Offa's Dyke Path

The remarkable Offa’s Dyke was built by Offa, king of Mercia, in the late 8th Century as a ditch-and-bank defence against marauding Welsh tribes. It formed a fairly brief frontier between his kingdom and the wild lands to the west.

One of Britain’s great long-distance routes, Offa's Dyke Path follows – not always exactly – the course of the Dyke from the resort of the Prestatyn in North Wales to Sedbury Cliff overlooking the Severn Estuary near Chepstow, some 275kms (177 miles) south.

Enjoy gorgeous views of moorland, hills, rolling farmland and the sculpted treeless ridges of the borderland “mountains” (British definition). Walk between inns and hostels in pretty villages and towns. Drop down to the castles, melancholy ruined monastic buildings and pretty villages of this ancient border countryside.

It is invidious, with a path so consistently beautiful and interesting, to select "best" sections – but Walkopedia never shirks its task, so here goes:

Walkopedia’s favourite walk in the Black Mountains has to be the fantastic Hatterrall Ridge, the long (11 or so miles) ridge from the ancient hill fort above Pandy to Hay Bluff above Hay on Wye. This is the easternmost ridge of the Black Mountains and accordingly has huge views across the green beauties of western England, as well as westward over the beautiful Vale of Ewyas to the range’s central ridges. The ridge is both the England-Wales border and possibly the finest stretch of Offa’s Dyke Path. You can walk the entire ridge in a longish but not difficult day, or create various wonderful circuits.

A particular favorite (which manages to combine the charming and the dramatic) is from tiny Capel-y-Ffin or the atmospheric ruins of Llanthony Priory in the Vale of Ewas, climbing onto Hatterrall Ridge to join Offa’s Dyke Path for a way before circuiting back;

Another circuits the ridge south of Hay Bluff from the east, making use of the spectacular and slightly surprising narrow Black Hill Ridge to climb or descend.

The section from Knighton to Montgomery follows magnificent ridges through the beautiful "mountain" section (British definition); the dyke is at its best here – well preserved, with both the dyke and ditch in a splendid state for much of its course. This is said to be because the Mercian capital of Tamworth (north-east of Birmingham) was east of here and this was an area of easy access.

The high, moorland ridge near Kington has wonderful views over the surrounding countryside. Popular and can get a bit crowded.

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