The Cambrian Way

Classic Wales mountain trek - south to north from Cardiff to Conwy

By The Trustees of the Cambrian Way Trust, George Tod, Richard Tyler

ISBN

9781852849900

Availability

Published

11 Jul 2019

Reprinted

2 Nov 2021

Edition

First

Pages

264

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 1.50cm

Weight

310g

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Guidebook to the Cambrian Way, a challenging three-week mountain trek through Wales from Cardiff to Conwy. The 470km route is presented from south to north. Often sticking to long, beautiful ridgelines, it crosses wild and rugged terrain and visits many of Wales's highest mountains, including Snowdon.

Seasons

The southern and middle sections should be possible in all seasons but the Rhinog mountains and Snowdonia are best tackled between spring and autumn.

Centres

Cardiff, Pontypool, Abergavenny, Crickhowell, Llandovery, Strata Florida, Devil's Bridge, Ponterwyd, Dinas Mawddwy, Barmouth, Beddgelert, Pen-y-Pass, Ogwen, Conwy

Difficulty

Suitable for those with experience of long-distance walking (either with or without camping equipment), the route demands a good level of fitness and navigational competence.

Must See

Cardiff, capital of Wales, and its castle; the Black Mountains; the Brecon Beacons; the Carmarthen Vans; the Elenydd wilderness; Devil's Bridge and Rheidol Falls; Pumlumon; Cadair Idris; Barmouth; Rhinog Fawr and Rhinog Fach; Beddgelert; Snowdon; the Glyders; Ogwen Valley; Tryfan; the Carneddau; Conwy and its castle

ISBN

9781852849900

Availability

Published

11 Jul 2019

Reprinted

2 Nov 2021

Edition

First

Pages

264

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 1.50cm

Weight

310g

Overview

Dubbed 'the mountain connoisseurs' walk', the Cambrian Way stretches 479km between the mighty castles of Cardiff in the south and Conwy on the north coast. Traversing the heartland of Wales, the challenging route crosses the Brecon Beacons, the Cambrian Mountains and Snowdonia, passing through two national parks and visiting many of the country's iconic summits, including Pen y Fan, Pumlumon, Cadair Idris and Snowdon itself. It can be walked in three weeks (or in shorter sections) and is suitable for experienced hillwalkers with sound navigational skills.

The guide presents the route in 21 stages, offering comprehensive route description illustrated with OS 1:50,000 mapping and elevation profiles. Details of accommodation and facilities are provided, along with a helpful trek planner showing their distribution along the route: although the trail passes through remote areas, it is possible to stay under a roof every night - though camping is also a possibility, should you prefer. There are background notes on Wales's history and geology and local points of interest, and a glossary of Welsh place-names, useful contacts and accommodation listings can be found in the appendices.

From the Black Mountains to the Rhinogau, Glyderau and Carneddau, the route takes in lofty ridges, striking peaks and picturesque lakes. There are also fascinating glimpses into the country's ancient and more recent past: Iron Age hillforts, Norman castles, a Cistercian abbey, the Chartist Cave and relics from the mining industry. Offering superlative scenery, the Cambrian Way is a celebration of some of the best mountain walking Wales has to offer and promises a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in these celebrated landscapes.

Table of Contents

CONTENTS

Map key

Overview map

Route summary table

Trek planner

Introduction

The mountain connoisseurs’ walk

Wales, its history, people and language

Geology and landscape

Plants and animals

When to go

Travel

Accommodation

Kit

Waymarking and navigation

Food, water and supplies

Emergencies

Using this guide

The route

Stage 1 Cardiff to Machen

Stage 2 Machen to Pontypool

Stage 3 Pontypool to Abergavenny

Stage 4 Abergavenny to Capel-y-ffin

Stage 5 Capel-y-ffin to Crickhowell

Stage 6 Crickhowell to Storey Arms

Stage 7 Storey Arms to Glyntawe

Stage 8 Glyntawe to Llandovery

Stage 9 Llandovery to Tŷ’n-y-cornel Hostel

Stage 10 Tŷ’n-y-cornel Hostel to Claerddu

Stage 11 Claerddu to Ponterwyd

Stage 12 Ponterwyd to Dylife

Stage 13 Dylife to Dinas Mawddwy

Stage 14 Dinas Mawddwy to Bwlch Llyn Bach

Stage 15 Bwlch Llyn Bach to Barmouth

Stage 16 Barmouth to Cwm Bychan

Stage 16/17A Bad-weather route to Moelfryn following Taith Ardudwy Way

Stage 17 Cwm Bychan to Maentwrog

Stage 18 Maentwrog to Beddgelert

Stage 19 Beddgelert to Pen-y-Pass

Stage 20 Pen-y-Pass to Llyn Ogwen

Stage 21 Llyn Ogwen to Conwy

Appendix A The checkpoints

Appendix B Glossary of Welsh words and places on the Cambrian Way

Appendix C Useful contacts

Appendix D Accommodation list

Updates

April 2022

Error on page 146

"...by heading NNW for 300 metres, then going W along the hillside..."

should read: '...NNE for 300 metres and E along the hillside...'

