Offa's Dyke Path

For 177 miles (285km), from Chepstow in south Wales to Prestatyn in North, the Offa’s Dyke Path winds along the Welsh / English border, roughly following the line of the 1200 year old frontier earthworks that gives it its name. This magnificent long distance footpath ranges over terrain as diverse as any you would find in Britain : over the Black mountains, goes beside the banks of the meandering Severn and Wye rivers, through the Shropshire hills, follows canal towpaths and old drovers roads and it traverses the whaleback ridges of the Clwydian Hills.
The border country is the land of Merlin and Arthur, a land of history and legend, from which sprang Owain Glwndwr and the lord of the rings!!

Running

I decided to capitalize on time off from work, challenge myself and put in some hard mountain running miles. When running Offa’s Dyke Path was mentioned it definitely ticked all the boxes and my decision was made immediately. It also fitted into my travel plans as I would be returning to London from a Grand Prix Mountain Running race in Ebensee, Austria. A short train trip from London to Chepstow and Bingo I would be almost home!!!

My Route

Chepstow to Pandy, 33 Miles with 1610 meters of ascent.
Pandy to Kington, 32 Miles with 1400 meters of ascent.
Kington to Forden, 33 miles with 2000 meters of ascent.
Forden to Trefonen, 24 miles with 800 meters of ascent.
Trefonen to Llangollen, 18 miles with 400 meters of ascent.
Llangollen to Bodfari, 24 miles with 1375 meters of ascent.
And finally, Bodfari to Prestatyn, 13 miles with 700 meters of ascent.

I was fortunate to be joined on route by some great friends, mainly runners and tri-athletes. Ranging from good club runners to GB tri-athletes to Welsh International mountain runners who all made for fantastic company and adding to my motivation. I stayed at either YHA’s or with friends and was shown extraordinary kindness from start to finish.

Essential Kit

Inov-8 trainers, Roclite 315’s and an Inov-8 Race Pro 12 backpack.

The land

Wales is truly a magnificent country. Scenery to rival any where in the world, history and legend to match and warm hearted people fill our land from south to north. My journey over Offa’s Dyke gave me hour on hour, day after day of inspiration, peace and freedom while having an overriding feeling of being part of the countryside and environment.

Happy days.