INTRODUCTION PART 1: PLANNING YOUR WALK About the Offa's Dyke Path Historical background 9 - How difficult is the Offa's Dyke Path? 14 GPS 16 - How long do you need? 17 Practical information for the walker Accommodation 17 - Food and drink 21 - Money 23 - Walking companies 23 - Taking dogs along the Offa's Dyke Path 25 Disabled access 26 - Information for foreign visitors 26 Budgeting Camping 28 - Hostels/bunkhouses 28 - B&B-style accommodation 28 Extras 29 When to go Seasons 29 - Daylight hours 30 - Annual events 30 Itineraries Facilities along the Offa's Dyke Path 32 - Which direction? 34 Suggested itineraries 35 - The best day and weekend walks 36 What to take Keep your luggage light 38 - How to carry it 39 - Footwear 39 Clothes 40 - Toiletries 41 - First-aid kit 41 - General items 41 Sleeping bag 42 - Camping gear 42 - Money 42 - Maps 43 Recommended reading 43 - Sources of further information 45 Getting to and from the Offa's Dyke Path National transport 46 - Local transport 47 - Public transport map 48 Public transport table 50 PART 2: MINIMUM IMPACT AND OUTDOOR SAFETY Minimum impact walking Economic impact 53 - Environmental impact 54 - Access 56 Health and outdoor safety Health 59 - Outdoor safety 60 PART 3: THE ENVIRONMENT AND NATURE Flora and fauna Wild flowers 62 - Trees 64 - Butterflies 65 - Dragonflies 65 Mammals 66 - Reptiles 68 - Birds 69 Conserving the Anglo-Welsh Border Country Government agencies and schemes 74 - Campaigning and conservation organisations 76 - Beyond conservation 77 PART 4: THE OFFA'S DYKE PATH Using this guide 78 Prestatyn 79 Prestatyn to Rhuallt 82 (Rhuallt 85) Rhuallt to Bodfari 85 (Sodom 85, Bodfari 88) Bodfari to Clwyd Gate (A494) 88 (Llandyrnog 90, Cilcain 94, Llanferres 94, Llanbedr-Dyffryn-Clwyd 94, Clwyd Gate 95) Clwyd Gate to Llandegla 95 (Llanarmon-yn-lal 98, Llandegla 100) Llandegla to Dinas Bran (and Llangollen) 100 (Llangollen 106) Dinas Bran to Castle Mill 110 (Trevor 110, Froncysyllte 113, Around Irish Bridge 114, Castle Mill 114, Chirk 116) Castle Mill to Racecourse Common 116 (Bron-y-Garth 116, Craignant 116, Selattyn 119, Around Baker's Hill 119) Racecourse Common to Llanymynech 119 (Tyn-y-coed 120, Trefonen 120, Nant-Mawr 120, Llanymynech 120) Llanymynech to Buttington 125 (Four Crosses 125, Pool Quay 127, Buttington 127) Buttington to Brompton Crossroads 131 (Welshpool 131, Kingswood & Forden 135, Montgomery 140, Brompton Crossroads 142) Brompton Crossroads to Knighton 144 (Bishop's Castle 144, Newcastle-on-Clun 147, Clun 147, Knighton 154) Knighton to Kington 157 (Discoed 157, Presteigne 163, Kington 164) Kington to Hay-on-Wye 167 (Gladestry 167, Newchurch 171, Hay-on-Wye 173, Clyro 179) Hay-on-Wye to Pandy 180 (Capel-y-ffin 184, Llanthony 186, Longtown 189, Pandy 189) Pandy to Llantilio-Crossenny 192 (Llangattock-Lingoed 192, Caggle Street 195) Llantilio-Crossenny to Monmouth 195 (The Hendre 200, Monmouth 203) Monmouth to Chepstow 206 (Redbrook 209, St Briavels 209, Bigsweir 209, Brockweir 212, Tintern 212, Chepstow 218) Chepstow to Sedbury Cliffs 222 Map key 223 APPENDICES A: Glossary of Welsh words 224 B: GPS waypoints 225 INDEX 229
