Wonderful handbooks
 — The Bookseller

Offa's Dyke Path: Chepstow to Prestatyn & Prestatyn to Chepstow

by: Keith Carter & Joel Newton

UPDATES

Updated information

Thank you to those who wrote in with the following updates including: Dave Koeberlein, John Haley, Lara Pugh, Mark Adams, Dr Leszek Zdunek, David Smith, Stephen Funnell, Mike Fox, Luc Barbe, Floortje Verhoek and Erik Weug, Karen Besant, Godfrey Ayres, Peter Ladanyi, Colin Strickland, Tim and Colette Simpson.

The information has not yet been checked by Trailblazer but it will be for the next edition.

Updates relating to the 5th Edition

2024

p196, Map 62 – The Old Mill B&B (www.oldmillcandy.co.uk, tel 01691 900537 or 07531 808944) opened in 2023 and is right on the ODP, just before the southern entrance to Candy Woods, a mile north of Trefonen and about 3 miles to the south west of Oswestry.  The owners, Siobhan and Neil Urquhart, write: 'We also have a small pop-up campsite and honesty shop where walkers can help themselves to a hot drink (or cold water) and something to eat. We have three bedrooms – two doubles with en-suite shower rooms, and a twin with a private bathroom.  Guests also have use of a large sitting room, with access to the gardens, or the wood burner if it’s chilly. We still have reasonable availability for 2024 and we have kept our 2023 rates - £85.00/double or twin room with double occupancy, or £65.00 for single occupancy.  An evening meal is £10.00pp for a main course, and £5.00 each for a pudding and a starter.  We also provide packed lunches up to £6.00pp'.

2023

May 

p189 Map 58. Buttington – Llanymynech. Neither Ty Coch Bungalow or the Golden Lion (which now doesn’t exist) offer camping any longer. Ty Coch bungalow doesn’t offer B&B presently either. The Golden Lion is no longer a pub and doesn’t offer a public bar or meals.

 

Four Crosses, Llanymynech. Hayfield Glamping and Camping, Hayfield, Domgay Road, Four Crosses, Llanymynech, Powys, SY22 6SW. Is on Domgay Lane and easily reached from the path within 3 minutes and popular with ODP walkers. Has 2 Bell Tents with Double beds and wood burning stoves. Each tent has an outside seating area with Fire Pit and an individual Cooking Station underneath an awning with a double gas burning stove. Facilities on site include Hot water shower, toilet and washing up station. There are also 5 tent pitches available. Contact via email hayfieldglamping@outlook.com, phone 07815831133 or website www.hayfieldglamping.com

 

April 

Two walkers in April sent following feedback: 

p37 Suggested Itinerary. We are a fit couple in our early 50s and found it quite hard. We could not have done day one in full heading north to south and it was lucky that due to a lack of accommodation in Bodfari, we had decided to stop early in Rhuallt. 

 
p234 Rhuallt.  White House restaurant/spa prices have increased to over £140 B&B for 2. 
 
p223 Clwyd Gate. Since no accommodation is given for here,  could call a taxi and go to Ruthin, 5 minutes away or elsewhere. 
 
Signage
Heading up out of Prestatyn we lost the trail past the roman helmet and ended up walking up the hill in the road past the old observatory and gardens. Not clearly marked as there are also ‘Woodland Wanders’ paths which head off into the wood and we thought were not the trail.
Getting up to Hillside Car Park was confusing which led us to walk up the road instead. 
 
p236 Map 84. At farm Tyddyn y cyll, there is a new concrete path up to the farm which is welcome and a few signs which the owner may not have got round to refixing. Unsure of where to go we walked all the way up to the path to the farmyard which was welcome after the wet fields previously. However, from then on, the stiles were difficult and there was little signage once you entered a field.
 
Field stiles in certain areas were a struggle to climb being in various states of repair on farmland. In several cases towards the latter part of the day. From the farm before the old church to Rhuallt, there is little signage, merely an indication to enter a field, and quite often we found ourselves walking across a field with no direction arrow. Only after a walk around its side did we find another sign.
 
p233 Map 83. The decent path is quite hard with a heavy pack and any type of damp, it's steep and a bit slippy.
 
Section distances
As new long-distance walkers we found it hard to know how far we had left to go and it would be useful if there was distance included on the map edge as well as time. For example, Map 77 from Moel Famau to Bwlch Penbarra gives 45-60 minutes in the margin but no distance.
 
