Contents
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
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
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 -2nd paragraph 2nd line. Amend to :
“cross to the N of the fence which runs downhill approximately westwards.”
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
