Bikepacking the Offa's Dyke - Friend to Friend - North to South of Wales

A Film By Barry Godin
Back in September 2021, we were recently out of covid restrictions and there were two friends i hadn’t seen in far too long. So i set off to ride between them. Off at the train at Chester and then down to Ledbury, using routes that went around the area of the Offa’s Dyke. The landscape was new for be and incredible, which you can hopefully see.
This trip was full of joy and excitement, and made even better for seeing my friends and camping and cycling the last day with Geoff

[@andyraven6219]

Great to see another Barry. Although, isn't it me who is supposed to do the crashing.

[@Cycling366]

Good to see you back Barry! 👏

[@barrygodin7538]

Thanks so much!!! will be cracking on with the next film, but riding Jennride next weekend ;-)

[@Cycling366]

@@barrygodin7538 Good luck!

Great video. So good to see your posting again! 💜

[@guararemabike]

Beautiful film! "Feeling good, climbing well". Phrase to put on my jersey. Hugs from Brazil!

[@charlied1675]

I so much enjoyed your videos. So well done and such beautiful scenery. Been 10 months since your last. Hope you are OK and hope that you haven't given up on backpacking videos. Best wishes.

[@barrygodin7538]

Hey Charlie! thanks so much, and yes I am all fine and defiantly not given up bikepacking ;-) just had a break from editing and being tied to a computer. But if I do edit, I promise 10 epic films and journey to share with you all

[@davidp7414]

Stunning! Cheer up Barry😂

[@colinwellman9480]

That was a lovely film of your ride. Thanks for sharing.

[@spirospetro]

Well done again my friend 😊

[@angelag5708]

Wow what an overgrown path adventure!

[@barrygodin7538]

Haha, yes slightly overgrown haha

[@TravelingThru222]

Great video, beautiful scenery. Hope to get there someday. Jut subbed!

[@arcoulant87]

Chapeau, great video and no rain !

[@barrygodin7538]

Haha, my personal weather reporter :-) Still was wet as though it had been raining hahaha

[@robertleuty]

There's a path some where here great adventure pal I think you found the right place to use the word moist great show.great video really in joyed it 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿👍

[@barrygodin7538]

Haha, yes moist was the right word a for that moment

[@rghounds]

Good to see you sharing your rides again. I need to ride more. Perce

[@barrygodin7538]

Thanks so much Perce

[@davidlittle7182]

great video with great weather and scenery. There's lodging for you in Stockholm if you ever need it

[@barrygodin7538]

Oh wow thanks David! Have never been so may have to get plotting

[@davidlittle7182]

@@barrygodin7538 I'm going to take my sons out to some islands while we venture northwards on the archipelago - felt inspired by your vid

[@celticwanderer6407]

wales got many great cycle rides, Great Vlog Barry

[@barrygodin7538]

Oh yeah, Wales is still an unexplored area to me even after hundreds to trips

[@982golfer]

Stunning as ever mate!

[@barrygodin7538]

Thanks Paul!

[@marcsharman4970]

"I'm a disaster!" - I LOL'd a lot at that :) That's a beautiful film though Barry, thank you so much! Made me very nostalgic for the English bridleway meandering that I've done, particularly around Shropshire, just gorgeous.

[@barrygodin7538]

Oh I am a disaster at times haha, thanks so much for the kind words! WE have a beautiful landscape, you just have to get out and explore it :-)

[@RoadyPacking-CyclingAdventures]

Wonderful videography dude, put's mine to shame!! Offa's Dyke is one for the list after watching this, many thanks ;-)

[@quitemountainous2528]

I thought I recognised Tim! Was just going to ask and then you said it. Great memories, we had a great holiday in Pila a good while ago, maybe 2009? Plus Stu, Brian, Ed and not sure who else...Anyway, glad to see you keep on truckin'😀 All the best, Maciek

[@barrygodin7538]

Maciek!!!!!!! Matey!!!! Yeah I went to see Tim :-) yeah lad still pedaling about ;-) hope you are doing well! Where are you based now?

[@robertmayes7177]

Hey Barry, were you at these days?

