Trans-Wales bikepacking in 4 days

From Prestatyn on the north coast of Wales to Chepstow in the south, this four-day ride traverses more than 200 miles (370 kilometers) of beautiful, ever-changing Welsh countryside, meandering along the ancient earthworks known as Offa’s Dyke, built in the 8th Century by the King of Mercia to divide the English and Welsh. Whereas the waymarked Offa’s Dyke Path is predominantly footpath, this ride comprises bridle paths, byways, tracks and lanes that mirror the original route as much as possible, beginning and ending at the same waymarked points.

As the landscape unfurls beneath your wheels, you will traverse the rugged Clwydian Range and rolling Berwyn Hills before some welcome respite from the undulation comes in the form of the flat Montgomery Canal. From here, the lush Welsh Marches and verdant Shropshire Hills beckon before you once more hit hilly terrain in the challenging Black Mountains—the last ‘obstacle’ before a gradual, winding descent to the sea at Chepstow. Along the way, the route visits the handsome towns of Llangollen, Clun and Glasbury, where a youth hostel, inn and lodge respectively offer some comfort after long days in the saddle.

Should you wish to extend your ride, there are two linking routes: the first one starts at the half-way point at Clun northeast back over the Shropshire Hills to the mountain bike mecca of Long Mynd at Church Stretton. The second is three-quarters of the way along, offering a detour from Glasbury to discover a wonderful Welsh mountain hut or ‘bothy’ high up in the barren Black Mountains, before taking the waymarked Beacons Way to rejoin the original route. While these two extensions on their own would be ideal introductions to first-time bikepackers, the demanding nature of the extensions combined with the remaining route (the four main legs include over 28,000 feet (8,500 meters) of climbing) is something more suited to those with good fitness and bike handling skills. Rarely is the Welsh landscape flat, and at times it can feel wild and isolated, but this journey from along the entire length of the country is all the more rewarding for it.