Offa's Dyke Path

Bodfari → Prestatyn

Distance: 12.02 miles
Ascent: 679 metres
Duration: 4 hours 7 minutes

Completing the circuit
« Not walked | Colwyn Bay »

Frankly today's been a bit of a disappointment. It started last night when I saw the weather forecast which turned out to be depressingly accurate: after a week of reasonably dry walking, I was in for another soaking.

But more than that, there were no real thrills to the walk. It felt as though all I was trying to do was get to the finishing line on Prestatyn prom, plodding on along country lanes and across increasingly muddy fields.

There were a few notable moments: watching the clouds lift from the snow-capped summits of Snowdonia to the west; meeting two llamas who were grazing freely on a farm track at Tyddyn-y-cyll, and chatting with the woman who was out reconnoitering the route for her six-day assault on Offa's Dyke Path in August.

I suppose I shouldn't be too down though. Today was always going to be about the end, and when the rain stopped I slowed my pace to savour the last high walk on Prestatyn Hillside before dropping down into the town.

So that's it. The final Welsh National Trail complete, and my eighth overall.

Where to next? I currently have two further National Trails partly complete so I'd like to knock off the rest of the North Downs Way and Cleveland Way this year. That would just leave one southern National Trail (the Cotswold Way) and four in the north (the Pennine Way, Pennine Bridleway, Yorkshire Wolds Way and Hadrian's Wall Path). It's time to set myself a challenge: I'd like to complete all of these by the time the England Coast Path officially opens in 2020. I'd best get planning.

Notes for future walkers:

• After you've finished, pop in to the leisure centre right next to the end marker. At reception they hold a visitors' book for completers to sign. I was only the second in 2017.