Offa's Dyke Path Trailblazer Walking Guide 6e

INTRODUCTION History 9 – How difficult is the Offa's Dyke Path? 11 How long do you need? 13 – When to go 14 PART 1: PLANNING YOUR WALK Practical information for the walker Route-finding 17 – GPS 18 – Accommodation 19 – Food/drink 22 Money 25 – Walking companies 25 – Annual events 27 – Information for foreign visitors 28 – Walking with a dog 29 – Disabled access 30 Budgeting 30 Itineraries Which direction? 31 – Village & towns facilities table 32 The best day and weekend walks 35 – Suggested itineraries 37 What to take Luggage 38 – Footwear 39 – Clothes 40 – Toiletries 41 – First-aid kit 41 – General items 41 – Camping gear 42 – Money 42 – Maps 43 Sources of further information 44 – Recommended reading 45 Getting to and from the Offa's Dyke Path Getting to Britain 47 – National transport 48 – Local transport 48 Public transport services 49 – Public transport map 52 PART 2: HISTORY, ENVIRONMENT & NATURE Historical background (by Colin Vickerman) 54 Conserving the Anglo-Welsh Border Country 59 Flora and fauna 62 PART 3: MINIMUM IMPACT & SAFETY Minimum-impact walking 75 Health and outdoor safety 80 PART 4: ROUTE GUIDE AND MAPS Using this guide 83 = walking north = walking south Sedbury Cliffs to Chepstow 85 (Chepstow 85) Chepstow to Sedbury Cliffs 90 Chepstow to Monmouth 90 (Tintern 94, Brockweir 98, Bigsweir 98, St Briavels 98, Redbrook 102, Monmouth 102) Monmouth to Chepstow 106  Monmouth to Llantilio-Crossenny 106 (The Hendre 107) Llantilio-Crossenny to Monmouth 113 Llantilio-Crossenny to Pandy 114 (Llangattock-Lingoed 115, Pandy 118) Pandy to Llantilio-Crossenny 119 Pandy to Hay-on-Wye 120 (Longtown 122, Llanthony 125, Capel-y-ffin 127, Hay-on-Wye 132, Clyro 136) Hay-on-Wye to Pandy 137 Hay-on-Wye to Kington 137 (Newchurch 140, Gladestry 143, Kington 143) Kington to Hay-on-Wye 148 Kington to Knighton 149 (Discoed 154, Presteigne 156, Knighton 156) Knighton to Kington 159 Knighton to Brompton Crossroads 160 (Clun 164, Newcastle-on-Clun 164, Bishop's Castle 165, Brompton Crossroads 171) Brompton Crossroads to Knighton 171  Brompton Crossroads to Buttington (for Welshpool) 172 (Montgomery 174, Kingswood 175, Welshpool 180, Buttington 185) Buttington (for Welshpool) to Brompton Crossroads 185 Buttington (for Welshpool) to Llanymynech 186 (Pool Quay 187, Four Crosses 190, Llanymynech 190) Llanymynech to Buttington (for Welshpool) 192 Llanymynech to Racecourse Common 192 (Trefonen 195) Racecourse Common to Llanymynech 195 Racecourse Common to Castle Mill 198 (Around Baker's Hill 198, Oswestry 198, Bron-y-Garth 201) Castle Mill to Racecourse Common 201 Castle Mill to Dinas Bran (and Llangollen) 201 (Chirk 203, Around Irish Bridge 204, Froncysyllte 204, Trevor 204, Llangollen 209) Dinas Bran (and Llangollen) to Castle Mill 213 Dinas Bran (and Llangollen) to Llandegla 213 (Llandegla 218) Llandegla to Dinas Bran (and Llangollen) 218 Llandegla to Clwyd Gate 218 (Llanarmon-yn-lal 219) Clwyd Gate (for Llanferres) to Llandegla 223 Clwyd Gate (for Llanferres) to Bodfari 223 (Llanferres 225, Cilcain 225, Llangynhafal 225, Bodfari 230) Bodfari to Clwyd Gate (for Llanferres) 230 Bodfari to Rhuallt 232 (Rhuallt 234) Rhuallt to Bodfari 234 Rhuallt to Prestatyn 235 (Prestatyn 235) Starting from Prestatyn 240 (Prestatyn to Rhuallt 240) APPENDICES A: Map key 241 B: GPS waypoints 242 C: Taking a dog 245 D: Glossary of Welsh words 247 INDEX 248 Offa's Dyke Walkers' Passport 252 OVERVIEW MAPS & PROFILES 257