Offa's Dyke Path - Index of Posts

Back in January of this year I walked my final section of the Offa's Dyke Path, which I had been walking in sections since January 2012, and this post is an index to all my blog posts on the subject.  As on previous long distance paths, I adopted a section walking approach using a combination a trains, buses and occasionally taxis to allow me to walk 2, 3 or 4 days of the path at a time.  I also deviated from the route in various places, either to climb extra hills, take a short-cut or to reach transport home; therefore these are reflected in the distance and ascent figures below.

Moel Arthur from the south

The first section I walked was from Prestatyn on the North Wales coast to the village of Llandegla over two days, including a lovely traverse of the Clwydian Range in January 2012.  Here are my posts on each day:

• Day 1: Prestatyn to Bodfari - 21km, 680m ascent
• Day 2: Bodfari to Llandegla - 28km, 1280m ascent

One of the first sections of the Offa's Dyke that I encountered

Then in early March 2012, I walked my second section of the trail from from Llandegla to Welshpool over three days, which included my first section of the Offa's Dyke itself.  Here are my daily posts:

• Day 3: Llandegla to Trevor - 21.5km, 750m ascent
• Day 4: Trevor to Llanymynech - 30.5km, 980m ascent
• Day 5: Llanymynech to Welshpool - 20km, negligible ascent

Beacon Ring hill fort from the SW

Next it was a two day section from Welshpool to Knighton, including Beacon Ring and The Switchbacks, in early March 2013:

• Day 6: Welshpool to Mellington Hall Campsite - 24km, 670m ascent
• Day 7: Mellington Hall Campsite to Knighton - 24.5km, 1250m ascent

Hatterrall Hill

Easter 2013 saw me walk in the snow from Knighton to Pandy, via Kington, Hergest Ridge and the Black Mountains, and then on over Ysgyryd Fawr to Abergavenny station:

• Day 8: Knighton to Kington - 22km, 730m ascent
• Day 9: Kington to Hay-on-Wye - 24.5km, 900m ascent
• Day 10: Hay-on-Wye to Pandy - 27km, 800m ascent
• Day 10a: Pandy to Abergavenny - 12km, 410m ascent

Chepstow Castle

Finally this January I returned to Abergavenny and walked from near Pandy to Sudbury Cliffs over two and a half days.  This was a mainly stormy weekend, but it was bright and sunny when I finished the path at Sedbury Cliffs.  Here are my posts on the three days:

• Day 11: Near Pandy to Monmouth - 26km, 460m ascent
• Day 12: Monmouth to Chepstow - 28.5km, 1120m ascent
• Day 13: Chepstow to Sedbury Cliffs - 6.5km, 150m ascent

The Offa's Dyke Path was the second National Trail that I've walked (the first was the Pennine Way) and I found it to be an enjoyable long distance path to walk with plenty of variety.

Offa's Dyke Path - Day 2: Bodfari to Llandegla

Distance: 28km; Ascent: 1280m; Solo

See route in new window

After yesterday's walk, my longest for a couple of months, I slept well in my comfortable B&B.  I woke just before 7am, and after a huge breakfast I set off walking shortly after 8am in the early light of day.

On the ascent out of Bodfari

After a wander across a couple of fields, I reached a minor road that I briefly followed before picking up a bridleway that skirted round the SW slopes of Moel y Parc to reach a track junction up on the ridge.  There was a cold wind up here and it was significantly cooler than yesterday, with the sky completely overcast, although at least it was dry!

View north from Penycloddiau

After a relatively short easy ascent following grassy paths through the bracken and heather, I reached the summit of my first hill for the day at 9:30am: Penycloddiau (Marilyn), which was also an Iron Age hill-fort.  The views from here were good, including across to most of the Snowdonia ranges and the Berwyns.

On summit of Penycloddiau

I continued onwards through the heather before dropping down to the edge of some woodland and thus to a car park and minor road.  Here I entered the Moel Famau country park, which must cover a reasonable area as I was still some way away from Moel Famau itself!  After around a kilometre, I reached a path junction where I deviated from the Offa's Dyke Path to visit the summit of Moel Arthur (HuMP), which was another hill-fort.  As I descended the steep SE flank of the hill to a minor road running through another pass, it was clear to see why this particular hill had been chosen to site a hill-fort on.

Moel Arthur from the south

The climb out of the other side of the pass was quite steep for the first few hundred metres, but it did afford good views back to Moel Arthur.  Soon the ground levelled out and I followed the undulating Offa's Dyke Path through the hills to reach the final slightly snowy ascent up onto Moel Famau (Marilyn, Dewey), whose summit I reached just after midday.  The hill is crowned by the remains of the Jubilee Tower, which was built to celebrate the jubilee of George III in 1810 and today provided welcome shelter from the cold wind whilst I had my lunch!  After lunch I took a wander over to the trig point and also to the unmarked true summit near the tower.

Summit of Moel Famau

The path down Moel Famau was the widest so far, and it was easy to see why as there were literally hoards of people on their way up or down the hill from the conveniently sited car park.  Given it was so popular on such a cold day, I suspect it's somewhere to avoid on warm sunny weekends if you're a lover of solitude!

