Local Walks
WALKERS ARE WELCOME / CROESO I GERDDWYR
Llandrindod Wells Mid-Week Ramblers Programme - March - May 2013
ALPINE BRIDGE WALK (Explorer Map 200, OS Reference SO 087 643) Back to top
This is a 10 kilometre (6 mile) circular walk. It is graded as EASY. There is little climbing except for one quite sharp climb in the middle. It starts and finishes at Llanbadarn Fawr which is about 5km. Immediately after the bridge at Llanbadarn Fawr turn right on the minor road where there is parking in a lay-by. It is possible to get to and from Llanbadarn Fawr by public transport, but he service is infrequent. As with all the walks around Llandrindod, the paths can be muddy and slippery in wet weather when stout shoes or boots are advisable. As the area is very much sheep country, dogs should only be taken if they are on leads and under close control.
This is a fairly low level country walk taking in woods, fields, riverside and the Nature Reserve, with the option of visiting a 14th century church.
1. With the church at your back go down the minor road on the left of the River Irfon, keeping the river with on the right. After about 1km where the road swings to the left at Trelowgoed Mill, enter a field on the right, at a finger post. With the hedge to the right, cross two fields and after the second stile, bear slightly to the right to ford a stream. Go through the gate. Go up the bank towards the pylon ahead and turn right on the track to soon cross Alpine Bridge.
2. Go up a short rocky path and through a gate. Almost at once turn left through a field gate. Go downhill with the river now on your left. Follow the track, which can sometimes be wet and soon after a gate turn right by a waymark post. Go up the field slightly to the right on a faint track. Go through the right hand gate at the top and continue on a grassy track. At the first fork, keep left and soon re-join the track from the right. Keep on this path to marker post at next junction and then turn left down hill on track with hedge to right to gate at the bottom.
3. Enter Dol-barcut Wood and bear right to follow the path downhill to the stile into the field. Bear right to skirt the wet ground to soon cross a farm track and then keep to the left hand side of an old drainage ditch to the next stile. Maintain direction to cross a small stream and enter next field through a gateway with a redundant stile to the left. Continue ahead to cross a stile into a grassy lane. Go over to the stile opposite and aim for the first power line pole. At the hedge corner ahead, bear half right to cross a stile into a rough field.
4. Continue with hedge to left and after the next stile, follow the grassy path which before long goes down to the Radnorshire Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve. The first part of the path through the Reserve is steep and stony and can be slippery. The latter part is mainly boardwalk and where it forks either route can be taken. Just before the exit gate, cross the stile on the right into the field. (However, one can make a detour here over Shaky Bridge and up the path to visit the 14th century St Michael’s Church and Cefnllys Castle (earthworks).
5. Go up the field, skirting the depression to the right and head for the stile soon visible in the top fence. Have a breather and enjoy the view! Turn right up the road and, where it turns left back to Llandrindod Wells, continue downhill to the bungalow. Turn right on the track and shortly before some sheds, turn left through a small metal gate. Keep the hedge to the right and head up to the corner to enter the next field with the hedge now on left. Continue to a field gate, which you ignore, bear right still keeping hedge to left go through a small metal gate in the corner.
6. Turn right on the road and follow this past a new house. Soon bear right through gates on a green lane – if wet take to the field in places. Ignore the track to the left and continue along the lane through another gate, with the field still as an alternative. Go through the next gate and swing right down hill, then turn left on a well-marked track. Follow this track through the second gate to Upper Trelowgoed Farm.
7. When the lane turns left at the farm buildings go through the field gate (in front of farm house) and go half left down the field to the lowest point, where there is a free-standing oak tree. Behind the tree is a stile with steps leading down to the stream. Cross the stream. Continue on the track to a second stile visible on the left. Go up the field, bearing right to the tree line, and then through the gate in the top right hand corner. Continue ahead to a stile leading to a farm track. Cross the track and go ahead to the next stile. Go down the slope and cross the field to the far corner (the river Ithon is on your right) to take a stile and steps up to the road. From the bridge on the right, make your way back to the start.
NEW WOODLAND WALK (OS Explorer 200 Map) Back to top
This is a 6km (4.5 mile) circular walk. It is graded as EASY. The total climb is minimal. It starts and finishes at the Llandrindod Lake where the facilities include parking, a restaurant and public toilets. As with all the walks around Llandrindod, the paths can be muddy and slippery in wet weather when stout shoes or boots are advisable. As the area is very much sheep country, dogs should only be taken if they are on leads and under close control.
This is mainly a low level country walk taking in woods and fields and giving splendid views over Castle Bank Hill.
1. Leaving the Lake turn towards town, cross the road (with island in the middle) immediately in front of you and continue in the same direction for approximately 100 metres. When you reach the Cenotaph on the right turn into the Memorial Gardens and walk straight through (with the Museum on your left) and over the wooden bridge to the road (Beaufort Road) and turn left. Go straight ahead at the crossroads and when the road forks, keep to the right. Cross over the children’s play area and turn left in front of Wylesfield House, up a slight bank through the trees to a metal kissing gate.
