Summary

Long-distance footpaths by their nature are not designed for short circular hikes, but if you don’t want to walk the entire route you can usually combine sections with other paths and quiet roads to create circuits.  Alternatively you can get a lift or a bus to help you cover a particular section.

The trail along Offa’s Dyke follows the border between Shropshire and Wales, and I worked out a route from Chirk Castle (near Wrexham), along the Dyke for a few miles, then over to Oswestry.  I was running it, but it would make a good (but lengthy) day’s walk through easy hiking countryside.  The route could easily be split into two shorter walks.

• The most memorable aspect was following the historic dyke that once kept warring tribes apart.
• The best bit was finding my way back onto the dyke when I got a bit lost early on
• The worst bit was when the rain became heavier
• I hadn’t expected the line of earthworks to be so clear
• A word of warning would be to take care navigating from one field to the next as it’s easy to get disorientated, and take food and drink.

Read the full walking story with more photos >

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Contributed by: Andrew Llanwarne