forest and over heather-clad moorland. You'll then pass through World's End to reach the dramatic limestone crags of the Eglwysegs above Llangollen.
Day 5 : Llangollen To Llwynmawr
Location: Llwynmawr
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
From Llangollen walk up to the remains of the medieval Castell Dinas Bran before reaching the Pontcysllte Aqueduct. Built in 1805 and now listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site it is the world's highest navigable aqueduct. Continue on through rolling farmland to Llwynmawr, perhaps taking a small detour to visit Chirk Castle.
Day 6 : Llywnmawr To Llanymynech
Location: Llanymynech
Meals Included: Breakfast
Walk across open farmland to reach Oswestry Old Racecourse, used for horse races in the 18th Century. Ascend Moelydd to enjoy stunning views, with a toposcope provided to show the hills in the area. Discover some of the industrial heritage of the area at Nantmawr and the limestone quarry of Llanymynech.
Day 7 : Llanymynech To Buttington
Location: Buttington
Meals Included: Breakfast
A more gentle day today as you enter the Welsh Marches and walk along stretches of the Montgomeryshire Canal and the River Severn.
Day 8 : Buttington To Mellington
Location: Mellington
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today is another relatively flat stage, allowing time for a detour to Montgomery town to get refreshments and visit the ruined castle above the town. The Trail and the Dyke itself closely follow the true national boundary here.
Day 9 : Mellington To Knighton
Location: Knighton
Meals Included: Breakfast
Often thought of as one of the toughest sections of the Trail you reach the Shropshire Hills AONB and can view some of the best preserved sections of Offa's Dyke on Llanfair Hill.
Day 10 : At Knighton
Location: Knighton
Meals Included: Breakfast
Enjoy a day off walking and spend time in Knighton, home to the Offa's Dyke Centre.
Day 11 : Knighton To Kington
Location: Kington
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today you'll get stunning views from Hawthorn Hill, including the site of Owain Glyndwr's Battle of Pilleth. The trail passes through Granner Wood, a Woodland Trust site which is being restored to broadleaf woodland. Then, on to Brandor Hill, home to Kington Golf Club, the highest golf club in England before reaching the market town of Kington.
Day 12 : Kington To Hay-On-Wye
Location: Hay-on-Wye
Meals Included: Breakfast
The day starts with a climb to where the Trail rises to 400m at Hergest Ridge. On a clear day you'll have 360 degree views to Pen y Fan to the south, the Malverns to the east and the hills of Shropshire to the north. Hergest Ridge has an old racecourse, and was also inspiration for Arthur Conan Doyle's Hound of the Baskervilles. Heading back down to the valley you'll follow the River Wye towards Hay-on-Wye. This quaint town was founded by the Normans after the Conquest and is nowadays famous for its numerous book shops. There is a choice of pubs and restaurants in which to spend the evening.
Day 13 : Hay-On-Wye To Longtown
Location: Longtown
Meals Included: Breakfast
Start your journey through the Black Mountains of the Brecon Beacons National Park with views to the Vale of Eywas before reaching Longtown with its 12th century Norman motte-and-bailey fortification.
Day 14 : Longtown To Llangattock Lingoed
Location: Llangattock Lingoed
Meals Included: Breakfast
Continue through the Brecon Beacons National Park and along Hatterrall Ridge - enjoy stunning views to Sugar Loaf. Much of the ridge is a designated SSSI area.
Day 15 : Llangattock Lingoed To Monmouth
Location: Monmouth
Meals Included: Breakfast
The dyke is not visible along here but the area is rich with medieval history with White Castle worth a visit. The Rivers Wye, Monnow and Trothy converge at Monmouth and the trail passes below Monnow Bridge, the only remaining medieval fortified bridge in Great Britain.
Day 16 : Monmouth To Tintern
Location: Tintern
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Over the next two days you'll walk through the third and final Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty of this holiday, the Wye Valley. Enjoy views from The Kymin, an 18th Century Round House and Naval Temple. At Redbrook the trail crosses the border out of Wales for the final time.
