Cambrian Way

The Cambrian Way is not for beginners. Devised by Tony Drake in the 1960s and finally gaining access agreement after decades of negotiation, it runs from the centre of Cardiff north along the spine of Wales to Conwy on the north coast — crossing the Brecon Beacons, the Elan Valley, the Cambrian Mountains, Cadair Idris and the full Snowdonia range along the way.

With 479 km and around 22,000 m of ascent, it has more climbing than any other long-distance trail in Britain and crosses genuinely serious mountain terrain for much of its length. Waymarking is partial — the route is only partly waymarked and navigation skills are essential for large sections, particularly in mid-Wales where the Cambrian Mountains offer trackless, boggy, remote terrain that sees very few walkers.

For trail runners the Cambrian Way is an extreme multi-day challenge — typically ten to eighteen days. Route-finding is the main difficulty; the terrain is harder and the weather exposure greater than the distance alone suggests. The route is not widely supported by a trail infrastructure in the way the National Trails are.

The Cambrian Way Association maintains the route and publishes the only reliable guidebook.

Cardiff to Abergavenny (~80 km): Through the Valleys and into the Brecon Beacons. The Beacons ridge (Pen y Fan, Corn Du, Cribyn, Fan y Big) is the first serious mountain section.

Abergavenny to Rhayader (~120 km): Into the Black Mountains via the Hatterrall Ridge, then north through the remote Elan Valley — one of the loneliest sections in Wales. The Elan reservoirs are a landmark.

Rhayader to Dolgellau (~130 km): The Cambrian Mountains — trackless moorland, high plateaux, the sources of the Severn and Wye. Then Plynlimon (752 m) and south into the Dovey valley before Cadair Idris (893 m).

Dolgellau to Conwy (~150 km): The full Rhinogydd — rough, bouldery, ancient. Then north through the Snowdonia range — Aran Fawddwy, the Moelwynion, Snowdon massif, Glyderau, Carneddau — to the coast at Conwy.

Start: Cardiff city centre. Cardiff Central station has connections to all of Wales and England.

Finish: Conwy Castle, north Wales. Conwy has a station on the North Wales Coast Line with connections to Chester and Holyhead.

The Cambrian Way has minimal infrastructure. There are no dedicated hostels or B&Bs specifically set up for the route — accommodation must be researched and booked town by town. The mid-Wales sections have very limited facilities; plan overnight stops in Rhayader, Llanidloes and Machynlleth.

The Cambrian Way Association website is the best planning resource. Their guidebook is essential.