Plan your trip

WALK HERE

Find out more about the route, including gpx files, at the official website: www.cambrianway.org.uk. It’s also the best place to order the guidebook, although you may want to supplement its sketch maps with OS maps on your device or with the 11 Explorer sheets (one of which is needed for only two miles of route).

WHERE TO STAY & EAT

You’ll pass through very few towns, but most of the villages have a pub or a B&B. The Cambrian Way website has a fantastic accommodation section, with grid refs, and in a couple of places you will need to detour off route to reach a bed for the night. The last section through Snowdonia is well served by youth hostels and makes a fabulous four-day taster of the Cambrian Way. From YHA Snowdon Bryn Gwynant, you can go over Snowdon to YHA Pen-yPass, then across the Glyders to YHA Idwal Cottage, and over the Carneddau to gorgeous little YHA Rowen, and out to trail end at Conwy. Dorm beds from £14, private rooms available too, seasonal opening only at some locations – see www.yha.org.uk. For food, most of the village pubs and some hostels serve dinner and often make packed lunches too. Do check ahead though, as it can be a long way between shops – the Cambrian Way website has a list.

PACKAGE OPTIONS

Lesser known trails like this don’t have the same baggage transfer and package options as England’s Coast to Coast, but HF Holidays ( www.hfholidays.co.uk) offer an eight-day Cambrian Way North trip. Fully guided, it runs from Barmouth to Rowen and costs from £875 with seven nights full board accommodation.