Day 17 : Tintern To Chepstow
Location: Chepstow
Meals Included: Breakfast
A short detour off the route at the start of the day takes you to the ruins of Tintern Abbey, then follow a tree lined escarpment to Devil's Pulpit for a spectacular view back to the Abbey. As you near Chepstow, you'll have views of the Castle, the oldest surviving post Roman fortification in Britain. Arrive at Sedbury cliff at the Severn estuary, a Maritime Natural Area which has the second highest tidal range in the world thanks to its shape and the 5 rivers that feed into it. A transfer will meet you for the short ride to Chepstow for your last night.
Day 18 : Leave Chepstow
Location: Chepstow
Meals Included: Breakfast
Depart Chepstow after breakfast.
What's Included
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Accommodation
17 nights hotel-to-hotel accommodation in a mix of hotels, inns and B&B's
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Meals
All breakfasts and 4 evening meals
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Management by your local Headwater-appointed agent
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GPS route directions and maps
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Headwater navigation app
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Luggage transfers between hotels
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Walking transfers
What's Not Included
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Travel Insurance
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Single accommodation (available on request - compulsory supplement)
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Solo traveller supplement (where only one person is travelling on a departure date)
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International Travel
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Tipping and Gratuities
Food
All Breakfasts and 4 evening meals are included. Try out traditional local country pubs for lunch or enjoy a picnic in the countryside. Sample local cuisine such as cawl, Welsh rarebit, laverbread, Welsh cakes, bara birth and the Glamorgan sausage. These dishes are regarded as symbols of Welsh food.
Accommodation
Accommodation is in a mix of friendly hotels, inns and guesthouses, some of which are off the main route of the Offa's Dyke Path.
Check out our Q&As
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Routes & directions?
It is important that you are happy following route directions, we make these as accurate as possible and they are regularly checked.
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Are children permitted to take part in the tour?
We have suggested that 8yrs is the minimum age for this trip, but as it is self-guided and you will be leading your own family we will ultimately leave this decision up to you.
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Do you require a visa for this holiday?
UK passport holders do not need visas for this trip. Other nationalities should check with the relevant embassies.
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Will there be an escort accompanying this tour?
As this is a self-guided holiday there is no group and no leader. There may be others on the same departure date as you, but you will not be organised together. The routes directions contain a 24-hour emergency assistance telephone number should you need it and in emergencies, the local agent is normally able to dispatch a taxi or pick you up themselves. They may wish to charge for this service.
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What is the fitness level required to do this tour?
This is classed as 3 (Moderate) with average daily distances of 21km (13miles). Walks on this holiday are mainly on well-marked, gently undulating paths and tracks. The toughest sections of walking are in the Shropshire Hills (day 9) and the Brecon Beacons (days 12-14).
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Weather
Summers in Wales tend to be slightly cooler than you might expect and winters can be milder, especially on the coast, while higher, upland areas have more chance of harsher (and colder) weather conditions. The warmest months to visit are from June through to August, although temperatures start to warm up around April and remain pleasant until October time. We advise you take waterproofs year-round
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Vehicle support?
This is a self-guided trip for those who prefer to walk independently, but with our assistance to take out the stress of the logistics and planning. We arrange your accommodation, provide you with route directions so that you can walk at your own pace, while your bags are transported from one hotel to the next. Transfers will be used to get you to the start of some walks.
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
If you wish to make any changes to your booking, particularly if you need to alter any flights booked through us, please let us know as soon as possible. There is a booking or flight amendment fee of £40 per change and flight amendments often incur extra airline costs depending on the changes to be made and if the ticket has been issued or not.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Exodus has been trading since 1974
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Your final joining instructions and flight details, if booked with us, will then be sent out 2 to 3 weeks before departure. If you would like a hard copy posted, or if you require these any earlier, please contact the customer operations team. We advise that if you are booking connecting travel before receiving these, please ensure you leave plenty of time.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Travellers are welcome to opt to share a room with a tour member of the same gender for no additional charge. If you'd like your own room, we can request a single supplement so that you will have your own room throughout.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
You are welcome to meet the group after the tour has departed however there is no reduction in rate for joining a tour after the departure date.
Reviews of this Operator
Book with Confidence
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Exodus allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform exodus, 43 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Exodus requires a minimum deposit of 25% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of exodus charges.
Up to 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.