>>Turn right on the track and at the next waymark post; turn left across a rough field with high ground to your right. You are now on land that was a quarry.
2. At the next waymark post, bear right and then continue straight ahead to cross the stile in the right hand corner next to the fence.
>>This is the former route of a track that carried the quarried stone down to the railway via a wooden bridge over the main road. It was so organised that trucks going down pulled the empty ones back up. The quarry workings eventually broke through into an underground stream which flooded the quarry hollow. There is now a deep, dangerous pool, which is why the quarry is fenced off.
>>Maintain your direction with the tree line on your right and before reaching a tall tree straight ahead, bear right up a steep bank and cross the stile at the top of the slope. Continue to follow the tree line on your right as it curves to the right and the field narrows. Look out for and cross a stile in the left hand hedge into a lane. Cross over the lane and go straight ahead with higher ground on your right.
3. Ignore both a waymarked track on the left and a turning to your right and go straight ahead into a shady lane. When the lane turns sharp right to Dan-y-Graig, go ahead through a gate onto a track, and continue uphill. After approx. 100 metres, fork right and continue uphill through another gate. Immediately fork left and continue downhill on a lesser track to a bridle gate.
4. Ahead is an area of new woodland that has been planted for your enjoyment and that of future generations courtesy of the landowner and the Forestry Commission.
Continue ahead on this waymarked grassy track through the woodland site, ignoring all paths to the left. Eventually fork right under the trees to a further bridle gate. Follow the sunken bridleway and pass through a 5-bar gate. Maintain direction along the bridleway, eventually emerging into a field. Proceed ahead through another 5-bar gate into a second field and continue with the hedge on your left.
5. Follow the hedge line on your left through another 5-bar gate onto a crosstrack with Cefn-Coed farm to your left. Maintain direction, again following the sunken bridleway, and pass through two more gates. Continue downhill walking just to the left of the sunken bridleway where necessary, eventually reaching the road through yet another gate. Bear right uphill and follow the road which bends sharp right.
>>Continue on this twisty road until, opposite a bungalow on your left, turn right over a stile. Walk diagonally across the field to cross another stile into a copse. Follow the path through the copse to leave by a small gate back onto the road and turn right.
6. Ignore the next waymarked path on your left opposite Bailey Einon Farm, but opposite the second house (Llwyn Bongam) cross a stile to your left. Go up the field, taking care to follow the direction of the finger post and waymark, pass under some large sycamore trees and cross a stile at the top. Turn right and follow the bends in the track for some distance as it winds around the hillside.
>>Take time to enjoy the lovely views to the right across the valley looking towards Llanyre village and television mast and eventually, Castle Bank hill to your left which was once the site of Cefnllys Castle.
>>At a waymark post, leave the track going half right up the slope to a stile leading into a small copse of fir trees. Follow the track through the copse which bears right to another stile at the end of the copse. Bear slightly left down the field to a waymark post near the left hand edge of gorse bushes and follow a short path down to a gate. Go down this pleasant dingle, with a steep gully on your left, and over a stile to reach the road. Cross over the road and follow the enclosed path opposite along the back of houses. At the road, turn right and after 50 metres turn left just after number 22, into another enclosed path. Soon reach a metal kissing gate on your left into a field. Go up the field bearing half left to cross a stile near the top corner. Follow the fence line to the right.
7. Follow the wide grassy track down to the Lakeside where there are picnic tables, public toilets, a gift shop and restaurant.
>>The lake was originally an area where peat was cut for winter fuel before the railway became a through route in 1868 and brought coal from the English Midlands. The peat cutting was deepened and a dam put across the stream which fed the area. There is a plaque in the entrance to the Lakeside Restaurant recording the gift of the lake to the Urban District Council.
SHAKY BRIDGE (OS Map Explorer 200) Back to top
This is a 6km (4.5 mile) walk, It is graded as EASY/MODERATE. There are two short sharp climbs and the one from the Lake to the Trig Point is quite strenuous. The walk starts and finishes at the Llandrindod Lake where the facilities include parking, a restaurant and public toilets. As with all the walks around Llandrindod, the paths can be muddy and slippery in wet weather when stout shoes or boots are advisable. As the area is very much sheep country, dogs should only be taken if they are on leads and under close control.
This is mainly a walk through fields and woods with a return through part of the town. From the Trig Point there are panoramic views over the town and the whole surrounding area. The length of the walk can be adjusted to suit individual requirements. In the middle of the walk there is a picnic site with parking for several cars.
At the picnic site there is an ancient right of way to the old church of St Michael across the river Ithon. At one time it was by way of a ford for carts and foot passengers. Then in Victorian times a bridge for pedestrians was constructed of wire spans joined by rough planking – this of course was very ‘shaky’. However the shaky bridge and the ford have now both been replaced by a solid bridge.
