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,000 square miles of breath taking scenery set beneath big dramatic skies, boasting magical

waterfalls, magnificent wildlife and mouth-watering local produce.

MontgoMery As ruinedromantic castles go, Montgomery Castle sitting on a crag overlooking a perfect little Georgian town, is hard to beat. Soaked in history, myth and legends, the castle provides the perfect backdrop for you to discover, learn and imagine your own story.Presteigne A market town in the middle of a rolling landscape of hills, valleys and rivers. Discover the delights of the farmers markets and the stories encased in stone that carve the impressive architecture of

the buildings in this bustling town.Knighton The home of the Offa’s Dyke Centre where the history of King Offa and the stories of the impressive dyke are all at your fingertips. Cafes and eateries line the streets, so captivate your imagination with the stories, before filling up on mouth-watering local foods. also visit Llanymynech Limeworks, waterfalls at Water Break its Neck at New Radnor and the spectacular dams at the Elan Valley.

www.exploremidwales.co.uk

the land of the ‘Picturesque’ where, like the earliest British tourists, you can wonder beside the

meandering river, shaded by forested cliffs and romantic ruins, surrounded by wildlife and steeped in history.

ross-on-Wye a delightful market town overlooking the Wye, the original start point for the 18th Century ‘Wye Tour’, remains a popular destination. syMonds yat east & West a unique riverside walk, cross on a traditional hand-pulled ferry then wander downstream, marvelling at the canoeists’ antics in the rapids, re-crossing the river deep in the forested gorge on a wire footbridge, before returning past early industrial remains for refreshments in a riverside pub.Wye gorge catch the 69 bus from Chepstow to Tintern and return along the Offa’s Dyke Path National Trail through

the dramatic gorge, with stunning views of Tintern Abbey and Chepstow Castle. also visit Monmouth - bustling historic borderland market town, Old Station Tintern - award-winning visitor centre and café, or hire a canoe to experience the ‘Picturesque’ on the river itself.

www.wyevalleyaonb.org.uk

Where pilgrims sought sanctuary in the green vales, red kites soar above and offa’s dyke

Path climbs the Welsh-english border ridge of the Black Mountains.

hay-on-Wye, toWn oF BooKs a pretty market town crowned by its castle, studded with bookshops, and with two National Trails passing its doors, this vibrant, friendly town has huge individuality and a growing programme of festivals, including the famous Festival of Literature and the Arts. talgarth literally means ‘end of the hills’. At its historic heart, you’ll find a working flour mill and bakery. Nearby is Pwll y Wrach (the Witches Pool), Llanelieu’s notorious whipping tree and the remains of Castell Dinas – the highest castle in England and Wales. CriCKhoWell a thriving little town on the River Usk with Crug Hywel Iron Age hill fort rising above, and the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal meandering through the valley below. Family-run shops, award winning pubs and restaurants, and an enviable art and craft gallery.

also visit Abergavenny - ‘Gateway to Wales’, the pretty Vale of Ewyas, Llanthony Priory, Capel-y-ffin, Patricio Church or walk the Beacons Way or Usk Valley Walk.

www.breconbeacons.org

down the border spine between england and Wales, where the ancient pathways link and

cross the dyke.hergest CroFt gardens with its wonderful collection of rhododendrons and azaleas is just one of many gardens which also include Lawton Hall Herbs and Westonbury Water Gardens which has the largest water driven cuckoo clock in the world.

leintWardine pretty riverside village with the Sun Inn - a rare parlour pub. Other market towns and villages hold regular farmers’ markets, have award winning butchers and bakers, micro breweries, cider makers and farm gate sales.Medieval Castle ruins at Wigmore, Skenfrith, Grosmont, Ewyas Harold and Pembridge Castle at Welsh Newton.

also WalK the Mortimer Trail, Wye Valley Walk, Herefordshire Trail, Vaughan’s Way and many old drovers roads; try to catch a country show, ploughing match, village fete or one of our more eccentric events such as the wheelbarrow race at Kington festival.

www.visitherefordshire.co.uk

Be captivated by the stunning countryside and bustling market towns which link the Midlands

and the Welsh mountains.BishoP’s Castle a colourful country town with two breweries, independent shops, cafes and gallery. A new (2014) Information Centre in the town hall promotes the town’s lively events and festivals and the great walking opportunities. the Bog and snailBeaCh ruined engine houses and tall chimneys tell of a time when the lead mines here were the most productive in Europe. Explore Snailbeach Mine, visit the restored miners cottages at Blakemoorgate and enjoy homemade cakes at the Bog Visitor Centre.

Clun Castle at the heart of Clun stand the ruins of a medieval castle by the river Clun. Enjoy a picnic or sample the local delights in one of the cafes or pubs. Climb Llanfair Hill to see one of the best preserved sections of Offa’s Dyke.also visit Stokesay Castle, Mitchell’s Fold Stone Circle, Stiperstones National Nature Reserve. For some excellent walking follow the Shropshire Way and Walking with Offa pub walks.

www.shropshirehillsaonb.co.uk

From the scenic Wye valley to the ancient Black Mountains, past castles, abbeys, market towns

and friendly villages, Monmouthshire offers a variety of great walks along the offa’s dyke Path.

