An Offa’s Dyke Path walking holiday takes you 177 miles from Chepstow to Prestatyn, tracing the line of Britain’s longest ancient monument. This National Trail follows the shifting border between England and Wales through castles, hill forts, market towns and mountain ridges, revealing two thousand years of shared history and landscape.
As the leading specialists in Offa’s Dyke Path walking holidays, we have supported walkers on this National Trail since 1997. Our office sits at the very start of the route in Tintern, beneath Tintern Abbey in the Wye Valley. Few operators know this path as closely as we do.
An Offa’s Dyke Path walking holiday is a journey through constantly changing scenery. Norman strongholds such as Chepstow Castle, White Castle and Chirk Castle guard the borderlands. You cross open farmland in the Welsh Marches, climb the Black Mountains to Hatterrall Ridge, browse the bookshops of Hay-on-Wye and stride along the Clwydian Hills towards the Irish Sea.
We offer a wide range of itineraries, from gentle ten-mile days to more demanding high-mileage schedules. Walk the full 177-mile route, choose a half-path option, or complete the trail in sections. With carefully selected accommodation, daily luggage transfers and detailed route notes, you are free to focus on the walking. Your dedicated walk coordinator, Sarah, will guide you from first enquiry to your final day on the trail.
Beginning beside the River Severn at Chepstow, the trail climbs through woodland above the Wye Valley before joining the ancient earthwork attributed to King Offa. The path does not always follow the exact modern border, and in places the dyke itself disappears, adding a sense of mystery to the landscape.
North of Monmouth, the route rises into the Black Mountains, where wide skies and far-reaching views reward steady ascents. Beyond Knighton, often described as the midpoint of the trail, the scenery softens into the rolling farmland of Shropshire and Powys before climbing again over the Berwyn Mountains. The final stages traverse the broad grassy ridges of the Clwydian Hills, descending at last to the promenade at Prestatyn and the Irish Sea.
While rarely technical, the repeated ascents and descents make this a route of steady challenge. It is best suited to walkers with reasonable fitness who enjoy variety, space and a strong sense of journey.
Offa’s Dyke is believed to date from the 8th century, when King Offa of Mercia ordered a vast earthen boundary to be constructed between his kingdom and rival Welsh territories. Stretching for around 80 miles in its original form, it remains the longest ancient monument in Britain.
Yet this path is about more than one king. Bronze and Iron Age hill forts crown the hills. Medieval abbeys such as Llanthony Priory lie hidden in secluded valleys. At Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, you cross a UNESCO World Heritage Site high above the River Dee. In places you step repeatedly between England and Wales, often without noticing.
Few long-distance walks combine such depth of history with such varied terrain. Walking Offa’s Dyke Path is not simply a physical achievement. It is a continuous thread through the shared heritage, language and landscape of two nations.
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From £2,760 Per Person
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From £1,760 Per Person
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From £1,410 Per Person
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From £1,410 Per Person
8 Nights Moderate to Challenging
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From £1,075 Per Person
From £950 Per Person
From £890 Per Person
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From £750 Per Person
6 Nights Moderate to Challenging
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From £775 Per Person
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From £880 Per Person
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From £1,485 Per Person
From £1,150 Per Person
9 Nights Moderate to Challenging
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From £1,270 Per Person
From £1,010 Per Person
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From £2,795 Per Person
From £2,010 Per Person
From £1,950 Per Person
From £1,805 Per Person
From £1,645 Per Person
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From £1,525 Per Person
From £1,180 Per Person
From £1,035 Per Person
ODP0aN-S
From £1,420 Per Person
From £980 Per Person
From £925 Per Person
3 Nights Moderate to Challenging
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From £435 Per Person
3 Nights Moderate to Challenging
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From £425 Per Person
All itineraries can be walked north to south or south to north. Our standard options are shown on the website, but we are always happy to adjust routes to suit your plans. If you would prefer different daily mileages, additional rest days or a shorter section of the path, please get in touch. We will tailor your itinerary to match your time available, fitness level and preferences.
