For 177 miles, Offa’s Dyke Path traces the border country between England and Wales, from the Severn estuary to the Irish Sea. You cross the Wye Valley, climb onto Hatterrall Ridge and finish among the Clwydian hills. You choose the pace. We arrange your accommodation, move your main bag and provide the route information for each stage.
Pass Chepstow, White Castle and Chirk guarding the border.
Discover Tintern Abbey and Llanthony Priory in secluded valleys.
Browse the town’s famous independent and second-hand bookshops.
Walk the setting of Bruce Chatwin’s On the Black Hill.
Stride across this remarkable UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Climb from Pandy onto wide, panoramic mountain ridges.
We have arranged self-guided holidays on Offa’s Dyke Path since 1997. Our office is in Tintern, close to the southern end of the trail. Some of our hosts have welcomed Celtic Trails guests for more than 20 years. That familiarity helps us plan sensible daily mileages and choose accommodation we know well.
Beginning near Chepstow on the Severn estuary, the trail heads north through the Wye Valley and the Welsh Marches before climbing into the Black Mountains. Beyond Knighton, it continues towards Llangollen and the Clwydian hills, ending beside the Irish Sea at Prestatyn.
Offa’s Dyke Path changes character repeatedly over its 177 miles. Woodland above the Wye gives way to open ridges, farmland, border towns and the rolling Clwydian hills. Some stages are gentle, while others involve sustained climbs and exposed high ground. The changing terrain is one of the pleasures of walking the complete route.
Not sure where to start? These are the ones we'd suggest first. You'll find every itinerary further down.
ODP1S-NBEST FOR THE COMPLETE TRAIL
Walk from Chepstow to Prestatyn in one continuous journey, following the border country from the Wye Valley and Black Mountains to the Clwydian hills. This itinerary gives you more time than the faster end-to-end options while keeping the holiday to just over two weeks.
Most PopularODP3S-NBEST FOR THE SOUTHERN HALF
Follow the southern 80 miles through the wooded Wye Valley, over Hatterrall Ridge and on through Hay-on-Wye to Knighton. It gives you a continuous long-distance journey through the southern half of the trail, including its major climbs and border landscapes, without committing to the complete path.
ODP5S-NBEST FOR THE NORTHERN HALF
Follow the northern section from Knighton through rolling border country, past Llangollen and over the Clwydian hills to the Irish Sea at Prestatyn. It gives you a continuous long-distance journey through the trail’s northern landscapes, without the time needed for the complete path.
Tell us what you're after in a sentence and we'll show you the itineraries that fit — out of all 31 we run on this path.
Not sure which?
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 tailor an itinerary 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 can adjust your itinerary to match your available time, fitness level and preferences.
A few questions we are often asked about walking Offa's Dyke Path. If yours isn't answered here, please give us a call, we are always happy to help.
4.7/5 based on 489 reviews
"Celtic Trails were helpful and made planning a trip much easier, this was a rare opportunity for us four brothers to get together and have some real quality time together in a wonderful setting with daily exercise built it!"
"It was invigorating and being in beautiful surroundings always feels good. Celtic Trails provided a lot of useful info e.g directions to accommodation + everything ran smoothly."
"Celtic trails has you covered, they plan well. The B&Bs are excellent, considering most are remote, I couldn’t be happier. I hiked for 15 days, I proved that mentally and physically that I could do it, I’m fitter at the end than at the beginning. Offa’s dyke is tough, so I’m really proud of myself! With Offa’s dyke, not only do you get the beauty of the countryside but also the blend of two cultures, the history and the historical dyke, ramparts and castles."
"Well organised, good information pack, all accommodations were welcoming and comfortable. As well as the walking we enjoyed the history of the border conflicts, also the rise and falls of local industries. The castles, the hill forts the dyke, the canals were all very interesting. Some of the locals were chatty and information along the way."
"Reliable, everythingwell taken care of. Professional"
"Personal and very responsible service friendly kind"
"It was a pleasure to stay in nature, very good for our health."
"All questions answered quickly, staff easy to reach, very helpful easy communication"
"I walked solo and quit thinking so much. I felt the land emotionally and physically, Celtic Trails are well organized, flexible to accommodation the distances I wanted."
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.
Walk the Offa’s Dyke Path on a 6-day journey from Hay-on-Wye to Chirk. A personal UK hiking itinerary with tips, highlights, and stunning Welsh border views.
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 tailor an itinerary 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 can adjust your itinerary to match your available time, 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 tailor an itinerary 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 can adjust your itinerary to match your available time, fitness level and preferences.
Explore our other walking holidays...
Welsh Borders
Northern England