Offa's Dyke Path

Offa's Dyke Path

Book your walking holiday along King Offa's Dyke, from Chepstow to Prestatyn.

3 to 17 nights
27-181 miles
Moderate / Demanding to Demanding / Strenuous

From £355 per person

Find your holiday

About the trail

During the 8th century, King Offa of Mercia ordered a great dyke to be built to mark the western boundary of his kingdom with Wales. Offa's Dyke Path follows the course of this ancient earthwork from Chepstow to Prestatyn, passing through scenery of great beauty and variety along the way.

The trail visits a succession of historic border towns and attractive villages including Monmouth, Hay-on-Wye and Welshpool. There is also plenty of historic interest along the trail, including Chepstow Castle, the ruin of Tintern Abbey and the imposing stronghold of White Castle, to name just a few.

We offer multiple holiday options along this trail. If you wish to experience the entire trail, simply select the first option from the list below.

Choose your route

  • Offa's Dyke Path
  • Offa's Dyke Path - North Section
  • Offa's Dyke Path - South Section
  • This route includes dog friendly tour options Offa's Dyke Short Break - South Section
  • Offa's Dyke Short Break - North Section

Dog friendly tours available

Dogs are welcome on select routes along this trail. Look for the pawprint icon when choosing your holiday.

Trail running tours available

We also organise trail running holidays along this route. Find out more.

About this route

13 to 17 nights
181 miles
Moderate / Demanding to Demanding / Strenuous
2nd January to 24th December

From £1440 per person

Offa's Dyke Path

This self-guided walking holiday spans the entire iconic Offa’s Dyke Path, taking in everything from the woodlands of the spectacular Wye Gorge to the windswept ridges of the Black Mountains.

Offa’s Dyke Path straddles the English-Welsh border and offers a full range of gorgeous scenery, fascinating history, rare wildlife and unique glimpses into Welsh culture, providing plenty to entertain walkers of all interests from start to finish.

This route can be walked in the opposite direction upon request. Please contact us and we will be happy to assist you.

Available tours

Code Tour Duration Difficulty Price per person
ODP1 From Chepstow to Prestatyn(L) 13 nights, 12 days walking Demanding / Strenuous £1440
ODP2 From Chepstow to Prestatyn(L) 14 nights, 13 days walking Demanding £1545
ODP3 From Chepstow to Prestatyn(L) 15 nights, 14 days walking Demanding £1650
ODP4 From Chepstow to Prestatyn(L) 16 nights, 15 days walking Moderate / Demanding £1760
ODP5 From Chepstow to Prestatyn(L) 17 nights, 16 days walking Moderate / Demanding £1865

Short breaks

Code Tour Duration Difficulty Price per person
ODPSBS From Hay-on-Wye to Knighton 3 nights, 2 days walking Demanding £355

Offa's Dyke Path 13 nights, 12 days walking

£NNN per person
  • Itinerary
  • What's included?
  • Extra nights?
  • Tour facts
  • Route profile
  • Travel info
  • Weather
  • Holiday Highlights

Important information

Please note that there is a short section of the trail, approximately 1.5 miles in length, to the south of Chepstow. We recommend a there-and-back walk on the evening of your arrival if you wish to tackle this section; transfers are not provided to the top of Sedbury Cliffs as standard.

The villages of Longtown and Llanthony are located 1.5 miles off the Offa's Dyke Path trail.  The same applies for the town of Llangollen, which also appears 1.5 miles off the Offa's Dyke Path trail. These additional distances to and from Longtown/Llanthony and Llangollen are included in the day walks shown below, if the itinerary features these places as a stop. 