July 2021

2021 reprint updates

990 Reprint 2021 (1.594 MB)

January 2020

Stage 13 gpx file

“A minor error has been spotted in the GPX file and O.S. Map file for Stage 13 just after the start of the stage in Dylife. The text of the Cicerone guide is correct about taking a sharp left turn from the road just past the Star Inn. However, the GPX file showed taking a footpath just before the Star Inn. This makes very little difference as it leads to the same place after only 50 metres, but to avoid the any confusion a new GPX file: CWStage13GPSRevC2.gpx For anyone who has already downloaded them, it may not be worth downloading the new ones so long as this has been noted.”

“A Cambrian Way Trail Marker has now been placed at the correct turning from the road thanks to Oliver Wicks and helpers from Ramblers Cymru who have now completed the Trail Marking in Powys.”

October 2019

Stage 14 Route near Cribin Fawr Clarification

A walker has reported difficulty finding the correct route near Cribin Fawr between Craig Portas and Waun-oer. Although the description is correct, if you are walking without 1:25,000 or GPS it may not be clear about where the fence is crossed and which way to go having crossed it, as boundary fences are not shown on the 1:50,000 maps in this guide. His problem was that he didn't swing round to the left before meeting the fence and was confused when the fence was a different one from the one he had been following earlier. He then turned back and attempted to go via the forest but had to go further down the hillside to get around the trees and then reached dangerously steep slopes in places making it very difficult.

Page 167 -2^nd paragraph 2nd line. Amend to :

“cross to the N of the fence which runs downhill approximately westwards.”

Reviews

The most enjoyable and rewarding long distance walk

Congratulations to all involved in producing the new guide to the Cambrian Way and the clear and useful website. The new guide may not be as characterful and idiosyncratic as Tony Drake's original (mine is the 5th edition) but alongside the GPX files, the waymarking and the technology which has emerged over the last decade will certainly make route finding a lot easier. The Cambrian Way is certainly the most enjoyable and rewarding long distance walk which I've traversed (I would say that, being Welsh!) and the new guide book has enthused me to have another go before old age finally claims me.

Best wishes for the future,

Alan W

Packed with useful info - it would takes ages to research this elsewhere.

Great guide - packed with useful info that makes planning a cinch.

I was given this book as a gift - so pleased when I opened the package. For I'd forgotten (or perhaps hadn't realised) how much of the Cambrian Way is accessible and 'doable' - far from the remote super-tough walking that tends to be associated with the trail. Most walkers won't have three weeks to spare for a continuous journey - so by splitting the route into 21 sections the guide makes planning to complete the trail in stages much easier. I've completed about half the walk and today walked a twelve mile 'linking section' near to my home. The descriptions were suitably tight (too much is not what you need) the maps excellent and the free download GPX files on the Cicerone website were an unexpected (and hugely useful) extra. The Cambrian Way deserves to be better known - and hopefully this book will help in that regard. The guide is packed with useful info from distance tables to profile charts, local information, accommodation suggestions - it would takes ages to research this elsewhere. So all in all, another great guide from Cicerone.

Mark

a really useful guidebook

The Cambrian Way guidebook came today – excellent service, and a really useful guidebook which is a model of clarity. I have the old Tony Drake one which is a bit hard to follow.

Many thanks to the team.

Anthony B, by email

Clear and logical structure and layout - It doesn’t disappoint

As someone who has been walking The Cambrian Way section by section for a few years this first guidebook written by officers of The Cambrian Way Trust, was, to say the least, much anticipated. It doesn’t disappoint. Those familiar with the family of Cicerone’s excellent guides will be very comfortable with its clear and logical structure and layout. The integration of 1:50,000 map sections is very useful, though no substitute for carrying 1:25,000 maps (personally I download these and use with GPS on my phone for confident navigation).

The guide deals well with many of the more difficult sections of the route, where there is no Right of Way to follow, though I challenge anyone not to find themselves confused at times as to what direction to take. But this is what makes The Way so special - it is not all waymarked, and since it covers some truly remote parts of Wales, rightly so. Some of The guide’s suggested stages are really hard going and my advice is to think carefully about your level of ability and the difficulty of the terrain before planning your itinerary. This is challenging walking. I for one will be considering a Wild Camp on the Rheinogs! All the practical stuff is here. Of course this can quickly get out of date, so I would encourage anyone using this guide to post updates to the Cambrian Way website.

Charles, by email

Downloads

The Cambrian Way - GPX File

The Trustees of the Cambrian Way Trust

The Cambrian Way Trust is responsible for publishing the guide to the Cambrian Way and maintaining the website (www.cambrianway.org.uk), as well as overseeing the condition and maintenance of the route and publicising it. The Trust is funded from the major legacy left by Tony Drake, who originally conceived the route, to the Ramblers, and its work is carried out with the assistance of Ramblers groups and members and Cambrian Way officers.

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George Tod

George Tod is a semi-retired IT support engineer and has long held a passion for long-distance mountain walking, starting with the Pennine Way in 1991. He has completed the Cambrian Way four times, the first in 2000. In 2005, at the request of Tony Drake who brought the Cambrian Way to fruition, he set up the Cambrian Way website and has continually updated and revised both this and Tony Drake's original guidebook.

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Richard Tyler

Richard Tyler is a retired solicitor who has enjoyed a lifetime of walking in the Welsh mountains. He has considerable experience of long-distance hill and mountain walking in the UK, Alps and Himalaya. Richard carried out a full walk and survey of the Cambrian Way, finishing in 2016. He is chair of the Cambrian Way Trust, footpath secretary for Ramblers Powys Area and, at the time of publication, chair of Powys Local Access Forum.

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