Chepstow, very much the gateway to exploring Wales, is a convenient journey by both car, rail and coach. You can find the town just off the M4 by car and walkers travelling via rail can find regular trains that lead from London, with one short connecting service from Newport. There are also (typically) two direct coaches leaving London everyday.

Leaving Chepstow town, you’ll find impressive views over Chepstow Castle (the oldest of its kind in Britain), where the River Severn meets the River Wye. Past Sedbury Cliffs is where the Dyke itself come into view with the path leading its way along from the limestone cliffs into a high escarpment through the forests of the Wye Valley AONB. This section features some truly stunning viewpoints over the valley below, capped off by the view over Tintern Abbey from Devil’s Pulpit – one of many sites steeped in mythology and local legend situated on the Welsh border.

14.24km / 8.9 miles

Here the river becomes a more frequent companion to your journey as you make your way over the distinctive cast-iron Bigsweir Bridge onto a route that wanders back and forth over England and Wales meeting the village of Redbrook, where a steep climb up past the 17^th century Naval Tower of the Kymin is rewarded with panoramic views over the surrounding area. Here the route leads you over a medieval gatehouse into the bustling market town of Monmouth, where the landscape shifts from the rivers and forests of the Wye to the beautiful hills and valleys of rural Monmouthshire, taking you though the Kings Wood to the end of today’s section.

17.6km / 11 miles

This section takes you through an area of Wales largely unchanged through history, a very green and secluded stretch of countryside where your route takes you though the gentle, rolling hills, paths through cider orchards and open, expansive countryside that skirt the edges of the Black Mountains. Here, the Dyke fades out of view, but your route contains many historical sites of interest including ruined abbeys, quaint chapels as well as ancient forts and castles, one of the most notable being the impressive 12^th century White Castle, forming part of the neighbouring Three Castles circular route.

16km / 10 miles

Today’s route takes you out from the small Welsh Marches village of Llangattock Lingoed further into the Black Mountains towards Hatterrall Ridge. On your way you’ll notice some of the more distinctive peaks of the Welsh Marches including the Skirrid, the Sugarloaf as well as the Brecon Beacons.

Your route become gradually more undulating, as well as remote as you find yourself out in open meadows punctuated only by the occasional old farmhouse and small village, each with their own old chapels and churches that are more than worth a passing visit. Here, the route begins to climb as you meet the Iron Age fort of Pentwyn and the first leg of Hatterrall Ridge, where you’ll find a steep, winding ascent before joining a well-defined route along the top that takes you down into the village of Longtown for the end of today’s route.

14.4km / 9 miles (including a 2-mile steep descent to your accommodation)

Here you’ll find more uphill sections on this route as the path brings you back over Hatterrall Ridge, as well as the highest elevation of this route, standing at 2300ft (700m). Following the high-level route over the ridge, you’ll find some of the more stunning views of this walk as well as arguably one of the most beautifully remote stretches of countryside for miles, where it’s not uncommon to come across wild horses grazing.

As the route descends back into the valley, you’ll see the impressive Llanthony Priory, which can be reached (1.5 miles) and offers a peaceful place to pause and take in the views of the Black Mountains surrounding as well as a place to stop for a drink and a bite to eat in the popular Priory Cellar Bar.

20.8km / 13 miles (including a 2-mile steep ascent from your accommodation)

Today’s route starts back along the banks of the river Wye, climbing towards the edge of a route through woods and back out into open fields through the parish of Newchurch and up over Disgwylfa Hill, with views stretching over the old Welsh county of Radnorshire from here and Hergest Hill. Kington is one of the more renowned ‘walker towns’ just over the border in England, and the area retains much of its original charm in its 16^th century architecture, welcoming taverns and the old, winding streets that lead through the town.

23.2km / 14.5 miles

On this section you’ll notice the Dyke becoming more prominent again and starting to build in height as you make your way over Rushock Hill, sticking to a route that gives you an unrivalled view over the surrounding countryside, no doubt originally designed to offer a good vantage point for spotting ‘trouble’ from afar. Towards Knighton, the route takes you along a gentle climb through the Granner Wood to Knighton and the Offa’s Dyke Centre, where visitors can pick up a bit of insight into the history of the area, the Dyke as well as collect an Offa’s Dyke Passport to mark off completed sections of the route.

21.6km / 13.5 miles

Take a few hours to explore the lovely market town of Knighton before heading home. Rich in history with half-timbered houses from the 17th century and narrow winding streets the town sits midway on the border between England and Wales.

Local buses call at points on or near Offa’s Dyke Path.

Check Traveline for latest timetable information and journey planning.

Both ends of the route can easily be reached by train. Chepstow station is about 2 miles / 3 kilometres from the southern end of the Trail.

Knighton station is on the Heart of Wales line with regular services northbound to Shrewsbury and southbound to Swansea.

Visit www.nationalrail.co.uk for rail information and journey planning.