Oswald's Trail
15 people attending
5 places left
Oswald’s Trail is a roughly 20 km/12 mile complete circuit of Oswestry taking in many of the important historical points of interest along the way, such as the Oswestry Hill Fort, Wat's Dyke, Oswestry Old Racecourse Common, and the Offa's Dyke Path.
Starting at the Horsemarket Car Park which surrounds Oswestry Castle, we will be heading North up out of the town and skirting along the side of the Hill Fort, picking up Wat's Dyke and crossing fields towards Hengoed, before turning South and West on a steady ascent to the Old Racecourse.
Following the Offa's Dyke Path for a little while South we will then descend steadily through fields, through the village of Morda, finding Wat's Dyke Way again and circling Oswestry town centre back to the car park.
This walk is roughly 20km/12 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.
IMPORTANT! - Participation Statement
You MUST complete a Participation Statement, in addition to booking your event space before attending an OutdoorLads event. You only need to complete this Participation Statement once, not for each event you attend.
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).
There will be an optional pub stop at the end of the walk.