4.7/5 based on 458 reviews
"All well organised, they were there at the end of the phone when needed. Good accommodation a great walk. We feel great it's been positive, laughed a lot + connected with nature"
"Celtic Trails was supportive and helpful from our first outreach to the very end. It gave us a sense of security knowing that we had someone to call if we needed help along the way. It was refreshing to spend the week in the outdoors in Wales and England. The scenery was breathtaking and inspiring."
"Very well organised and detailed planning that was clearly set out in walk packs. Good walking books, interesting and mixed accommodation. End to end ran like clockwork. It was our first holiday in 2026 so was great to get away with friends and spend time together at a slower pace than 'normal' life. Love walking and the views were fabulous and well worth the effort of getting to what felt like the top of the world for the 360 degree views. The ridge walk before the drop into Hay on Wye and the bluebells of the Kington to Knighton section (even though it was raining!) were both fabulous. We also detoured off the Path to do down to Tintern Abbey - well worth the extra 3 miles."
"The overall organisation and contact with Celtic Trails was first class: friendly, efficient and very well organised. Went the extra mile to make Offa's Dyke achievable with our dog, Willow! This was a fantastic opportunity to de-stress and enjoy the outstanding British Countryside in all weathers and to enjoy meeting fellow walkers and those that live and work along the trail."
"We most enjoyed the beautiful scenery and meeting lovely people along the way, Celtic Trails are very helpful & efficient. Everything was well organised both times we used Celtic Trails. information covered everything we needed to know about pick up points, where to get food etc and arrived in good time."
"Very flexible in planning stage and accommodating of our requests. We love this style of holiday - the long distance walk is good for the soul and the accommodation / luggage transfer makes it accessible."
"All very organised + well thought through. Great accomodation and everything you needed for an excellent walking holiday"
"Good accomodation and breakfasts, it was wonderful to see the heart of the Wales / English borders cannel's' and to realise how much unspoilt land the UK still has."
"All arrangement worked smoothly, Celtic Trails worked with me to fit my timings and needs. I love long distance walking and village stays. It's a lovely mix of exercise contemplation an a bit of social interaction"
We seek out the best accommodation of its type available
One of the defining moments of walking the Offa’s Dyke Path is the ascent into the Black Mountains. Along the way, you pass the striking ruins of Llanthony Priory, set deep within the valley, before climbing onto Hatterrall Ridge where far-reaching views open across the Welsh and English countryside.
This ridge is encountered on the Pandy to Hay-on-Wye section of our Offa’s Dyke Path itineraries that start or finish in Chepstow or at Chepstow Bridge.
The Welsh border town of Hay-on-Wye, often simply known as ‘Hay’, is famed for its independent and second-hand bookshops, as well as its internationally renowned literary festival, once described by Bill Clinton as “a festival for the mind”. The town has a strong and distinctive identity, even declaring itself an independent kingdom in the 1970s, albeit as a light-hearted publicity gesture.
Hay-on-Wye features on many of our itineraries and is a popular location for walkers enjoying a rest day on the Offa’s Dyke Path.
When Judy Gregory set out to walk the Offa’s Dyke Path, it was more than just a holiday. It was heritage, challenge, curiosity, and somewhere along the way, confidence.
This is a guest article written by one of our walkers on the Offa’s Dyke Path, Suzanne Schlosberg.
All itineraries can be walked north to south or south to north. Our standard options are shown on the website, but we are always happy to adjust routes to suit your plans. If you would prefer different daily mileages, additional rest days or a shorter section of the path, please get in touch. We will tailor your itinerary to match your time available, fitness level and preferences.
All itineraries can be walked north to south or south to north. Our standard options are shown on the website, but we are always happy to adjust routes to suit your plans. If you would prefer different daily mileages, additional rest days or a shorter section of the path, please get in touch. We will tailor your itinerary to match your time available, fitness level and preferences.
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