[@welshbikepackingadventures]

Great video bro, welcome back to Wales

[@barrygodin7538]

Woop Woop :-) thanks so much

[@welshbikepackingadventures]

@@barrygodin7538 have you done the sustrans route 8 through Wales? Goes Cardiff to Holyhead . Best wishes, Mark

[@barnett882]

Finally caught up to watch this one and on your birthday too!!! Absolutely brilliant as always and look forward to your next adventure - I'll try and watch much sooner for that! Keep up the great work and just as an aside, what music did you use in the background for the last 10 minutes? - it's lovely and as always with your editing fitted perfectly with the film!! Cheers

[@PhilBaker13]

Beautiful film again, Barry. I did that route back in 2019 and had the same experience as you. The Clwydian hills were just magic and I was going great guns until Llangollen where I too took the "Walk from Hell" when there was a perfectly good road alongside 🙄 The canal paths are lovely but then I too got lost above Clun. Yep, that is the bridleway and it does take hours to find (I left some instructions on Komoot). I followed the route to Hay, through the Black Mountains, then down to Newport for the train. It's a fantastic ride, well worth doing, although it does have it's frustrations too. But hey, that's adventure!

[@barrygodin7538]

Haha how did we both make such bad route choices 😂 or is it your route i borrowed ;-) i will be back to do the southern part though! Be nice to finish it off and visit the remaining part of the proper dyke!

[@PhilBaker13]

I can't claim this route, I'm afraid. It was devised by Los McJannet. The southern part is well worth doing too. There are some brilliant tracks around Knighton and the moorland riding above Hay is amazing. I avoided Radnor Forest (too steep!) and I'd recommend taking one of the legs from the MBR Black Mountains killer loop instead of Gospell Pass, that does require some pushing but worth it. It's good to see you producing some more films, your photography is very slick

[@robertmayes7177]

I was just wondering the other day when BG would be posting a film. Have I missed some?. Nice film and nice to see you’re still at it.

[@barrygodin7538]

Hey Robert! Had a break from editing, but back on it ;-) many films to come, just need o get around to them :-)

[@valadosmsport]

Great vid and in my neck of the woods at the start, walked the dyke a few years ago and cycled northern sections, thought about doing a guide book keeping as close to the long distance footpath.

[@barrygodin7538]

That would be amazing! I also need to do alot more reading about the dyke and why it was created, love basing trips around history, really gives it a meaning

[@rbe7796]

Another great video Barry. Love the scenery around Wales. Waiting for the next one. Safe travels.

[@barrygodin7538]

Thank you so much Riaan, Yes Wales is stunning

[@rbe7796]

I did work in London a couple of years ago but wasn't into biking at that time. Now that I see your videos I realize what I've been missing. If I want to sent you a private message what would the best platform be? Regards.

[@BikepackingAdventures]

Hey Barry, this is very timely for me. In July I am riding in the Pan Celtic Race, that starts in Brittany, you ride around the region then take a ferry crossing to Portsmouth head to Wales then following the Offa's Dyke South to North to I think it's Llandudno on the coast. Now thats a road race, but it'll certainly be interesting to see where that takes us and either way Wales what's not to enjoy it's a beautiful quiet place. Interesting you mention bikepacking through a bike park, I did that myself earlier this year in Norfolk, in fact that was a Red Route ha it was hilarious up and down the berms until I lost my rain jacket lol

[@barrygodin7538]

Oh wow Richard!! I looked at the route the other day and this years looks amazing!!! Good luck for the race!!! Views from a bike, road or mtb, will be stunning and always keep me fulled to see what lies around the next corner! Haha got to love bikepark ripping, also rode down bikepark wales once full loaded! That was alarming fun haha

[@Neil.C57510]

Are those t-shirts you wore all merino, what brand are they?! Cheers.

[@barrygodin7538]

Hey Neil, Yes they are, Icebreaker is the brand, they are amazing

[@stuartantrobus7924]

Well Barry I was a bit confused as I didn't read the blurb before watching. I thought you had taken the genni out of retirement. I did think you had gone back to your old style of films. Then I find out it's from 2021 .🤦. Great film I am glad it's not only me who finds unused bridleways. Keep them coming.