Wat’s Dyke Way is a 61 mile linear walking trail that runs through the border country of England and North Wales, beginning in the Shropshire village of Llanymynech and ending at Holywell, near the Dee Estuary.

The trail is based on the course of Wat's Dyke, a tall bank and ditch, thought to have been dug for the Saxon rulers of Mercia, to protect their boundary with North Wales. Until recently, Wat's Dyke has been a neglected landmark, overshadowed by its better-known neighbour, Offa’s Dyke, but it is one of the largest archaeological monuments in Britain.

The route passes many reminders of the turbulent borderlands history and also of its rich industrial and cultural heritage. It is largely a lowland walk but does include some slightly higher ground, as the dyke itself took advantage of natural land features, so there are often excellent views. The terrain is varied, from canal towpaths and quiet riversides in the south to small wooded valleys and country lanes in the north. It crosses rolling farmland, grand parkland of big estates like Erddig and Wynnstay, woodland and numerous picturesque villages and hamlets such as Llanymynech with its lime-working heritage, canal-side Maesbury Marsh, Caergwrle with its Welsh castle and packhorse bridge, riverside Erbistock, and Ruabon with its brick and tile-making links. It also passes through the historic towns of Oswestry, Wrexham and Holywell.

This guidebook will help you plan and walk the route.