Offa's Dyke Path: A journey through the border country of England and Wales

The Offas Dyke Path, a 177 mile National Trail, runs along the England / Wales border between Chepstow and Prestatyn. The main route is described in this guide in 15 stages, as are alternative routes which visit places of interest or detour to accommodation, as well as planning information to create flexible itineraries. The route - fully accompanied with OS maps - offers an attractive, and at times demanding, prospect for long-distance walkers as it wanders along the Wye Valley, the Black Mountains, Shropshire Hills and the Clwydian Range. Useful information on parking, maps required, distances, travel and accommodation is all included. Offa's Dyke was constructed by the powerful King of Mercia in the late eighth century to mark out the western boundary of his kingdom. The Offa's Dyke Path follows this centuries-old boundary and encounters, quiet walking, bustling towns (including Oswestry and Hay-on-Wye), gentle countryside, castles and ancient remains along its route, as the Path makes its way through varied, sometimes wild, often remote, and frequently superb scenery.

Table of Contents:
Map: Offa's Dyke Path Foreword to 2008 Edition Introduction Offa's Dyke Path: the Route Historical Setting Practical Matters Maps, Waymarking and Route Description Changes Along the Dyke Clothing and Equipment Accommodation The Rise and Fall of the Kingdom of Mercia Offa's Dyke The Border Today Other Long-distance Routes 1 Sedbury Cliffs to Monmouth The Lower Wye Valley 2 Monmouth to Pandy Sheep Country 3 Pandy to Hay-on-Wye Crossing the Black Mountains 4 Hay-on-Wye to Kington In the Steps of the Drovers 5 Kington to Knighton Back to the Dyke 6 Knighton to Newcastle Teme to Clun 7 Newcastle to Montgomery Crossing the Oldest Road 8 Montgomery to Buttington Bridge (for Welshpool) Over the Long Mountain 9 Welshpool (via Buttington Bridge) to Llanymynech Waterside Walking 10 Llanymynech to River Morda (for Oswestry) The Quarry Way 11 Oswestry (via River Morda) to Trevor Rocks (for Llangollen) The Last of the Dyke 12 Llangollen (via Trevor Rocks) to Pen-y-stryt Under Eglwyseg Rocks and Over the Moor 13 Pen-y-stryt to Bwlch Penbarra The Clwydian Range 14 Bwlch Penbarra to Bodfari Mother of the Mountains 15 Bodfari to Prestatyn The Last Lap APPENDIX ONE Useful Information Maps Tourist Information Offices Travel Accommodation Places of Interest APPENDIX TWO Mileage Chart

About the Author :
After a working career in London, David moved to Worcester and explored the Malvern Hills, the Cotswolds and a clutch of hills south of Birmingham as well as the territories of the rivers Severn and Wye which have been pursued from source to sea. A particular interest has been Shropshire and the Welsh Marches in which Offa's Dyke has played an important part. David has had a number of books published, including five by Cicerone, with his wife closely involved in all aspects of his work.