ChePstoW Explore Chepstow Castle, perched above the Wye, or enjoy a day at the races at Chepstow Racecourse. The start (and finish) of the Offa’s Dyke Path offers shops, crafts, and cafes as well as access to many other walks. tintern The magnificent Tintern Abbey, award winning cake at the Old Station or local Welsh wine at Parva Farm Vineyard. Stunning views nearby.MonMouth Restored Georgian Shire Hall, Monmouth castle and regimental museum (birthplace of Henry V), unique medieval stone bridge and independent shops all nestled between two rivers.

also visit The foodie mecca of Abergavenny to sate the appetite you’ve built up, or walk the Monnow Valley Walk, Wye Valley Walk, Wales Coast Path.

www.visitwyevalley.com

The shropshirE BorDErlanDs

clwyDianrangEanDDEE vallEyArea of OutstandingNatural Beautypowys MID WALES

offa’s DykE pathnational trail

wyE vallEyArea of OutstandingNatural Beauty

The Black Mountains of the

BrEcon BEacons national park

hErEforDshirE The Meeting of the Ways

The shropshirE hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

MonMouthshirEFood Capital of Wales

From the quaint gift shops of Chepstow to the sandy beaches of Prestatyn, the swathe of country either side of Offa’s Dyke, which forms the border between England and Wales, brings together a host of inspiring scenery and fascinating attractions that make the area a truly unique place to visit. And with a National Trail following the route of the famous Offa’s Dyke, it is attracting walkers and visitors who want to experience something a bit different. Offa’s Dyke Path National Trail takes the line of much of the dyke, built by King Offa in 757 to 796 AD, and passes through three Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and a National Park.

We call it Irresistible oFFa.Throughout these lush and undulating borderlands are stunning views, hidden villages and historic market towns where you can rest, sleep and eat. The area is studded with ancient hill forts, tiny churches, castles, fortresses, some of the UK’s first picturesque tourist honeypots and fascinating relics of our industrial and transport heritage. Borders between countries have an aura of intrigue, myth and mystery, and the one between England and Wales is no exception, making it just a little different as a place to go walking.

WalK this Way…

BRECON BEACONS NATIONAL PARK

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offa’s dyke is truly unique and Walking with offa, a cross-

border cooperation project, is working hard to ensure it stays that way. The project brings together strategic rural

development and tourism bodies along the english-Welsh border to promote walking and sustainable tourism and transport along either side of the offa’s dyke Path national trail. The partners, including four protected landscapes, are working together to develop more circular walks and to improve access across the trail, which runs along King offa’s 8th century earthwork border, so that even more visitors can enjoy the wonderful landscapes, heritage and all that it has to offer along the way.There are many great buses along the borderlands which drop walkers off at the start of their walks.

Photo credits: Wales on View, Brecon Beacons National Park Authority, Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB, Offa's Dyke Path National Trail, Powys County Council, Shropshire Council, Shropshire Hills AONB, Visit Herefordshire, Visit Wales, Wrexham Borough Council, Wye Valley AONB.Map: www.asduncanillustration.co.ukDesign: www.thinkgraphic.co.uk

Wal

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Where a canal takes flight, horses raced on hilltops and offa’s dyke Path runs alongside

the Montgomery Canal.osWestry Ancient, medieval market town with many black and white buildings, shops and bustling markets. Walk or picnic at Racecourse Common. Old Oswestry Hillfort, thought to be the birthplace of Queen Guinevere, is an impressive structure with huge earthwork ramparts and ditches. llanyMyneCh The restored Victorian limeworks with its enormous Hoffman

kiln; interesting walks with tramways, sculptures, wildlife, canal and outstanding views from Llanymynech Rocks. PontCysyllte aqueduCt Dare you cross it? And can you do it without looking down? You can walk across the aqueduct, a World Heritage Site, or take a leisurely boat ride over for tremendous views of the Dee Valley.

also visit heritage railways, Shropshire’s meres and mosses and Whittington Castle.

www.oswestry-welshborders.org.uk

the dramatic upland frontier of north Wales, embracing some of the uK’s most

wonderful landscapes. llangollenLlangollen’s outstanding picturesque landscape setting by the rushing river Dee, encircled by hills and watched over by the crag of Castell Dinas Bran has made it one of

the best places to explore the Dee Valley. CorWen This little market town is set between the River Dee and the Berwyn Mountains. The focus of ancient routes from London to Holyhead and Chester to Bala, this crossroad of North Wales was a centre for cattle drovers and a favourite with Victorian travellers.

ChirK Castle This imposing Marcher fortress with its round towers commands views over nine counties. Its gardens contain clipped yews, herbaceous borders, shrub and rock gardens.

also visit Plas Newydd and Valle Crucis Abbey; Loggerheads and the dramatic limestone cliffs of the Alyn Valley; climb Moel Famau or cross the Eglwyseg Escarpment.

www.clwydianrangeanddeevalley.org.uk

Walk through centuries of history along this iconic 177 mile walking route through the breath-

taking borderlands of england and Wales.oFFa’s dyKe The Trail frequently follows the impressive Offa’s Dyke itself. This amazing hand-dug bank and ditch was built by command of King Offa of the ancient Anglo- Saxon kingdom of Mercia. A boundary structure to divide Mercia from what is now Wales, and some sections still form the England/Wales border today.stunning landsCaPes The Trail travels through three AONBS: Wye Valley, Shropshire Hills and Clwydian Range/Dee Valley; plus the Brecon Beacons National Park . Riverside meadows, peaceful rolling hills, dramatic heather clad uplands, a constantly changing landscape awaits you.historiC toWns The Trail passes through or near many fascinating towns including: Chepstow, Monmouth, Hay-on-Wye, Kington, Presteigne, Knighton, Montgomery, Welshpool, Oswestry, Llangollen and Prestatyn.

also WalK Glyndw rs Way, the Wye Valley Walk, Beacons Way and Severn Way.

www.nationaltrail.co.uk/offasdyke

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