 

2022

June 

Forden. Pound House, Forden, Welshpool, Powys, SY21 8NU. Tel 01938 580651. A shepherd's hut right on Offa's Dyke available for self-catering accommodation.  Booking via Airbnb: https://abnb.me/ofn71ZmLupb

They're happy to provide additional services for walkers - including the provision of meals and refreshments to facilitate their stay. They can also arrange pick-up or drop off a day's walk away if people want to stay with them for more than a single night.

 

May

p195 Trefonen - Fairview, new B&B

Fairview B&B (tel 07761 289888, rwmmorris@gmail.com), Hollies Lane, Trefonen SY10 9DP has a double room with a king size bed for £70 for two or £65 for single occupancy. There's cake on arrival and a well stocked fridge (breakfast items, berries and natural yoghurt) and kettle in the room. There's a bathroom (with a bath) for the sole use of guests next door. Packed lunches can be supplied.

To reach it take Old Post Office Lane which is the first road before Malthouse Lane (ie west and parallel to Malthouse Lane). Follow Old Post Office Lane north for about 400m until you reach Hollies Lane on the left. Fairview is the first house on the right.

February

p205, Map 68, Garth. Offa’s Dyke Farm Campsite, Pentrenewydd, Bron y Garth,  Oswestry SY107LY. Contact number : 07425 060387

 

September 2021

p146, Kington. Arrowbank Lodge is no longer offering B&B.

 

August 2021

p171 Brompton Crossroads and Mellington, Map 47.   Offa’s Dyke Cottage Bed and Breakfast, Offa’s Dyke Cottage, Mellington, Churchstoke, Montgomery SY15 6TH.  Tel: 01588 620642.  www.offasdykecottagebedandbreakfast.co.uk. 

 

 

Thanks to  Dave Koeberlein for pointing out the problem with the downloadable waypoints file for Offa's Dyke. This has now been corrected and replaced. To dowload the waypoints file go to the GPS Waypoints page and click the cover for Offa's Dyke Path.

 

May 2021

p190. Llanymynech Ty-coch - camping

Mob No: 07598 027102. This B&B now also does camping. Phone for details.

October 2019

p26, Accommodation Booking.  Welshpool Tourist Information Centre no longer offer an accommodation booking service.

August 2019

pp223-224. Map 76, Foel Fenlli. From a walker who did the trail S to N. "One area might be an idea to add clarification. On the route over Foel Fenili (SJ 166597) the OS map shows a slightly different route from that on the ground. In the guide you make it clear you don't go over the hill but at this junction when coming from the south it's not so obvious that the path going up divides. A more obvious and wrong path is the one to the left which appears to follow the OS route."

 

pp167 and 168 Newcastle-on-Clun and Churchtown.  One walker wrote to question the walking time for this stretch:  the guide says 90-105 mins but the walker took 150 mins and thinks this is the correct time. 

Updates relating to the 4th Edition

1 October 2018

p183 Hay-on-Wye. Hay Taxi Bus. Taxi/ Minibus/ Coach transport service with various sizes of vehicles:  4 seat taxi (an old post van ) 8 seat minibus (easy access/wheelchair accessible) 16 seat minibuses, 32 seat coach. Dog friendly, geared up for mud, soggy people, huge rucksacks etc! Also offer canoe and bike taxi, with roof rack and trailers,  luggage transfers, have a small ‘load lugger’ trailer, and a canoe trailer, and can transport bicycles too. They cater for individuals, couples, small groups to large groups.   www.haytaxibus.co.uk   Tel: 07974106656 and 0331139992.

15 July 2018

p230-4 - printed GPS waypoints 

We are very grateful to Dr Leszek Zdunek for pointing out that although the waypoints available for download off our website are correct, the values printed in the book are not and are out by about 0.2 miles. Please note that if you wish to enter the waypoints manually it would be better to download the waypoints off this website and print out that file. This error will be corrected in the new edition due early 2019.

 

4 January 2018

p122 Castle Mill.  Castle Mill B&B has closed.

 

p201 Map 70. the 1st arrows, just after the church should show a steep slope upwards,  coming from the south.
p183 Hay on Wye. Harris Bakery does not exist anymore.
p176 Gladestry, map 55.   Offa's Dyke Lodge B&B also has camping.
p172 Kington. Fleece Meadow Campsite.  Camping charges £7.50 per person.
p156 Map 44, GPS point 71. Springhill Farm on the path offers camping.  Tel: 01588 640337.
GPS waypoint 70 has free drinking water facilities.

p137 Buttington. Green Dragon Inn. Camping costs £6  pppn.
p123 Map 23.  The arrow at 'boulders line path', coming from the south, should show a descent.
p94 Bodfari.  Downing Arms pub has closed. 

