DISCOVER
Offa’s Dyke Serious walkers can’t resist the challenge of Offa’s Dyke, the epic earthwork masterminded by its namesake King of Mercia in the 8th century. Stretching 177 miles from the friendly beach resort of Prestatyn in the north to the Severn Estuary at Chepstow in the south, this National Trail undulates through scenic countryside, roughly following the England/Wales border through eight counties. Offa’s Dyke was constructed as a ditch and earth rampart, around 26 feet deep from the bottom of the ditch to the top of the mound, and 88 feet wide. Much has now disappeared under farmland, but the walkers preserve its memory as they trek on through Brecon Beacons National Park and three Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the Wye Valley, Shropshire Hills and Clywdian Range. Some 3,000 each year join the ranks of the ‘End to Enders,’ completing the whole route, often taking about two weeks to do so. Many more traverse selected sections, perhaps seeking more of a picnic experience than the feat of a lifetime. Popular spots to spend time include the beautiful ruins of Tintern Abbey, Monmouthshire, on the banks of the River Wye. One great vantage point is the Devil’s Pulpit, a limestone pillar on the path, where it is said the devil preached to the monks below, tempting them to desert the edifice, long before Henry VIII destroyed it. The plentiful bookshops of Hay-on-Wye are another tourist magnet and there is an Offa’s Dyke Centre in Knighton, Powys. Find out more from www.offasdyke.org.uk
Located only 300m from the Beginning and End Structure to the Offa’s Dyke Path, The Beaches Hotel offers a warm welcome to all. You will find the local train station only a 20-minute walk away, and should you wish to drive, leave your vehicle in our carpark, and take the train to your starting point. The 4-star Beaches Hotel boasts 80 luxurious guest rooms of all sizes, with all reservations inclusive of a continental and full cooked breakfast each morning of your stay. As our guest take advantage of our swimming pool, jacuzzi, sauna and gym. Enjoy dinner in the evening, in our Promenade Bistro | Bar, and watch the sun set over the stunning Irish Sea. Our seaside town is the perfect place to start or end your walking holiday. Beaches Road East, Prestatyn, North Wales Coast, LL19 7LG 01745 853072 | info@thebeacheshotel.com www.thebeacheshotel.com
Small quiet site on a working dairy farm in the Wye Valley Set well back from any main roads, the pitches here are pretty peaceful, although you may well hear a tractor or two going about their business from time to time. And of course you’ll most likely be able to listen in on the resident cows too: they generally graze the fields next to the site, eating up all the grass that helps them produce properly creamy milk. Guests can sample the fresh milk for themselves as it’s bottled and sold at the farm gate shop (and some of it goes into producing ice cream, which you can also pick up here alongside fresh eggs and other local produce). Getting out for a walk is a must around these parts – there are lots of trails to follow in nearby forests, or you can set out on a woodland trail from the farm to reach the Offa’s Dyke Path and Devil’s Pulpit viewpoint in about five minutes. Canoeing, crazy golf and the treetop trails of Go Ape are all within a 20-minute drive for a bit of different activity. To find out more, or to book please visit
www.chasemilk.co.uk/campsite/ Please mention the County Lifestyle and Leisure magazine when responding