Start

Travel to Chepstow where your first night's accommodation will be booked

Day 1

Chepstow to Monmouth. 18 miles (28.5km) / 3025 ft (922 m) ascent

Day 2

Monmouth to Pandy(L). 17 miles (27km) / 1949 ft (594 m) ascent

Day 3

Pandy(L) to Hay-on-Wye. 17.5 miles (28km) / 2336 ft (712 m) ascent

Day 4

Hay-on-Wye to Kington. 14.5 miles (23.5km) / 2201 ft (671 m) ascent

Day 5

Kington to Knighton. 14 miles (22.5km) / 2415 ft (736 m) ascent

Day 6

Knighton to Brompton Crossroads(L). 15 miles (24km) / 3406 ft (1038 m) ascent

Day 7

Brompton Crossroads(L) to Buttington (For Welshpool)(L). 12.5 miles (20km) / 1545 ft (471 m) ascent

Day 8

Buttington (For Welshpool)(L) to Trefonen(L). 16.5 miles (26.5km) / 1447 ft (441 m) ascent

Day 9

Trefonen(L) to Llangollen. 17 miles (27km) / 2661 ft (811 m) ascent

Day 10

Llangollen to Clwyd Gate(T). 15.5 miles (24.5km) / 3002 ft (915 m) ascent

Day 11

Clwyd Gate(T) to Bodfari(L). 11.5 miles (18.5km) / 2211 ft (674 m) ascent

Day 12

Bodfari(L) to Prestatyn(L). 12.5 miles (20km) / 2152 ft (656 m) ascent

Finish

Depart from Prestatyn(L) after breakfast

Your Itinerary

This itinerary lists our preferred overnight stops for this tour. Sometimes there may be a shortage of available accommodation in a preferred location, in which case we will transfer you from the trail to your accommodation and back again at no extra charge. Overnight stops marked with a (T) will always require transfers as standard.

Overnight stops marked with an (L) have very limited accommodation, and therefore more often than not will also require a transfer, particularly on bank holidays and weekends. We will use non-transfer accommodation wherever possible.

The daily mileages quoted are average trail miles only and do not include the distance from the trail to your accommodation. We do not expect you to have to travel more than a mile from the trail to your accommodation in most cases; should your accommodation be further than this, transfers will be provided as standard if practical. A very limited number of stops will require you to travel on foot up to two miles off the trail, however these instances will be clearly communicated to you if applicable.

Further transfers may also be required due to some accommodations having a two-night minimum booking policy, especially at weekends.

Below are the additional costs that may apply depending on your requirements. Dog-friendly tours are subject to a Daily Dog Charge, which will be listed below if applicable. Our standard prices per person are based upon two people sharing a room; if you are on your own, or are part of a group but require a room of your own, then the Solo Traveller or Single Supplements apply respectively:

A note about transfers
Solo Traveller Supplement
£60.00 per person / per night
Single Supplement
£50.00 per person / per night


You can add rest days at any of the overnight stops:

Extra night (Standard)
£65.00 per person / per night
Standard
Interactive
© Contours Walking Holidays Offa's Dyke Path map
Chepstow to Prestatyn
181 miles (290 km)
2nd January to 24th December

Holiday highlights

Admiring the views as far as Anglesey, Snowdonia and the Clwydian Hills from Prestatyn.

Reaching the Hatterall Ridge, the highest point on Offa’s Dyke.

Passing through the Clwydian Hills, the Shropshire Hills and the Wye Valley, three Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

What's included?

  • 13 nights' accommodation in en-suite rooms (where available) in selected B&B’s, hotels, inns and guesthouses along the trail, or a short distance away via taxi provided at our expense.
  • Breakfast each day.
  • Door to door luggage transfer.
  • Maps with the route marked on and a guidebook or route notes describing the trail.
  • An information pack containing an itinerary, instructions on how to find your accommodation each night and a kit list.
  • Detailed travel instructions on how to get to the start of your holiday and back from the end of it.

Extra Nights & Rest Days

An extra night gives you the chance to explore some of the villages and old market towns along the trail, catch up with writing postcards or to simply relax and give your weary legs a rest.

The sleepy town of Hay-on-Wye is a good choice for a rest day, particularly if you are keen on books. There are over 30 book stores in houses, shops, the old cinema and the ramshackle stone castle.