1. Leaving the Lakeside Restaurant area go clockwise around the Lake for about 300m. Turn left through a kissing gate onto a broad tarmac track. When the track bears left keep on through the trees on a narrow pathway to a grassy slope still going uphill. At the top pass the finger post and keep to the path with the hedge to your left. Just before the net finger post and before you cross the stile, turn right up the bracken slope. At the cross path turn left and shortly after turn right on the path leading uphill through the trees and out into the open. Cross the stile by the gorse bushes and then keeping straight ahead make for a stile to the right of a line of trees. From here you can see the next stile on the opposite fence.
2. There is a faint grassy track up hill to the Trig Point (marked by a white pillar about a metre tall) from which the Ordnance Survey mapped the surrounding country. This hill is called Beacon Hill and has been used for that purpose for centuries - the last beacon was to celebrate the start of the European Union. Follow the track down to the road making to the left of a stand of conifers you can see below and turn left.
>>(To shorten the walk by over half a mile you can keep on the road until you reach a gate to your left with Llanolau on the nameplate, and you will have rejoined the main route.)
>>To keep to the main route turn right after a few yds into a clear felled plantation. The plantation has been replanted with both conifers and broad leaf trees and the brush has been left as protection and fertiliser for the young trees.
3. When you reach the end of the track through the plantation turn right over a stile. You are going round the outside of a garden and after a short distance over another stile. Still keeping round the garden continue till you come to a stile to your left. This takes you onto a hillside. Dodging the gorse bushes and bracken try to keep close to the fence on your right as you go up hill until you reach a track. By kind permission of the landowner as it isn’t a public footpath turn left on the track and continue to the hawthorn tree. Then turn left downhill to reach a stile in the fence. This leads to a driveway which you cross and leave by another stile almost opposite. You have to turn right immediately and over another stile which is fitted with chicken wire to keep the goats out. After less than 20 yds turn left along a straight path which takes you over a small bridge made of railway sleepers and up to the road. Go left uphill and soon after the bungalow on your right turn right on a track which leads past the old farmhouse called Llanolau. (Llanolau means church settlement of lights or perhaps should be Llwynolau which means grove of lights.)
4. Continue on this track which starts to descend, ignore a path going off to the left – it only leads to a spring which was the water supply for the farm. You will reach a narrow country road. Beware the traffic!
>>(To shorten the walk by another half-mile you can turn left on this road and rejoin the others at a stile from the field to your right.)
>>If you turn right down the hill you will come to the Shaky Bridge picnic site near the river Ithon and you can visit the ancient church of St Michael by going across the bridge and over the common. To continue on the main route climb over a stile to the left of the Radnorshire Wildlife Trust’s Information Board into a field. Go up the field, keeping to the left of ground sloping down to the river and make for the stile to the road where your fiends are waiting.
5. Turn right still going uphill until the road bends sharply to your left. The road becomes wider and passes Bailey Einon Farm. Einon was one of the medieval Welsh rulers and this must have been the site of one of his fortified houses or baileys. His name occurs in several place names in Radnorshire.
6. You will be going down hill now for a while and just after the 30mph sign and by a huge glacial erratic boulder turn right on a tarmac lane. After 50m turn left and over a stile onto an enclosed path which leads to a bridge. Across the bridge you reach a field where you go up the slope with the hedge on your right to another lane leading to Llanfawr (the large church settlement or grove) Farm. Turn left here and pass bungalows on each side. Go down the slope and just past a corrugated iron barn which used to be a blacksmith’s, there is a kissing gate to your left. This leads to a play area.
7. Go round the play area in front of Wylesfield Old People’s Home until you reach a road. Turn right and follow the road which bears to the left, first through modern houses and then reaches the edge of the Victorian town with its red brick multi storey guesthouses. At the crossroads go straight over into Beaufort Road (Lord Beaufort was the owner of much of the land that Llandrindod was built on) and continue as far as the T-junction, turn right and immediately left into Princes Avenue which leads back to the Lake.
LLANDEGLEY TO LLANDRINDOD (Explorer 200) Back to top
This is an 11km (6.5 mile) linear walk. It is graded as MODERATE. There is a total climb of 250 metres (800 feet). The walk starts in the village of Llandegley which is 5km east of Crossgates on the A44 and can be reached by public transport from Llandrindod Railways Station. It finishes at the Llandrindod Lake where the facilities include parking, a restaurant and public toilets. As with all the walks around Llandrindod, the paths can be muddy and slippery in wet weather when stout shoes or boots are advisable. As the area is very much sheep country, dogs should only be taken if they are on leads and under close control.
This is a ridge and country walk which keeps mainly to the high ground giving excellent views on both sides for most of the way. The first 1.5km climbs 200m fairly steeply – although most of this climb can be avoided at the cost of missing some of the best views. Thereafter the walk is undulating but generally downhill until the final short climb to the Trig Point above Llandrindod.
The start of the walk at Llandegley can be reached by catching a bus from Llandrindod railway station) to Kington.
1. Go through the church yard out of the gate at the back into the field, where a winding path brings you to a gate and a bridge. Keep ahead to the next gate in the left corner, and then go up the slope to a track which you follow uphill to a gate by a farm house. Once past the farm house, the track becomes grassy.
