Offa's Dyke Part 11: Llangollen to Pontcysyllte
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This is the eleventh in a series of day walks along the Offa's Dyke Path - the idea is to eventually walk from the North Wales Coast to the border with England in stages, taking in some beautiful scenery en-route.
From our starting point in town we will ascend north over the Llangollen Canal towards the dominating escarpment of Creigiau Eglwyseg, climbing the steep hillside to Castell Dinas Bran, a ruined 13th Century castle with some truly stunning views down into the town of Llangollen and the lower Vale.
We will then pick up the Offa's Dyke Path following the side of escarpment on the Panorama Walk (aptly named for the incredible views into the Vale of Llangollen) following roads, woodland paths and crossing fields to pick up the Llangollen Canal where it crosses high above the valley and River Dee on the "masterpiece of creative genius" that is Thomas Telford's Pontcysyllte Aqueduct.
From Froncysyllte on the opposite side of the valley we will remain high up on the hillsides following the Llwybr Ceiriog Trail back westwards until we come down to the valley floor, returning into Llangollen town and crossing the River Dee one more time (after a cheeky pint at the Corn Mill pub!).
This walk is roughly 17 km/10.5 miles, with several steep ascents and descents, crossing a wide mix of terrain. Expect sections of muddy, rocky and uneven footing.
Well-behaved OutdoorDogs are very welcome. Note: Leads will be required in areas with livestock, and we will be crossing stiles frequently.
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Photos provided by event leader with permission for use on other ODL events.
What to bring
Hand sanitiser and a face covering: whilst we are living with Covid-19, please bring your own to events to help keep everyone safe
Water: bring at least two litres
Medicines: if you have hay fever, diabetes, minor ailments etc.
Day rucksack: typically 20-30 litres, they are comfortable to wear and allow you to use your arms freely
Boots: waterproof and breathable and designed for hiking, trainers are OK if the ground is dry and there’s little chance of rain
Gaiters: recommended for wet weather or boggy conditions
Socks: proper walking socks will keep your feet dry and help prevent blisters
Layered clothing: lets you quickly adapt to changes in the weather and body temperature. Go for a base layer (vest or t-shirt) and a mid layer (a micro fleece or shirt) and in cooler weather add an outer layer (a windproof jacket or thick fleece)
Trousers: ideally no jeans as they become heavy and cold in the rain, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry and on warm days shorts are OK
Waterproof jacket: essential when hiking in all but the calmest of weather, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry
Gloves: Windproof, or better still, waterproof gloves are the best choice, bring a spare pair if expecting rain
Hat or cap: stay warm in winter and shaded in summer
Sunglasses: for any sunny day, even in winter
Sun cream: can be useful even on cloudy and winter days
Snacks: bring biscuits, energy bars, gels, bananas, chocolate or dried fruit for example and put them somewhere easy to get hold of
Lunch: bring a packed lunch unless otherwise stated
Food & drink
You'll need to bring a packed lunch with you, along with enough water to keep you hydrated during the walk (recommended 1-2 litres).