Knighton is a good choice. It is an attractive old town and the Offa's Dyke Centre is well worth a visit.

The bustling market town of Welshpool is an excellent choice for a rest day, which hosts plenty to keep you entertained. Powis Castle and its magnificent grounds are within walking distance of the town, along with the local museum and the chance to ride a working steam train. As well as this, Welshpool offers a variety of sporting activities and facilities ? including golf, horse riding and quad trekking ? and a unique blend of shops and eateries selling quality local produce that would be difficult to find anywhere else. Please note some of our preferred accommodation are a short walk outside of Welshpool, which does not sit directly on the trail.

Llangollen is another pleasant old Welsh town with plenty to see and do.

You can add rest days at any of the overnight stops:

Extra night (Standard)
£65.00 per person / per night

Tour Facts

Total distance: 181 miles (290 km)
Duration: 13 nights, 12 days walking
Minimum daily distance: 11.5 miles (18.5 km)
Maximum daily distance: 18 miles (28.5 km)
Code: ODP1 Grade: Demanding / Strenuous
Season: 2nd January - 24th December
Start of holiday: Chepstow
End of holiday: Prestatyn(L)

Route Profile

Offa's Dyke Path Route Profile

Travel Information

Useful information and travel links that will assist you in your plans to travel to the start of the holiday and back from the end of it are sent to you with your full tour pack. A summary is given below:

By Air - The most convenient major cities and international airports are Bristol, Cardiff, Liverpool John Lennon and Manchester.

By Rail - There is a rail station at the start of the trail (Chepstow) and also at the end of the trail (Prestatyn).

By Bus - Various bus services run to Chepstow and from Prestatyn.

From London - Trains run from London Paddington station to Chepstow.

Return To The Start - The easiest way to return to the start of the trail, is to take a train from Prestatyn to Chepstow.

Weather Information

To find out more about the weather forecast for your chosen holiday's general location, please see the following websites:

