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Distance: | 186 miles |
| Difficulty: | Difficult to Strenuous |
| Way-marking: | Excellent |
Trails:
| We did this hike after the wettest spring in Welsh history. There was mud, mud, and more mud, making it one of the toughest hikes I've ever been on.
| | Lodging Styles: | Excellent Welsh and English B&Bs |
| Best Season: | Spring and early summer
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Highlights:
| Great food and lodging. Although the trails skips in and out of Wales, it has a distinctive Welsh rural character.
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Offa's Dyke Path, one of several long-distance hiking trails in Wales, runs 186 miles from  the Severn River to the Irish Sea. It roughly follows the original earthen dyke built around 789 by King Offa of England. It's not postive why the dyke was built, whether for defense or border purposes, but one thing is for sure. It aimed to keep out the barbarians (the Welsh).
Although the ancient dyke is not apparent with each passing step, there is always a sense of walking through history. The trail also presents the walker with much diversity in landscape and terrain. While the south portion is farmland and river walking, the northern section is quite hilly. The towns along the way, though not like the perfect English towns of nearby Lakeland or the Cotswold, are interesting and friendly. Hay-on-Wye has become known world-wide for it's number of second-hand book stores. The 12th century castle, narrow streets, and row upon row of little shops and bookstores make this a place you might want to spend an extra day.
What Wales lacks in sophistication, it makes up with a total lack of pretense. One of the best things for the long-distance walker in Britain is the warm greeting after a long day on the trail and here the Welsh excelled. At several places we were met with large pots of hot tea, fresh home-made cake, and the kind of hospitality that says,"take your shoes off and stay awhile." This is my kind of hiking.
Offa's Dyke ends in Prestatyn, a seaside resort which has seen better days. But like the Coast to Coast path, Offa's Dyke has a definite beginning and end. It's fun to stand on the shores of the Severn River, walk north, and end by walking right into the Irish Sea, hiking boots and all.
Our guide book had warned about the lack of proper signage along several portions of the route. Yet, it seemed the local ramblers had read this as well and corrected the situation. We found the way-markings to be some of the best in Britain.
Wales is a special place. It's different than England and if you get the chance to visit there, like me, you'll plan to return.
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