Offa's Dyke Part 12: Pontcysyllte to Chirk/Y Waun
18 people attending
8 places left
This is the twelfth 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.
This route features two bridge crossings and two dark tunnels, all on narrow footpaths. Exhilirating and safe, but not recommended if you have a fear of heights or the dark.
From our starting point at the Pontcysyllte Car Park we will follow the canal over Thomas Telford's engineering marvel of an aqueduct (this crossing is not ideal for those with a fear of heights), picking up the Offa's Dyke Path on the other side of the valley as it also follows the Llangollen Canal, then leaves to head South and West uphill towards Chirk Castle.
Skirting around the Castle grounds we keep to the Offa's Dyke Path until it crosses the Afon/River Ceiriog, where we then join the Llwybr Maelor Way heading East on muddy paths and fields, hopping over the railway line to Chirk Bank and finding ourselves on the Llangollen Canal again, this time heading North.
After another aqueduct crossing the canal and towpath go through a 421m tunnel, known locally as 'The Darkie'. If you're feeling brave we will go through it (headtorches recommended) but an alternative is available, and our route follows the canal back to home.
This walk is roughly 20 km/12.5 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
Headtorches will be required for the tunnels.
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).