2. Turn half right onto another grassy track and head for the skyline. On reaching the skyline, turn left and climb steadily upwards with a fence on your right. At the top turn right over the stile and go on to the Trig Point. Leaving the Trig Point, go half left down a small valley which you follow with high ground on your left. When this track swings left, carry straight on and then descend to cross another stile. Now with no significant loss of height, keep ahead to the grassy skyline between two tumps. From here, descend over rough ground, and by aiming for the bend in the distant farm track you will come to a gate.
3. Now go half left to the right of the nearest power line pole, over a culvert, and ahead to the farm track. Turn left on to the track and at the corner; go through a gate on the right. Bearing half left, cross the field to the field corner to rejoin the track as it swings round. Follow the track with a fence on the left until you go through a gate which leads on to open moorland. Follow the path swinging left to skirt a group of pine trees, and gently ascend before swinging right between two tumps. The track then bears left and there are splendid views over the valley on the right.
4. Carrying on to a gate by a small copse, turn left on to the road. Follow the road and at the sharp bend left, go right through a series of gates on to a track. Keep ahead with a fence on the left for a long gently ascending stretch. After the next gate, descend with the fence now to the right. At the bottom enter a sunken track which may be wet in places, and continue with the fence still on the right. After more gates, the track starts to descend gradually by a cottage on the right with the fence now to the left.
5. Where the track bends right, carry on ahead down a fairly steep footpath with a fence to the left. Cross a stile on the left just before a house, and keep turning right to go over two more stiles to get to the other side of the house. You can now either turn left and go steeply uphill on the shorter path to the road. Alternatively take the half left path towards a bungalow and then turn left up the road. Either way go up the road past the first stile and take the second one towards the Trig Point (355m) which gives panoramic views over Llandrindod Wells and the surrounding valleys.
6. Continue in the same direction along the obvious path descending gently over three stiles. After the third, go half right to find another stile behind some gorse bushes. Go over this stile and through some more gorse bushes into the open. Take the half left path and at the end bear right into the woods. From here, any path down hill will lead to Llandrindod Lake.
LLANDRINDOD WELLS SPA WALK Back to top
This is a 3km (2mile) circular walk. It is graded as EASY. There is virtually no climbing although there are some steps. It starts and finishes at the Llandrindod Lake, where the facilities include parking, a restaurant and public toilets. There is a short walk around this Victorian Spa town taking in all the various points of interest.
There are some uneven surfaces and steep slopes on the walk. You can join it at any point but at the Lake and Rock Park Spa there is parking; at the Lake is a restaurant. There are Public Toilets at the Lake and when the Bowling Club in Rock Park is open, toilets are available in the foyer.
This walk can be used in conjunction with the Llandrindod Wells Heritage Trail leaflet to provide a complete tour of the town.
Llandrindod was developed as a Spa town in the late 1800s when people came here to seek health through cleanliness. You will be walking on paths they often trod and perhaps taking the waters that they had come so far to taste.
1. From the Lake, begin at the gates to the lakeside restaurant. On the other side of the road is the Capel Maelog commemorative site and further down, a stand of English oak planted in honour of the WI. Walk approx. 100yds towards the town and take the second path on your left. In early photographs of the town, this area was still open common kept free of trees by grazing sheep eating the seedlings. The trees have grown up naturally since 1900. When you reach the road, turn right along the side of the grassland and at the Coach House, take the narrow road to the left down the hill to the main road, Temple Street.
>>Temple Street is so named because of the ‘temple’ or stone circle which is said to have been situated on Temple Gardens. The National Cycle Museum is 2 mins. walk to your right.
2. Cross carefully over this busy road and enter the path opposite called Wellfield Walk. The 2 large buildings you are passing between, were originally small hotels for the benefit of visitors to the Spa town. You are now entering Rock Park which was planted as an arboretum with many specimen trees as well as those that have grown naturally.
>>Cross a wooden bridge over the Arlais Brook and continue walking along its right hand bank and under the railway bridge – you can produce an echo if you are clever. Take the left fork and continue downhill still on the right bank of the rocky stream which flows down a narrow ravine.
>>There are said to be dippers nesting in the tunnel under the railway. The insects they live on need very pure water. Some experts think that the name Arlais comes from Purlais meaning “the pure stream”.
3. Continue to the bottom of the hill and the stone bridge. On your left is the Chalybeate Spring. The water from the spring was given to the public forever by the Lord of the Manor J W Gibson-Watt after one of his family had been cured by the waters. There was an iron cup attached by a chain, but that has been removed in the interests of health and safety.
4. Continue ahead to the Rock Park Spa Buildings. In Victorian times the Spa Buildings were the heart of the Spa. You could take the waters, bathe in the mud or saline water and have all sorts of health treatments. Additionally, entertainments were held on a stage under a canvas roof until the Grand Pavilion was built in another part of the Park in 1906. There is a restaurant in the Spa Buildings where you can have a meal and taste the waters. There is also a display of old black & white photographs showing some of the spa treatments in progress.
>>Take the tarmac path to the right of the building and at the back keep left of the waymark post to go uphill with the bowling green soon on the left. At the next path junction turn right with hedge to left and soon turn left downhill.
