The Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust has been researching Offa’s Dyke since the 1970s. Offa's Dyke is the longest linear earthwork in Britain, approximately 220km, running from Treuddyn, near Mold, to Sedbury on the Severn estuary. Rydym yn defnyddio cwcis i sicrhau ein bod yn rhoi'r profiad gorau i chi ar ein gwefan. A personal record of my walk of Offa's Dyke Path National Trail with written journal and photographs. The Dyke consisted of a ditch on the Welsh side, with the displaced soil piled into a bank on the Mercian side up to 20 metres wide and 2.4 metres in height. Today the Offa’s Dyke Path, a National Trail, starts near Chepstow and finishes at Prestatyn on the coast, passing through a variety of stunning landscapes, from the Wye … Os ydych chi'n parhau i ddefnyddio'r wefan hon, byddwn yn tybio eich bod yn hapus ag ef. Yet despite more than a century of study, experts still do not fully understand how or when the Dyke was built, and in recent years views have diverged even about such basic questions as its purpose Offa’s Dyke Path Information & Map . There are numerous shorter walks featuring the Dyke too. The Dyke was constructed by the Mercian King Offa towards the end of the eighth century AD. ©  2020 Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust. As well as a range of field investigations on the Dyke since the 1970s, CPAT has been involved with several larger-scale initiatives. Read facts about the Trail and watch the Trail video. In contrary to the traditional view, radio-carbon dating by the Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust of redeposited turf suggests the construction of Offa’s Dyke between AD 541 and 651, with the lower layers dating from around AD 430 during the sub-Roman period. It was built in the late 8 th century AD by Offa, King of Mercia from 757 to 796 AD. Another Dyke was also constructed to the east called Wat’s Dyke, which runs parallel for 40-miles through the northern Welsh Marches and as far south as Shropshire. This especially impressive wooded stretch includes the Devil's Pulpit, with fine views of Tintern Abbey. Built at the command of the eighth-century king of Mercia, Offa’s Dyke is today Britain’s longest ancient monument, following the border between England and Wales. Historians regard Offa as the most powerful Anglo-Saxon king before Alfred the Great, although no contemporary biography of him survives. Please click on any cottage photographs to view details of the self-catering cottages. Development Control - 01938 552035 As well as day-to-day conservation efforts, CPAT has been at the forefront of initiatives to improve long-term management of the Dyke. Offa’s Dyke is a large earthwork construction that is believed to delineate the border between the Saxon kingdom of Mercia and the Welsh kingdom of Powys. You can read more about Offa’s Dyke – and CPAT’s work on linear earthworks more generally – by following the links below. Offa's Dyke consists of an earthen bank with a ditch, tending to be on the west side only but occassionally found on both sides. The way is rough just north of Knighton, but then the path descends into the level ground of Montgomery Plain. During the current Covid-19 situation if you have the mobile number of your team contact, then by all means call them directly. Coed y Dinas, We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. ARCHAEOLOGY | HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT | PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT Mid-Wales and the Marches are glorious walking territory. HeritageDaily is an independent online magazine for archaeological and associated disciplines, dedicated to the heritage and historical sector. Choose and book a National Trail break or be inspired by our suggested itineraries. Offa’s Dyke ran for up to 169 miles (sources differ), roughly following the current border between England and Wales and remains one of the largest ancient construction projects in England, standing alongside other notable ancient walls such as Hadrian’s Wall which runs for around 73 miles. At a point beyond Bronygarth and where Offa's Dyke Path crossed the Llwybr Ceiriog Trail I walked up on to the top of the actual Offa's Dyke mound. While the hills here may lack height compared to those further north, the climbs are still steep and the views stunning. The Offices / Y Swyddfeydd, Offa's Dyke (Welsh: Clawdd Offa) is a massive linear earthwork running north-south in a line once perhaps 150 miles long, roughly approximating the boundary between modern England with Wales.In places, it is up to 65 feet wide (including its flanking ditch) and 8 feet high. A three mile section of the great earthwork boundary dyke built along the Anglo-Welsh border by Offa, King of Mercia, probably during the 780s. The county borough of Wrexham is in north-east Wales, straddling the ancient border earthwork Offa's Dyke. Most people have heard of Hadrian’s Wall, Offa’s Dyke and the Antonine Wall, but it is the lesser known Wansdyke in the West Country that is perhaps the most mysterious of them all!. A long distance footpath of about 168 miles follows the dyke, an earthwork built in the 8th century by King Offa of Mercia to help ward off potential Welsh raiders, and stretches from the River Severn near Chepstow to the coast at Prestatyn in Wales. Constructed by King Offa of Mercia (757-96), late in the eighth century, it is a tribute to the authority he commanded … Offa’s Dyke, great English earthwork extending linearly, with some gaps, from the River Severn near Chepstow to the seaward end of the Dee estuary, passing for 169 miles (270 kilometres) through the counties of Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Radnorshire, … Tracklogs for GPS units and for use with Google Earth are available for download for each stage. Today the Offa’s Dyke Path, a