  • MetCheck - This website allows you to look up detailed weather information for specific locations as far as six months in advance.
  • Met Office - This website shows regional area forecasts a few days in advance, with a general UK forecast description of up to 30 days in advance.
  • Mountain Forecast - This website shows what the forecast is like up on specific hills and fells, and offers forecasts a few days in advance.
"Companion on the Path" by Peter Kovach (2023) "Companion on the Path" by Peter Kovach (2023)
"Coastal Plain and Offshore Windfarm" by Roger Wilmot (2022) "Coastal Plain and Offshore Windfarm" by Roger Wilmot (2022)
"Path along the Severn Valley" by Roger Wilmot (2022) "Path along the Severn Valley" by Roger Wilmot (2022)
"Hill above Pant-glâs from Cefn Du" by Roger Wilmot (2022) "Hill above Pant-glâs from Cefn Du" by Roger Wilmot (2022)
"Flagstone path across Cyrn-y-Brain" by Roger Wilmot (2022) "Flagstone path across Cyrn-y-Brain" by Roger Wilmot (2022)
"Approaching Craig Arthur" by Roger Wilmot (2022) "Approaching Craig Arthur" by Roger Wilmot (2022)
"Signpost on Craig Forda" by Roger Wilmot (2022) "Signpost on Craig Forda" by Roger Wilmot (2022)
"Castell Dynas Brân from Offa’s Dyke" by Roger Wilmot (2022) "Castell Dynas Brân from Offa’s Dyke" by Roger Wilmot (2022)
"Offa’s Dyke near Tyddyn-y-cyll" by Roger Wilmot (2022) "Offa’s Dyke near Tyddyn-y-cyll" by Roger Wilmot (2022)
"Looking back along the Path" by Catherine Lloyd (2022) "Looking back along the Path" by Catherine Lloyd (2022)
"Signpost in Moel Famau Country Park" by Catherine Lloyd (2022) "Signpost in Moel Famau Country Park" by Catherine Lloyd (2022)
"At the Halfway Point" by Catherine Lloyd (2022) "At the Halfway Point" by Catherine Lloyd (2022)
"The Approach to Jubilee Tower" by Catherine Lloyd (2022) "The Approach to Jubilee Tower" by Catherine Lloyd (2022)
"Approaching Moel Arthur" by Catherine Lloyd (2022) "Approaching Moel Arthur" by Catherine Lloyd (2022)
"At the Entrance to Trefonen Village" by Catherine Lloyd (2022) "At the Entrance to Trefonen Village" by Catherine Lloyd (2022)
"Cwm-sanaham Hill" by Simon and Clare Parker (2022) "Cwm-sanaham Hill" by Simon and Clare Parker (2022)
"Along the Montgomery Canal" by Simon and Clare Parker (2022) "Along the Montgomery Canal" by Simon and Clare Parker (2022)
"Looking Back on our way to Clwyd Gate" by Simon and Clare Parker (2022) "Looking Back on our way to Clwyd Gate" by Simon and Clare Parker (2022)
"What a View" by Simon and Clare Parker (2022) "What a View" by Simon and Clare Parker (2022)
"The Slopes of Eglwyseg Mountain" by Simon and Clare Parker (2022) "The Slopes of Eglwyseg Mountain" by Simon and Clare Parker (2022)
"Steam Train at Llangollen" by Simon and Clare Parker (2022) "Steam Train at Llangollen" by Simon and Clare Parker (2022)
"On the way to Knighton" by Simon and Clare Parker (2022) "On the way to Knighton" by Simon and Clare Parker (2022)
"A Ewe with a View" by Paul Copsey (2022) "A Ewe with a View" by Paul Copsey (2022)
"The view between Kington & Knighton near Knill" by Paul Copsey (2022) "The view between Kington & Knighton near Knill" by Paul Copsey (2022)
"Looking back on Twmpa" by Paul Copsey (2022) "Looking back on Twmpa" by Paul Copsey (2022)
"View from Castell Dinas Bran" by Dagmara Ginter (2021) "View from Castell Dinas Bran" by Dagmara Ginter (2021)
"Wye Bridge View" by Dagmara Ginter (2021) "Wye Bridge View" by Dagmara Ginter (2021)
"Hergest Ridge Ponies" by Dagmara Ginter (2021) "Hergest Ridge Ponies" by Dagmara Ginter (2021)
"Kymin View" by Dagmara Ginter (2021) "Kymin View" by Dagmara Ginter (2021)
"Castell Dinas Bran" by Dagmara Ginter (2021) "Castell Dinas Bran" by Dagmara Ginter (2021)
"Clwydian Range in Heather" by Dagmara Ginter (2021) "Clwydian Range in Heather" by Dagmara Ginter (2021)
"Hergest Ridge Foxgloves" by Dagmara Ginter (2021) "Hergest Ridge Foxgloves" by Dagmara Ginter (2021)
"View from the Offa's Dyke Path" by David Keogh (2020) "View from the Offa's Dyke Path" by David Keogh (2020)
"Reconstruction of an Iron Age Burial" by David Keogh (2020) "Reconstruction of an Iron Age Burial" by David Keogh (2020)
"Llanthony Priory" by June Hall (2019) "Llanthony Priory" by June Hall (2019)
"Hay Bluff" by Roger Wilmot (2019) "Hay Bluff" by Roger Wilmot (2019)
"Above Teme Valley" by Roger Wilmot (2019) "Above Teme Valley" by Roger Wilmot (2019)
"Llanthony Priory" by Roger Wilmot (2019) "Llanthony Priory" by Roger Wilmot (2019)
"White Castle" by Tim Carter (2019) "White Castle" by Tim Carter (2019)
"Up to the Ridge" by Tim Carter (2019) "Up to the Ridge" by Tim Carter (2019)
"The First Climb of the Day" by Tim Carter (2019) "The First Climb of the Day" by Tim Carter (2019)
"Descending to Redbrook" by Denise Roberts (2019) "Descending to Redbrook" by Denise Roberts (2019)
"Llandegla" by Pam Wootton (2019) "Llandegla" by Pam Wootton (2019)
"Between Kington and Knighton" by Bruce Williams (2018) "Between Kington and Knighton" by Bruce Williams (2018)
"White Castle" by Pam Wootton (2018) "White Castle" by Pam Wootton (2018)
"Crucorney Cwmyoy" by Pam Wootton (2018) "Crucorney Cwmyoy" by Pam Wootton (2018)
"Follow the Leader" by Tom Ossim (2018) "Follow the Leader" by Tom Ossim (2018)
"Bluebells in the Wye Valley" by Susan Daber (2017) "Bluebells in the Wye Valley" by Susan Daber (2017)
"Wye Valley" by Susan Daber (2017) "Wye Valley" by Susan Daber (2017)
"Kington Forest Path" by Susan Daber (2017) "Kington Forest Path" by Susan Daber (2017)
"Between Knighton and Newcastle" by Marianne Engelshove (2017) "Between Knighton and Newcastle" by Marianne Engelshove (2017)
"Enjoying the Scenery" by Marianne Engleshove (2017) "Enjoying the Scenery" by Marianne Engleshove (2017)
"Bath with a View" by Marianne Engelshove (2017) "Bath with a View" by Marianne Engelshove (2017)
"Montgomery Canal" by Marianne Engelshove (2017) "Montgomery Canal" by Marianne Engelshove (2017)
"Hillfort Feet Up" by Nicki Barnes (2017) "Hillfort Feet Up" by Nicki Barnes (2017)
"Hay Bluff, Approaching Hatterall Ridge" by Nicki Barnes (2017) "Hay Bluff, Approaching Hatterall Ridge" by Nicki Barnes (2017)
"St Cadocs Church, Llangattack-Lingoed" by Nicki Barnes (2017) "St Cadocs Church, Llangattack-Lingoed" by Nicki Barnes (2017)
"Knighton to Kington" by Nicki Barnes (2017) "Knighton to Kington" by Nicki Barnes (2017)
"View from Penycloddiau Hillfort" by Nicki Barnes (2017) "View from Penycloddiau Hillfort" by Nicki Barnes (2017)
"Lone Oak with Company" by Nicki Barnes (2017) "Lone Oak with Company" by Nicki Barnes (2017)
"Adding to the Feathers on the Gate near Caggle Street" by Nicki Barnes (2017) "Adding to the Feathers on the Gate near Caggle Street" by Nicki Barnes (2017)