5. The river Ithon is to the right at least 150ft below at the bottom of the cliff.The name Ithon comes from the Welsh word ‘eithon’ which means talkative – you can often hear the river splashing over rocks and cataracts.
6. At the end of the path go up the steps. Lovers’ Leap is a few yards on but to visit it great care is needed to negotiate rocky ground and tree roots. In any case keep well away from the edge. The story behind this name is that a beautiful girl fell in love with a young man of whom her father did not approve. Her father beat her and locked her in her room but she escaped and running to the cliff where so often they had met secretly, she threw herself into the whirlpool below. When her lover heard what his sweetheart had done, he also flung himself from the cliff to be with his loved one.
7. You return by following the path that leads straight uphill passing to the right of the Bowls Club. Llandrindod outdoor bowling greens are of international standard. They have hosted many memorable competitions and still do. Go past the bungalows on your right and over the first ‘hump’ in the road. Almost immediately, you need to follow a path to the right leading up between the trees passing an old water reservoir that serviced the town before water was piped from the Elan Valley reservoirs.
8. By the lamp standard, take a path to the right that is fenced rather erratically on both sides. This runs alongside what were school playing fields and long before that the site of Roman Practice Works where Roman soldiers were taught to construct forts and camps. Up to the line of young trees it is now the Town Green but beyond that is private land. At the end of the path turn left under the railway bridge out to Temple Street again. There is a pedestrian crossing to your right.
9. Turn up Grosvenor Road, which was named after the man who built the first hotel in Llandrindod in the 18th century. At the bottom of the hill to the left of the road is a huge rock. Children love to hear the story that it was a piece of grit worrying the devil in his shoe as he flew over Llandrindod, so he shook it out and it landed there. It is really a glacial erratic from the Ice Age brought by a glacier which flowed from what is now the Elan Valley. When you reach the grassy common area further up the rise on your left, you will see a line of oak trees with a plaque, which tells you of their origin. Turn left and go diagonally across the grass aiming for the far right corner. This leads to the pathway around the lake.
10. Your walk can be extended by almost a mile by turning right to go around the lake. The lake was originally an area where peat was cut for winter fuel before the railway came in 1868 and brought coal from the English Midlands. The peat cuttings were deepened and a dam built across the stream which watered the area. There is a plaque in the entrance to the lakeside restaurant recording the gift of the lake and its surrounds to the Urban District Council. If you didn’t go around the lake, you can turn left across the front of the restaurant building to reach point 1 again.
RHAYADER TO LLANDRINDOD WELLS Back to top
This a 20km (12 mile) linear walk. It is graded as MODERATE. There are two stiff climbs but otherwise the walk is simply undulating. The walk starts from Rhayader (the Post Office) which is about 15km (10 miles) north west of Llandrindod Wells on the A470 and can be reached by public transport from Llandrindod Railway Station. It finishes at the Llandrindod Lake where the facilities include parking, a restaurant and public toilets.As with all the walks around Llandrindod, the paths can be muddy and slippery in wet weather when stout shoes or boots are advisable. As the area is very much sheep country, dogs should only be taken if they are on leads and under close control.
This walk includes riverside, woodland, forestry, high open ground and farm land. There are good views over Rhayader at the start and over Llandrindod at the end.
1. Start at Rhayader Leisure Centre cross the pedestrian crossing then you enter West Street opposite the old Police Station. Turn right and cross the road. Go down hill and turn left into Water Lane until you see the rugby playing fields in front of you. Turn right down to the banks of the rive Wye. Keeping an eye out for the creatures from above, continue until you cross a footbridge and come out onto the main A470 road. Turn right and within 20 yds turn right down the side of a bungalow and once more walk along the side of the river. Keeping to the river bank, continue until you reach the sewage works. At the end of the wire fence, turn left and continue with the fence on your left up to the main road.
2. Take care crossing the road. Turn right and in 20 m enter Dyffryn Woods on the left, which is an RSPB Nature Reserve. Follow the track uphill; keeping the small brook on your right and following the green topped marker posts will lead you to a metal bridle gate taking you out of the woods and onto the open hill. Keep to the well marked path going up hill close to the hedge line, until the path turns right. Keep to the path, until in a short distance it swings left, but a less defined path continues up and across the hill to a metal farm gate - a good point to take a breather and enjoy the views across Rhayader. Ignore the farm track immediately after passing through this gate and continue up hill slowly moving across the hill to the left. You will eventually reach an outcrop of rocks. The route to follow goes between the rocks to a farm gate with a three way finger post. From this point over to the right you can see the beacon and cairn, well worth a visit.
3. Do not pass through the gate, but turn left at the gate, cross the next stile and continue ahead on a farm track. When the track bends to the right go through the gate ahead and head for the finger post ahead. At the post turn half left and go down hill through bracken to a stile. Cross this stile and continue half right down hill to the next stile leading into an open wood. Pass through the wood, passing a small pond on your left. Go through the farm gate, keeping the hedge row on your left until you see two gates ahead. Turn sharp right, with the hedge still on your left until you come to a finger post. Follow the direction indicated down hill to the stile at the bottom leading onto a council road.
