A Ceredigion walk in the Cambrian Mountains that takes you to the summit of Pen y Garn. The walk provides some wide ranging views across some wild country. The route follows good tracks and paths for the most part.
(D/A) After parking take the signed footpath leading along a track from the northern end of the car park. After just over 100 metres you reach a junction of tracks.
(1) Turn right here and follow the clear route to reach Gelmast. 250 metres after passing Gelmast, their access road bends to the right and meets another track. Turn left here and almost immediately right (grid ref. SN778755) onto a footpath heading south east through a plantation. This path leads to a lane (grid ref. SN783752).
(2) Turn left along the lane and where the lane bends to the right continue straight ahead on a path and then track following the boundary of the forest.
(3) After 400 metres you reach a T-junction with a wider track (grid ref. SN786756). Turn right here and follow the track to the end of a small plantation on your left (grid ref. SN792759).
(4) The track divides here. Take the right-hand track and continue through another plantation, through two hairpin bends. Some 300 metres after the second hairpin, bear right off the main track to take a less-used shortcut back to the main track (grid ref. SN795766). Following the main track continue straight ahead at the next junction, and follow the track round to the left at the next junction (grid ref. SN797766). The walk's objective is getting close and after 400 metres you can make a beeline to the trig point and stone shelter on the summit of Pen y Garn which lies to the left of the track.
(5) After enjoying the view, return to the track and continue heading north. You start to descend passing two wind turbines on your left.
(6) Just after the second turbine, turn left onto a clear track that leads through the forest. Keep straight ahead ignoring a track going off left to reach a second junction with open land to your right (grid ref. SN786771). Continue straight ahead here, ignoring the track to your left. After 600 metres you reach another junction.
(7) Bear right here and shortly after at the next junction (grid ref. SN778768) go straight ahead. Stay on this clear track all the way back to the start(D/A).
Waypoints :
D/A : mi 0 - alt. 1263ft - Car park
1 : mi 0.11 - alt. 1273ft - Turn right
2 : mi 1.34 - alt. 1191ft - Turn left along the lane
3 : mi 1.65 - alt. 1266ft - T-junction
4 : mi 2.14 - alt. 1444ft - Take the right-hand track
5 : mi 3.26 - alt. 1982ft - Summit of Pen y Garn
6 : mi 3.86 - alt. 1739ft - The second turbine, turn left
7 : mi 5.25 - alt. 1476ft - Bear right
D/A : mi 6.76 - alt. 1273ft
Visorando and this author cannot be held responsible in the case of accidents or problems occuring on this walk.
The Cambrian Mountains were once considered as a possible National Park. Sadly, the proposal never went ahead and this area of rounded hills and wild country remains relatively unvisited. This walk features the summit of Pen y Garn which rises to 2001 feet above sea level (610 metres) and can be easily reached from the car park (grid ref. SN765755) close by the Arch on the B4574 east of Devil's Bridge.
This is a short walk in the Snowodnia National Park, easily manageable in about a couple of hours making it suitable for families, for an evening excursion or for the remains of a day curtailed by bad weather. It is rewarding and enjoyable, in a land of Arthurian legend, providing varying interest and ever changing panoramas from coastal to more distant mountains.
From Rhydyronen Station, there is a splendid walk up the steep-sided valley of Nant Braich-y-rhiw where, after crossing the stream, you turn sharp left to return to the station to start the second part of this route. If you have the stamina and help with transport, you could continue in a south-easterly direction to cross into Happy Valley. However, to continue this walk you then accompany the railway for an easy walk back to Pendre, passing an area of Open Access Land (Tir Cymen) at Hendy.
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A fascinating route which circumnavigates Foel Cae’rberllan and passes through the village of Abergynolwyn. You then walk along a valley with the Afon Dysynni hemmed in at its base before veering off above Coed Cae’r-berllan and approaching Castell y Bere, prominent on a rocky outcrop to your left. After visiting castles, you then make your return along the cwm of Nant-yr-eira, initially through woods and then along an open trackway.
Leave Abergynolwyn Station and, after a short stretch of road, you are soon walking along a steep gorge defined by the Afon Dysynni, which squeezes through this narrow gap before reaching Dyffryn Dysynni, where it turns south-west and heads for the sea. A very quiet lane is then joined at Pont Ystumanner and this is followed for a short way to Llan llwyda, with the craggy hulk of Bird Rock directly ahead.
This Gwynedd walk is full of interest with a section across the hills, an historic chapel and a ruined castle. The final section is through a gorge. This is a surprisingly beautiful part of Snowdonia.
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The GPS track and description are the property of the author.