National Trail, starts near Chepstow and finishes at Prestatyn on the coast, passing through a variety of landscapes, from the Wye Valley, the Black Mountains, to the Clwydian Hills in the north – and is a fantastic setting for our November ‘Virtual Challenge’. Self-catering cottages near Offa's Dyke. Forming the traditional boundary between England and Wales, this impressive earthwork runs, although not continuously, from the Dee estuary in the north to the river Wye in the south. North Wales Police say they been made aware of … The origins of the Dyke are debated but has been traditionally associated with Offa, the King of Mercia who ruled from AD 757 until his death in 796. United Kingdom. This guidebook - which includes both a guide to the route and a separate OS map booklet - describes Offa's Dyke Path National Trail from south to north, following the longest linear earthwork in Britain, running 177 miles along the English-Welsh border between Sedbury (near Chepstow) and Prestatyn on the north Wales Coast. For about 70 miles it follows the course of the Eighth Century Offa’s Dyke earthwork. Address: 41 Belsize Road, Luton, Bedfordshire, LU40RR - Email: info@heritagedaily.com. The Offa's Dyke Centre is the home of the Offa's Dyke Association. It consists of a bank and ditch, and is thought to be over 1200 years old. There is also a visitor centre in Knighton, run by the Offa’s Dyke Association. Multiple itineraries to choose from. This is also supported by a study of Wat’s Dyke, which was believed to have been constructed by Aethelbald king of Mercia who was succeeded by Offa. Stages of the Walk Journal, Photographs and Download Files Offa's Dyke Path is a 177 mile (285km) long distance trail that follows closely the Wales-England border. Walk Offa's Dyke Path on a 2-16 day walking holiday through the Welsh Borders, with maps, cosy accommodation and daily luggage transfers all included. The Dyke may have been constructed to place a boundary between his domain, with some historians suggesting that there was a degree of consultation with the kings of Powys and Gwent. Read more about the history of Offa's Dyke. It opened in 1971 and some of it follows or keeps close company with the remnants of Offa's Dyke, an earthwork mostly constructed in the 8th century on the orders of Offa of Mercia. An analysis of Wat’s Dyke placed construction between AD 411 and 561, by dating eroded shards of Romano-British pottery and quantities of charcoal in situ but this has also been contested by later studies. This extraordinary ancient monument is a unique reminder of the so called Dark Ages and the beginnings of modern Britain. Many believe this was to defend his kingdom from the Welsh, while others argue there is little evidence to suggest it was built for defensive reasons – it may have been a practical boundary or a showy demonstration of the king's power and wealth. This route follows a short section of the Offa's Dyke path. Offa's Dyke is a great frontier earthwork built by Offa, King of Mercia from 757 to 796 A.D. It consists of a ditch and rampart, originally about 27 metres across and 8 metres high . Main Office - 01938 553670 An investigation is under way amid reports a large section of Offa's Dyke ancient earthwork has been damaged near Wrexham. Offa's Dyke. Offa’s Dyke Offa’s Dyke is a linear earthwork which runs through the English/Welsh borders from Treuddyn (near Wrexham in north east Wales) to Sedbury Cliffs (on the Severn estuary, in southern Gloucestershire). Offa’s Dyke Path, while not being the longest of the National Trails, is the most attractive and varied of them. SY21 8RP, Davies 1990; Vaughan-Thomas 1985. Offa was King of the Mercians, a warrior tribe from central England, from 757 – 796, and is best remembered for his Dyke, which he had built to act as a defence against the Welsh.. It is generally agreed, though, that the dyke was constructed under the orders of the Anglian King Offa of Mercia during the 8th century. Offa’s Dyke is a linear earthwork, which more or less follows the Welsh/English boundary. Below: a section of Offa's Dyke near Chirk, north Wales. However the Offa’s Dyke Path is of rather more recent origins being first listed as a long distance route in 1949 then being officially opened on behalf of the Countryside Commission as the Offa's Dyke National Trail … Offa’s Dyke is a linear earthwork which roughly follows the Welsh/English boundary. It was a fantastic moment for me. Offa's Dyke is approximately 220km long and is the longest linear earthwork in Britain. Offa’s Dyke is a stunning walk that follows parts of the line of an ancient earthworks and some of the border between Wales and England and passes through the Clwydian Hills and Dee Valley, the Shropshire Hills, the Black Mountain section of the Brecon Beacons National Park and the Wye Valley. Offa’s Dyke is a massive 1200 year old earthwork boundary, which runs on or close to the modern border between England and Wales. Back in the 8th Century things were a bit different than now, and it was the Anglo Saxon King Offa of Mercia who wanted to keep the Welsh out of England, and so he decided to built an earthworks ‘dyke’ to ensure they stayed to the west. It runs from Treuddyn, near Mold, to Sedbury on the Severn estuary. Offa’s Dyke is mostly easily accessible via the Offa’s Dyke Path, one of the UK’s National Trails. It consists of a ditch and rampart constructed with the ditch on the Welsh-facing side, and appears to have been carefully aligned to present an open view into Wales from along its length. Stretching for 35 miles through the countryside of Wiltshire and Somerset, this large defensive earthwork was built some 20 to 120 years after the Romans had left Britain. Offa, his Dyke and his legendary hospitality! The area of Offa's Dyke along the old deer park is one of the best preserved sections in the area.