4. Turn right and keep on this lane passing the entrance to Upper Esgair-Rhiw until you reach a junction with a no through road sign to the right. Take this road and in about ¼ mile the road bears right, but you continue straight ahead, on a bridle path. Keep to this path, crossing the Nant Glas road and keeping the forestry to your left. After a while you cross over a small bridge and come to a footpath sign on the right. Ignore this path and continue for another 20m until you see on the right a 5-bar gate leading into the forestry. Pass through this gate and keep on the forest track. You will eventually come to a very sharp left hand bend and turning area with a water fall. Keep left at this point still on the forest track until you see a marker post on the right and the path going up hill. You have now left the forest which is on your right. Continue uphill with the TV mast on your right. At the top catch your breath and admire the views across Llandrindod.
5. It’s all down hill from here. Follow the fence line on your left downhill. Cross the stile. Continue down hill and cross a second stile and then head for the right hand corner of a thin belt of trees onto a farm track. Passing left through the farm gate head half right across the field to a stile with a four way finger post. Cross the stile and head for the bottom corner of the wood on your right, enter the wood by a broken down old gate, turn sharp left through the wood to a stile bringing you out onto a farm track. Go straight ahead on this track, which bends slowly to the left, until you pass over a second track going left to right. At this junction you will notice a stile in front of you and a little to the left. Cross the stile and go down a steep bank to a gate across the path/stream.
6. Follow the well used path through the wood keeping to the left of the stream, and across the fields to a stile. Cross the stile, and continue to another stile in the hedgerow ahead. Cross the stile and turn sharp left, keeping the hedge on your left and continue until you reach the council road. Turn right and follow the road until you reach a finger post on your right. Follow the way marked route, ignoring the footbridge on your right, continue into the woodland keeping the stream on your right. At the first convenient spot ford the stream. Continue, keeping the stream now on your left, to the stile onto the main A4081 road. Cross the road, turn left and go down to Cwm-Nant farm entrance. *If the stream level is high it is better to follow the road into Llanyre. At the junction turn right at the Bell Inn, turn right again cross the main A4081 road and go down hill to Cwm-Nant farm entrance.*
7. Go down the farm road to the farm house. Pass in front of the house into the farm yard. Turn immediately left through a gate and follow the path until you reach two gates. Take the left hand gate keeping the hedge to your right. Pass through a second gate and you will see a stile in the hedge in front of you. Cross this stile and head down the field to the farm gate close to the river and a council road.
8. Turn left and follow the road to another junction with the A4081. Cross the road and turn right down the cycle track. Follow this until you reach the bridge over the river Ithon, which you cross. On the opposite side of the road is a stile which you go over. Head diagonally across two fields back onto the A4081. Turn right and follow the pavement back into town along Ithon Road to the roundabout. You can now turn left into the High Street and head for the station, or turn right into Rock Park and follow the signs back to the Lake.
HOWEY WALK (Anti Clockwise) OS Map: 1:25000 Adventure 500 Back to top
This is a 7km (4.5 mile) circular walk. It is graded as EASY. There is minimal climbing. It starts and finishes at the Llandrindod Lake where the facilities include parking, a restaurant and public toilets.
As with all the walks around Llandrindod, the paths can be muddy and slippery in wet weather when stout shoes or boots are advisable. As the area is very much sheep country, dogs should only be taken if they are on leads and under close control.
This is a low level walk over farm and open land with an opportunity for a pub stop in Howey. It gives good views cross the Ithon Valley towards the Wye Valley. Before the railway came to Llandrindod, the address of dwellings in Llandrindod was ‘near Howey’ because Howey was the larger settlement. Before the railway came to Llandrindod, the address of dwellings in Llandrindod parish was ‘Near Howey’ because Howey was the larger settlement.
1. From the restaurant go clockwise round the Lake and after 300m turn left through a metal kissing gate on to a tarmac track. Where this swings left keep straight on through the trees. The path comes out on a grassy slope still going uphill. At the top just into a woodland turn sharp right, over a stile and still go uphill. Turn left at the crosstrack after you start to go down, and then go through a wooden gate. Turn right towards the church, which you can see on the hill, go to the left of the telegraph pole and through another gate onto the road.
>>The church was the original Church of the Trinity, this building erected in 1500s, but on an earlier holy site because a Celtic Sheela na Gig was found during renovations in Victorian times under the floor of the porch. The Sheela is now in the Radnorshire Museum in the town.
>>For a shorter walk go down the hill, with care because of traffic, to the Lake and continue clockwise round the Lake to the start.
2. For the longer walk go across the Church carpark, take the gate into the field and follow the wall of the churchyard round to a gate and steep steps down onto a track by a large hopper. Turn right on this track and after a few yards leave it to go up a slope next to the fence on your left. Cross the stile at the top and bear right to follow the edge of a lawn in front of the house on your right. You will come to a farm track, turn left and follow this until you go through a gate to an open field.