Customer reviews from the Offa's Dyke Path

“Fantastic walk, beautiful countryside and we were very lucky with the weather. Nearly everything was perfect such as organisation and choice of accommodation.”
Mr Edwards, UK
“My holiday was disrupted by some pretty bad weather, but I battled through it and gained a real sense of achievement to have successfully completed the walk.”
Mr Warr, UK
“We had a fabulous time and were very pleased overall.”
Mr Winter, USA
“I am excited to be doing another tour with you in sept.”
Ms Reber, USA
“Just completed the Offa’s Dyke Path and overall I had an excellent experience. The path was challenging – and at some places, not well marked, but the scenery and the people we met along the way were all excellent. I always enjoy these holidays – much more so than sitting on a cruise ship.”
Mr Ossim, USA
“All worked well and appreciated the flexibility to tailor the standard itineraries to our own needs. Booked based on previous experience as a "fellow traveller" with another who booked the holiday.”
Ms Harris, UK
“My holiday was everything I wanted from it and was well worth the wait and at a reasonable cost too.”
Mr White, UK
“A great trail and only 5 hours of daytime rain in 16 days. I had a very enjoyable hike.”
Ms Hardaker, UK
“We enjoyed our walk & found all the people we met very helpful which made it a positive experience.”
Mrs West, New Zealand
Find your holiday