Offa’s Dyke Path (South)

Walk Overview

Offa’s Dyke Path is one of the United Kingdom’s 16 specially protected “National Trails”. It’s a popular National Trail as its 285 kilometres (177 miles) route between Sedbury Cliff in the south and Prestatyn in the north has the historical and archaeological interest of Offa’s Dyke and is the only north/south coast to coast route in the UK.

Offa’s Dyke is the largest ancient earthwork monument in the UK. It was constructed on the orders of King Offa in the eighth century to mark the western boundary of his kingdom. Today it lies, in part, on the border between England and Wales. The path switches continuously between England and Wales so that walkers are often unaware which country they are in along the way.

The walk which is the subject of this page, Offa’s Dyke Path South covers 128 kilometres (81 miles) of the southern section of the Offa’s Dyke Path between Sedbury Cliff and Knighton. It’s a great option for those with limited time and who wish to get a taste of the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the Brecon Beacons National Park.

The path starts at Sedbury Cliff on the opposite side of the River Wye from the historic village of Chepstow. Picturesque Chepstow Castle dates from the twelfth century and is well worth a detour. The Wye Valley section follows a mixture of field and woodland paths. The rocky outcrop called the Devil’s Pulpit is a highlight and affords views over the remarkable ruins of the twelfth century Tintern Abbey.

Offa’s Dyke Path features beautiful and varied scenery. The terrain includes wooded riverside, pasture fields, high level moorland, quiet woodlands and gentle hills. The higher grounds afford wonderful views, particularly from the Black Mountains region.

There are many highlights on the walk, including:

• Chepstow Castle, the White castle, Tintern Abbey ruins, Monnow Bridge,Naval Temple and the Round House.

• The Black mountains and the Hatterrall Ridge in the Brecon Beacons National Park.

• The historic and character-filled villages along the route such as Monmouth, Pandy, Gladestry, Kington and Knighton.

• The literary town of Hay-on-Wye with over 30 bookshops.

The Offa’s Dyke South ends at the attractive village of Knighton full of winding streets and half-timbered buildings.There is much to explore in Knighton including the informative Offa’s Dyke Centre, the Spaceguard Centre & Observatory, the Knighton Museum as well as various eateries and shops. Knighton also contains the official starting point for the Glyndwr’s Way National Trail which journeys through tranquil mid-Wales.

Offa’s Dyke Path South covers 128 kilometres (81 miles) and generally takes seven days of walking. Your total trip duration then depends on whether you incorporate rest days and, if so, how many.

Further information:

• A seven day itinerary is described below.

• For more information on walking in South-East Wales, click the button below.

Itinerary

The walk takes 7 days to complete. A typical itinerary is set out below.

Day 1

Chepstow to Bigsweir

Distance: 15 km

Time: 4 hours

Accommodation: Bed & Breakfast

Day 2

Bigsweir to Hendre

Distance: 17.6 km

Time: 4.5 hours

Accommodation: Bed & Breakfast

Day 3

Hendre to Llangattock Lingoed

Distance: 16 km

Time: 4 hours

Accommodation: Bed & Breakfast

Walk Options

Guided

There are no tour operators who offer this walk as a guided trip on a regular basis. There are a few operators who offer to guide either the whole Offa’s Dyke walk or the southern section on designated dates each year. Generally these options offer either comfortable full board en-suite accommodation in hotels and guesthouses along the route or comfortable half board en-suite accommodation in one centrally located hotel.

Typically, the package offered by these operators include:

• The services of professional guides

• 7 Nights accommodation for the southern section walk or 14 nights accommodation for the whole walk

• Half board for the southern section walk or all meals for the whole walk

• Transfers between the track and the accommodation

Assisted self-guided

Many tour operators offer self-guided trips on the Offa’s Dyke Path South.

Typically, the service includes:

• Track notes, maps and information pack

• Accommodation, usually with ensuites (the range and quantity of accommodation available in some villages is limited; also, the basic package offered by some tour operators might not always extend to ensuites)

• Luggage transport between accommodation (and sometimes, where necessary, vehicle transfers between track and accommodation)

• Breakfasts and optional packed lunches

• 24/7 Support

The duration of the self-guided options varies depending upon how far you wish to walk each day. Accommodation options range from comfortable through to luxury, again depending upon the size of the village or town and the purchased package.

Independent

There are some camping areas along the route that make camping on some nights a possibility. It’s also quite feasible to book accommodation along the route yourself and, if you require luggage transfers, to arrange that independently.

For those considering this option, it’s worth noting that the self-guided tour operators often have preferred rates with accommodation providers and luggage transfer companies. They also often have reserved allocations at the best-located/most suitable accommodation for the particular walk, so sometimes when accommodation shows no availability to an independent inquiry there’s still availability through a self-guided operator.

Also, be aware that the Wye Valley and the Brecon Beacons are a popular destination for both local and overseas travellers, so during the holiday season it will usually be necessary to book accommodation well ahead of your visit.

Essential Information

Access

The starting point for the Offa’s Dyke South is either Chepstow or Knighton. 

Chepstow and Knighton are both readily accessible by public transport:

• For Chepstow, there are regular trains from London’s Paddington Station.

• For Knighton, there are regular trains from London’s Euston Station.

Best time

The best time to do the walk is between March and October.

Difficulty

This walk is rated at a difficulty level of moderate to demanding. It is waymarked and is generally well-defined and maintained.

Accommodation

There are many accommodation options at either end of the Offa’s Dyke South (Chepstow and Knighton) and, generally, plenty along the route. Accommodation options include camping, hostels, B&B’s, guesthouses, inns and hotels.

Many of the accommodation providers, particularly those near to the route, are attuned to walkers’ needs or offer amenities suited to walkers. 

We can assist walkers in choosing the accommodation options which best suit their needs.

Dining

We can assist you in choosing special dining options along the route.

Other activities

Many walkers choose to add extra days to their trip so that they can have a rest day and explore the villages along the route. Others prefer ‘add-ons’ at the end or the beginning of the walk. Some do both!

We can assist walkers to choose where to add extra days along the Offa’s Dyke South.

Assistance

We can assist walkers with various aspects of their walking holidays.