The Cambrian Way : Classic Wales mountain trek - south to north from Cardiff to Conwy

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.

Tackle one of Wales’s great mountain challenges on the Cambrian Way, a demanding 479km (298 miles) long-distance walk from Cardiff to Conwy. Often following long, lofty ridgelines, this three-week trek crosses wild, rugged terrain and visits many of Wales’s highest mountains, offering experienced hillwalkers a continuous journey through the heart of the country’s most dramatic landscapes. Often called “the mountain connoisseurs’ walk”, this coast-to-coast route crosses the Brecon Beacons, Cambrian Mountains and Snowdonia, traversing two national parks and summiting some of the most iconic peaks in Wales — including Pen y Fan, Pumlumon, Cadair Idris and Snowdon. This comprehensive Cambrian Way guidebook is your essential companion for planning, navigating and completing this classic Welsh mountain route. Combining detailed route descriptions with practical navigational tools, it guides you step by step from south to north, helping you prepare for and enjoy one of Britain’s most challenging long-distance walks. The route is split into 21 clearly defined stages, breaking the trail into manageable sections that support flexible itinerary planning, whether you intend to walk the entire Cambrian Way or tackle it in shorter sectionsAccommodation information is provided throughout the guidebook, including hostels, B&Bs, campsites and other facilities in key centres such as Pontypool, Llandovery, and Pen-y-Pass, enabling you to choose between backpacking or carrying a lighter load Integrated elevation profiles and OS 1:50,000 mapping give a clear picture of the terrain ahead and support confident navigation across remote upland and mountainous landscapesDownloadable GPX files are available for your Welsh journey, providing a digital navigation option for use on smartphones and GPS devicesPractical advice on planning and preparation is included, covering essential considerations such as transport to and from the route, seasonal timing, equipment choices and navigation skills required for one of Wales’ most demanding long-distance walks Challenging and richly rewarding, the Cambrian Way is a celebration of Welsh mountain walking. With this Cicerone guidebook in hand, you can set out from Cardiff Castle and follow the spine of Wales all the way to Conwy’s medieval walls, confident you have the detailed information and planning support needed to successfully walk and enjoy this outstanding long-distance trail.