Llangollen, Denbighshire – Dee Valley and Offa’s Dyke Path Walking

Riverside paths, canal towpaths, and hill routes above the Dee Valley

Llangollen sits directly on the Offa’s Dyke Path beside the River Dee within the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley National Landscape. The route passes through the town before climbing onto the hills above the valley, linking riverside ground with higher ridge and hillside sections along the England–Wales border.

The settlement lies in a narrow valley enclosed by steep green slopes and wooded hillsides. Underfoot, terrain varies between firm canal towpaths, riverside tracks, stone lanes, and steeper hill paths. A few kilometres east of town, the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, part of the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal World Heritage Site, carries the Llangollen Canal high above the Dee and provides level walking along the water.

Llangollen has a compact market-town character with shops, cafés, and accommodation clustered near the bridge and main street. It functions as a natural base for exploring the surrounding hills, canal, and valley routes, with both gentle low-level options and more demanding climbs available within a short distance.

From the town centre, the Offa’s Dyke Path heads south toward Chirk and the Ceiriog Valley, following wooded slopes and border ridges, or north toward the Horseshoe Pass and Clwydian Hills, climbing steadily above the Dee Valley. The ground ranges from flat towpath to sustained hill ascent, creating a mix of easier riverside sections and steeper upland terrain.