>>On your way you pass to your right the entrance to the Radnorshire Wildlife Trust Pentrosfa Mire Nature Reserve where you are welcome to pass half an hour or so. Leaflets are available from Llandrindod TIC and the information board on site. You might even see our rare crested loons!
3. Going on with the walk keep the hedge/fence to your left and go through two fields. There is a stile a little to your right into the next field. Go across the field to a small recess and cross the hidden stile. Now with the hedge on your right go over another stile and aim for some Scots Pine trees. There is a stile to their right and you go diagonally over the next field, aiming for a telegraph pole from where you can see the kissing gate that leads to a lane behind some cottages which takes you down into Howey. To get to Howey where there is a pub, PO and parking turn right at the road.
4. To continue the walk turn left and walk up the hill passing the Baptist Chapel on your left. The hill steepens and at the second sign for Brynhir farm, go left over a stile towards a disused quarry. There is a stile to your left leading to a rough track going uphill. At the corner of the hedge keep straight ahead towards a transformer pole and go through a gateway a few yards to the right. Follow a broad but not very distinct track uphill through the bracken. Continue through a gap in the remains of an old wall and then curve left uphill to cross a stile by the gate.
5. Keep straight on over the next field to cross the stile below the forestry plantation and drop down following a faint path. Turn right onto a grassy track which is still going downhill. There are remains of old lead mines on each side of the path. It is said that the Romans mined lead here but these mines were exhausted before the First World War. Your can see the Church from here, so follow the track through gates which you must leave as you find them until you have come full circle. Go up the steps and round the churchyard wall until you come to the Church car park. Turn left down the road to the Lake and finish the walk by going clockwise round the Lake to the carpark by the picnic site.
NEWBRIDGE-ON-WYE to LLANDRINDOD WELLS (Recommended OS Explorer 200 Map) Back to top
This is a 7km (4.5 mile) linear walk. It is graded as EASY. There is minimal climbing. The walk starts from the PO in the village of Newbridge on Wye, which is 5km to the south west of Llandrindod on the A470 and can be reached by public transport from Llandrindod Railway Station (journey times 10 mins.) The walk finishes at the Llandrindod Lake where the facilities include parking, a restaurant and public toilets.
As with all the walks around Llandrindod, the paths can be muddy and slippery in wet weather when stout shoes or boots are advisable. As the area is very much sheep country, dogs should only be taken if they are on leads and under close control.
This is a low level riverside and country walk which returns to Llandrindod through the Rock Park, having passed an interesting 13th century church at Disserth.
Boots or strong shoes are recommended, as some of the paths are steep and can be muddy in wet weather. Definitely not suitable for wheel chairs – there are a total of 28 stiles on this walk!
1. At the New Inn turn towards Llandrindod Wells turn onto B4358 Approx. 100 metres beyond garage, climb the stile in right hand hedge. Cross field to another stile in left hand corner by telegraph pole. Continue direction to scale another stile in top left hand corner of field. Continue down next field walking parallel to right hedge. Cross a stile in bottom right hand corner. Take note of direction indicated by waymark arrow and aim for a point just to the left of two large oak trees ahead. Cross stream on stepping stones and climb stile on bank ahead. Maintain direction across field and climb another stile at a junction of paths.
>>Turn left, negotiate another stile and continue with the fence line on you left. In bottom left hand field corner, walk to the left of a small copse of trees and with a farm track over fence on your left. Cross this track via two more stiles and walk uphill to enter a wood over yet another stile.
2. Continue ahead on the path with fence on your right and proceed carefully down steep slope using steps provided to the River Ithon. Follow path as it turns left alongside river. Turn right to cross a small footbridge, still walking alongside the river and cross field to reach the road over another stile. Turn right on road to cross bridge over the river where herons or kingfishers can sometimes be seen.
3. Turn right to visit Disserth Church, which still has its boxed pews and a three deck pulpit, or left over stile to continue walk.
>>Proceed uphill with hedge line on your left to pass through gate in top left hand corner of field. Again continue ahead alongside left hand hedge line and cross another stile in bottom left hand field corner. Walk a short distance across the corner of next field to climb a stile in left hand fence line. Walk diagonally, as indicated by waymark arrow, across next field, which can be very muddy in wet weather. Enter a small copse of trees via a metal footbridge over a stream. At the other side of the copse, cross another stile alongside a wooden gate. Skirt around the hedge line to another stile in the right hand fence line. Continue ahead with the fence line on your right, passing beneath overhead power cables. Climb stile in top right hand field corner and then maintain direction on farm track. When track veers left, clamber over stile in right hand fence and follow right hand hedge line.
>>Climb stile in left hand field corner next to metal gate. Cross diagonally right over farm track and take stile opposite. Follow left hand fence line and cross another stile alongside metal gate. Now follow right hand hedge line, pass through metal gate and continue ahead on grassy track. Climb the stile next to a metal gate and continue following the left hand hedge line. In the top left hand corner of this large field, cross over stile into a copse of mainly conifer trees. Follow path through copse and cross another stile into a second large field. Cross field, aiming for a metal gate ahead, and traverse the stile alongside the gate.