Summit of Foel Fenlli

After leaving the car park and the masses behind, I ascended up narrow paths through the heather to visit the summit of Foel Fenlli (Marilyn, Dewey) where it began to snow very lightly.  The views were again good, but most of the Snowdonia hills were now completely obscured by the cloud and I suspected that it was snowing somewhat heavier over them than here.

I dropped down to the south, before following field paths and a gorse banked track around Moel Eithinen to the A494 at Clwyd Gate.  After a brief walk along the busy road, the ascent began again in earnest!  The direct route to my final hill for the day, Moel Gyw, didn't look too pleasant given it was steep pathless bracken and heather!  Instead I opted to follow the Offa's Dyke Path around to the bwlch to the south of the hill, before following a good path up to the summit of Moel Gyw (Marilyn), which was marked by a trig point and a small nearby slightly higher cairn; I visited them both.

Summit of Moel Gyw

By now it was 3pm at it was looking somewhat unlikely that I would catch the last bus from Llandegla at 4pm given that it was over 8km away!  I continued to follow the Offa's Dyke Path as it contoured around Moel Llanfair and Moel y Plâs before reaching a radio mast and then a minor road.  In an attempt to get to Llandegla quicker, I opted to stick on the road for the last 3km rather than following the more circuitous field paths.

I rang for a taxi to meet me in Llandegla when I was about 2km away and had fun trying to arrange where to meet as their system couldn't cope that I didn't know the postcode for the village!  Eventually we settled on the post office as it was somewhere on my map and they thought that they should be able to find it!

Offa's Dyke Path signpost in Llandegla

I reached Llandegla just after 5pm, where there was a handy sign informing me that I had walked 29 miles from Prestatyn this weekend and it was only another 148 to go to Chepstow; however they would have to wait for other weekends!  My taxi arrived after a few minutes and the Polish driver was excited to learn that I had been snowed on this afternoon as he said he missed the snow!  I made the delayed six o'clock train from Wrexham, only to just miss my connection in Chester and thus I didn't get home until 8:30pm.  It had been a good couple of day's walking and I was glad that I had decided on the Offa's Dyke Path; I will have to return again soon to continue it.

Written on 01/02/12

Offa's Dyke Path - Day 1: Prestatyn to Bodfari

Distance: 21km; Ascent 680m; Solo

See route in new window

My most recent backpacking trip was now over three months ago and I was keen to get out backpacking again.  I decided to have a crack at walking another long distance path over several weekend sections, as I did with the Pennine Way between 2008 and 2010.  After studying various maps and public transport details, it seemed like the most likely contenders were the Dales Way and the Offa's Dyke Path with the latter slightly more preferable as it spends more time in the hills.  I had also been thinking of returning to the Clwydian Range of hills since I made one brief foray there to climb Moel Famau a few years ago, and so my decision was made - the Offa's Dyke Path it is!

On Prestatyn Beach

This morning I caught a succession of three trains from Stockport to Prestatyn, changing in Crewe, where I managed to grab a quick coffee and sausage sandwich between trains, and Chester.  I wandered down to the beach from Prestatyn station to dip my boots in the sea, before having a look at the shiny sculpture that marks the start of the Offa's Dyke Path.

Sculpture marking the start of the Offa's Dyke Path and sign showing indicating 182 miles to Chepstow

I left Prestatyn beach at 10:45 and walked south, through the station and ascended up the high street to reach the Hillside Gardens on the south eastern edge of town, where there was a large sculpture of a Roman helmet.  Slightly further up the hill, there was a sort of balcony from where there was a good view out over the town and the nearby coastline.

View from Hillside Gardens, Prestatyn

I continued to ascend, with good views west across the hazy valley to the snow covered peaks of the Carneddau.  Eventually the path levelled out and I headed south across the gorse covered hillside, high above the houses below.  After crossing the A5151, I passed the remains of a mill and began to ascend up the hillside of Marian Ffirth, on the top of which I stopped for lunch in the sunshine.

View back NW from Marian Ffrith

After lunch, I descended through limestone country to reach a minor road followed by field paths to reach the woodland on the slopes of Mynydd y Cwm.  Here, I took a minor detour from the Offa's Dyke Path to follow tracks and a path through the woodland to reach the summit of Mynydd y Cwm (Marilyn).

Mynydd y Cwm woodland

The summit area was deep in the woods so there were no significant views to speak of.  I returned to the minor road to the east to pick up the Offa's Dyke Path again, before following it SW as it descended through the gorse to reach Rhuallt

Track through gorse on route to Rhuallt

I stopped for a quick break in the sunshine on a pleasant bench in Rhuallt, before crossing the A55 and ascending up through more gorse to reach the summit of Moel Maenefa (HuMP), which seemed to be missing its trig point but the views were excellent.

Moel Maenefa

Soon the path joined a minor road, which I followed for a kilometre before cutting a corner by heading over Cefn Du and then descending past Sodom, with excellent views west to the sun setting behind a bank of cloud over Snowdonia.

Sunset on the way to Bodfari

I reached Bodfari just as it was getting dark at 5pm and found my comfortable B&B for the night, where I discovered that I was their first ever guest in January (previously their earliest had been in February).  I headed out to the Downing Arms for an excellent dinner of whitebait followed by steak, before returning to my B&B and getting an early night - I think I was asleep by 9:30pm!

Written on 31/01/12