Oriel Bodfari Art Gallery is open Thur-Sun 11am-5pm.

Dinorben Arms pub has a big restaurant  with food and many beers, wines and liquors.  Open all week from 11am (Sunday 12am) and serves food all day.

 

August 2017

p94 Bodfari. Glan Clwyd Isa B&B, Aberwheeler LL16 4BT. About 2 miles from the path (but not many possibilities there). Tel: 01745 710 557.

p98 Llanferres.  The Dragon House B&B, 1 Bryn Eithen, Forestry Road, Llanferres, Sir Ddinbych, Wales CH7 5SJ.   A mile and a half from the path but Wendy or Nigel can pick you up at the path. They can also drive you to the Druid Inn or they can prepare a meal for you. www.dragonhousebandb.co.uk. Tel 01352 810394.
p106  Llandegla.  
The general store is closed, but there is now a communty village shop & cafe run by 30 volunteers : www.llandeglashop.

 

September 2016

p102, Map 12, Clwyd Gate. The restaurant is now open.

p117, Map 18, Dinan Brant. The descent from here to Llangollen via the footpaths takes between 30 and 40 minutes. This may be a useful guide as an alternative to the lane.

p118, Map 19, Llangollen Canal. There is a note on the map about confusing signs at this point so check carefully. 

p172, Map 53A, Kington. The Little Cafe on the Square. Recommended by walkers.

p193, Map 65, Hatterall Ridge. A reader reports the descent off the Ridge to Capel-y-Ffin steep and to be virtually turned into a sheep track at times. The path has been "legally diverted" (according to the sign) and goes right when meeting the track to Vision Farm. it is signposted to Capel-y-Ffin along tracks (muddy in parts) and across fields to bring one out by St Mary's Chapel. This avoids road walking.

p195, Map 66.The reader  above recommends the path from Llanthony signposted "Hatterrall Ridge North" which brought him to the place by the cairn and the stone marker. He found this a clearer path and an easier climb.

p204, Map 72, Hogs Head. The path no longer goes up the Drive to Hogs Head but enters the adjacent field from the road.

p213 Monmouth. The Bistro Prego in Church Street is now called No 7 Church Street.

p220 Bigsweir. The Florence Country Hotel is no longer functioning as a hotel.

p229 Map 86A, Chepstow. There's an M&S Food store by the bus station.

 

June 2016

p 86 Prestatyn.      There is a new restaurant the Cookhouse Pub & Carvery, right by the station on the town side.  The food is good, in hearty portions, judging by my half a roast chicken, chips & coleslaw, and reasonably priced - £7.95.  Only £6.95 for the carvery.  Ales on draught, amongst other drinks.  Friendly staff.

p106 Llandegla. The general store has closed, and been ‘replaced’ by a community store which opened less than a month ago, opposite the church.  Both now provide refreshments, in competition!

p126 Trefonen. The Barley Mow/Offa’s Dyke Brewery is not serving food at present, only drinks.  Lynstead Lodge shipped three of us out to The Station Restaurant in Bodlonfa; very good, too.

p130 Llanymynech. The Village Pantry has closed; I was able to get a good cup of coffee from a machine (£1.50) and a piece of homemade cake (£1) from Ashfield Stores, as I arrived before the pubs open.

p145 Kingswood/Forden. Check for  their opening hours, food offering etc.

p161 Map 47 Panpunton Hill. The cairn beside the seat on Panpunton Hill appears to have been destroyed.

p162 Knighton, Tower House Gallery is also closed on Tuesday at the moment…


The George & Dragon does currently serve food on a Monday evening and not just to residents.

 

October 2015

p216 Redbrook.  The Bell is a pub in Redbrook which offers ales, food and B&B so would be very useful to Offa's Dyke walkers.Tel: 01600 713612.

 

August 2015

p166 Presteigne. Lower Dolley Farm B & B is 50 yards from the path. Address:  Lower Dolley Farm, Dolley Green, Presteigne, Powys, LD8 2EE. Tel: 01547 560430

Offa's Dyke Path: Chepstow to Prestatyn & Prestatyn to Chepstow