A 3-day central route through the Pumlumon hills of mid Wales, traversing the mountain summits of Y Garn and Pumlumon, exploring Cwm Rheidol and the remote valley of Hyddgen and finally picking up Glyndwr's Way through the northern hills for a descent to Machynlleth. A large proportion of the route is on good paths and tracks with only a very brief amount of rough terrain.

The route starts close to the little visited Llywernog Pond, east of the Bwlch Nant Yr Arian orienteering facility, and quickly enters the deserted heartland. After the mountains of Y Garn and Pumlumon it crosses the Afon Hengwm and enters the Hyddgen valley with a splendid feeling of remoteness before ascending to the little known and tamer northern hills of the region.

The recent long spell of dry sunny weather was holding save for one very brief thundery evening and this was route an excellent choice, the modest ambitions and long daylight hours allowing plenty of time to walk slowly and relax in the heat of the afternoons to enjoy the area. We saw only one other person in the three days and that was from a distance very early in the morning, surprisingly descending from Pumlumon on the Eisteddfa Gurig path.

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A few photos from a single day walk of the Wetlands and Waterways Loop (WWL) route that, according to Visit Sefton, takes you around some of the flattest land in west Lancashire. Pretty cottages, nature reserves and quaint waterside pubs are just some of the things you can see along the way.

The route passes Martin Mere, a site of the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, where a visit makes a delightful addition to the route.

Report & Photos

A superb 3-day extended mountain traverse of the Nantlle ridge, including the outliers of Moel Tryfan and Mynydd Mawr to the north and Craig-y-garn to the south.

The deeply quarried Moel Tryfan is designated as a SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) for its geological importance and historical significance in the development of Glacial Theory. For walkers the slate quarrying operations have left a striking landscape of rocky cliffs and vividly coloured pools that briefly adds great scenic interest to the route.

The isolated rocky dome of Craig-y-garn has often caught my eye whilst perusing the map and is honoured with an OS 360° viewpoint icon, yet I’ve never seen it mentioned in any report or forum. Though modest in stature at 360m compared to the Nantlle mountains, there is more subtlety to a viewpoint than height as I discovered on this little known and great rocky gem.

The Nantlle ridge is of course famed as one of the grandest ridge walks in Wales, including the very engaging rocky clamber up Mynydd Drws-y-coed (I wouldn’t call it a scramble), yet on this clear sunny day I saw just a handful of walkers spread over the entire traverse. No doubt many day-walkers are discouraged by the logistics of returning to the start point for a circular route, but it’s no problem for backpackers.

My strategy for the last section to Porthmadog involved footpaths in totally unknown territory and, as has happened before, it turned into another Welsh footpath adventure that ended partially in retreat to reliable minor roads.

Full report & photos