A guidebook to walking Glyndwr’s Way, a 217km (135 mile) National Trail winding through the hills, forests, and river valleys of mid-Wales. From Knighton to Welshpool via Machynlleth, the trail offers dramatic upland scenery, hidden lakes, historic ruins, and quiet market towns, providing walkers with a sense of discovery through the heart of rural Wales.

Suitable for long-distance walkers, Glyndwr’s Way can be completed in around nine days, with stages ranging from 18 to 29km (11–18 miles). Optional additions include two stages of the Offa’s Dyke National Trail to create a circular walk, as well as an ascent of Pumlumon Fawr for those seeking extra challenge. Highlights along the route include the Abbeycwmhir ruins, Llyn Clywedog, Dylife mines, Parliament House at Machynlleth, Dyfnant Forest, Llyn Efyrnwy, Ann Griffiths Walk, and the gardens and grounds of Powis Castle.

• 9 main stages covering Glyndwr’s Way from Knighton to Welshpool, with distances, terrain notes, and optional circular or summit extensions
• Step-by-step route descriptions supported by 1:50,000 Ordnance Survey maps for each stage, ensuring accurate navigation throughout the trail
• Downloadable GPX files for Glyndwr’s Way, compatible with GPS devices and smartphone apps
• Detailed information on accommodation, refreshments, public transport, and facilities along the route to aid planning
• Practical advice on preparation, walking safely in upland and forested terrain, and understanding the cultural and historical highlights of mid-Wales
• Pronunciation guide and topographical glossary included to help walkers engage with Welsh place names and landscape features

Plan your Glyndwr’s Way adventure with confidence with this definitive guidebook.

Walking Glyndwr's Way - Quick Facts

Trail name: Glyndwr’s Way
Location: Mid-Wales, Wales
Designation: National Trail
Distance: ~217km / 135 miles
Typical duration: ~9 days
Start: Knighton
End: Welshpool
Route format: Linear long-distance walk (optional circular variant with Offa’s Dyke stages)
Stages: 9 main stages, 18–29km (11–18 miles) each
Navigation: Waymarked with paths, forest tracks, and upland trails
Terrain: Hills, forests, river valleys, lakes, market towns
Difficulty: Suitable for long-distance walkers
Best season: Spring to early autumn (Apr–Oct)
Accommodation: B&Bs, guesthouses, hostels, and small-town lodging along the route

Author Highlight

“Glyndŵr’s Way is one of the quietest National Trails, exploring sparsely populated countryside, featuring a succession of hills and valleys largely used for sheep-rearing. The route meanders around, with frequent twists and turns, ascents and descents, so that the scenery changes continually. Some of the higher parts feature open moorlands or forestry plantations. There are a handful of towns along the way, with a scattering of small villages and abundant small farms. It takes some walkers a long time before they point their feet towards mid-Wales, but once they do so, they always return to experience more of its quiet, understated charm.”

- Paddy Dillon, author of Walking Glyndwr's Way

CONTENTS

Overview map

Map key

Introduction

Owain Glyndŵr

Geology

Landscape

Drove roads

Wildlife

Trees and plants

When to walk

Getting to and from the route

Accommodation

Planning your schedule

Food and drink

Money matters

Communications

What to pack

Waymarking

Maps of the route

Emergencies

Using this guide

Glyndŵr’s Way

Day 1 Knighton to Felindre

Day 2 Felindre to Abbeycwmhir

Day 3 Abbeycwmhir to Llanidloes

Day 4 Llanidloes to Dylife

Ascent of Pen Pumlumon Fawr

Day 5 Dylife to Machynlleth

Day 6 Machynlleth to Llanbrynmair

Day 7 Llanbrynmair to Llanwddyn

Day 8 Llanwddyn to Meifod

Day 9 Meifod to Welshpool

Return to Knighton along Offa’s Dyke

Day 10 Welshpool to Brompton Cross

Day 11 Brompton Cross to Knighton

Appendix A Facilities along the route

Appendix B Pronunciation guide and topographical glossary

Appendix C Useful contacts

Appendix D Accommodation along the route

Seasons

Spring, summer and autumn are ideal for walking. Winter can be a problem if there is deep snow. After prolonged rain some parts can be muddy.

Centres

Knighton, Llangunllo, Felindre, Llanbadarn Fynydd, Abbeycwmhir, Llanidloes, Dylife, Machynlleth, Cemmaes Road, Llanbrynmair, Llangadfan, Llanwddyn, Dolganog, Meifod, Welshpool, Montgomery

Difficulty

Suitable mainly for long-distance walkers. Essentially hill country, with lots of ascents and descents, but also many gentle and easy stretches. Careful attention to waymarking is required, and accommodation is sparse in some places.

Must See

Quiet and remote mid-Wales countryside, links with the Offa's Dyke Path, Abbeycwmhir ruins, Llyn Clywedog, Dylife mines, Parliament House at Machynlleth, Dyfnant Forest, Llyn Efyrnwy, Ann Griffiths Walk, Powis Castle

October 2024

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