4. In this field you are crossing an ancient Roman Road which ran south from the Roman Camp of Castell Collen just to the north of Llandrindod Wells.
>>Follow the left hand fence line and cross a stile to the right of metal sheep pens.
5. The field immediately to your left, and several north of it, were the site of Roman Military Practice Works where Roman soldiers were taught to build forts and camps. This was the largest known site in the whole of the Roman Empire.
>>Follow the track, passing a corrugated iron shed on the right. Go through another metal gate onto farm track and turn right over railway bridge to the road. Turn left on A483 main road and continue north into Llandrindod Wells passing Ridgebourne Inn on left and a Texaco garage on right. Turn left down the side of Grosvenor Stores and pass under railway bridge. Take track to the right by ‘No Through Road’ sign.
6. Continue on track alongside wooden garden fencing, past playing fields on right, and into Rock Park. Cross over tarmac path by lamp post and follow sweeping path ahead which leads down to a substantial wooden bridge over the stream. Turn right and follow the stream to a set of steps leading up to the Montpellier Park road. Turn left and at the main road turn right. Cross over, take the next road left and then go straight ahead on a path which leads to the Lake Restaurant.
BUILTH WELLS TO LLANDRINDOD WELLS – Explorer 200 Back to top
This is an 18km (11 mile) linear walk. It is graded as MODERATE/HARD. There is quite a considerable amount of climbing. The walk starts at the Groe (by the statue of the bull) in Builth Wells, which is 12km 97 miles) south of Llandrindod on the A483, and which can be reached by public transport from Llandrindod railway station. It finishes at the Llandrindod Lake where the facilities include parking, a restaurant and public toilets.
This is a varied walk with quite a large section on open high ground, giving splendid views over the Wye and Ithon Valleys and the surrounding countryside. A map will be useful, if only to help identify the distant points of interest.
It is recommended that walkers should wear walking boots or stout shoes, take waterproofs, food and drink. If taking dogs they should be kept on leads and all gates should be left as they are found.
1. Start at the Groe by the Builth Wells Bull. Walk towards the Wyeside Theatre, turn left over the bridge and head for Jewson’s. Keeping Jewson’s on your left pass through a metal gate, which was once the old Railway Line and is now a cycle track. Keep on this track for about 1km when you will reach a small industrial estate. Follow the cycle track signs (route 8) up to the roundabout on the main road.
2. Go straight across the road as if entering the Quarry but turn immediately left to go up a wide track used by the Quarry vehicles. Follow this track until you see a bridle way coming from the left and exiting on the right. Turn right onto this path and follow it up hill until it meets the track to Maengowan Farm turn right onto this track and; continue to follow this track up hill. When you reach the top but before entering the farmyard the track bears left through a metal gate with a way mark sign on a fence post on your left. Continue and after 120m the track turns sharp right then left passing through a gate onto the open hillside which is now Open Access. Follow this grassy track around the side of the hill, with fine views to your right of the River Wye. Continue on this path for a short distance when you will notice on the right a fenced area of discoloured grass; this is due to Sulphur Springs and you may get a smell of bad eggs.
3. Continue along the grassy path until you come to a small valley. Looking across this valley you will see a Cairn on the hill in front. Choose the best path across the valley and up to the Cairn. Once at the top the views all round are spectacular, and there is even a small shelter from the winds, if necessary.
4. The next section is a little tricky. From the Cairn head due north until you reach a very steep ravine. Turn left and follow the path that slowly drops down into the ravine; once at the bottom turn right and follow the small stream. Cross this stream as you leave the ravine and follow the faint track towards the broad green path in the distance. This path leads towards a stone boundary wall on the left; keep this wall on your left, down hill, until you reach an old iron gate. Go through this gate into wood land and continue down hill until you reach Cwm-Berwyn farm, which is now holiday homes. Pass through the buildings onto the drive and out onto the council road.
5. Turn left at the road and continue to Cefnbychan. Right into the farm yard and out through the iron gate on the other side. Follow the farm fence on your left to a farm gate on the left. At this gate turn right and follow the track up hill to another gate. Do not go through this gate but turn 270 degrees left and continue to follow the track around the hillside; below you should see Garth farm. You are walking around Castle Bank with fine views to the West towards Rhayader. Cross the saddle and continue on a well defined path towards the road which can be seen in the distance. Keeping the field boundary on your left and the road on your right head up hill to meet the road at the old Quarry and the entrance of the track to Pant-y-Rhiw and Upper Gilwern.
6. Now continue on this track for about 2km when you will pass through a farm gate with a very small Quarry on the left. Continue up hill until you reach a farm gate on the right. At this gate turn sharp left onto a faint path leading down hill. This path soon becomes a well defined track. Continue down hill until you come to a farm track passing left to right, turn right and keep on this track passing in front of Carregwiber. Follow the drive to the council road and continue up hill to a road junction, turn left and in about 200m you will see a stile on the right. Cross this stile and go up hill to a second stile then on to the farm gate at the top left hand corner of the second field. Pass through the gate and follow the boundary wall on the left. This section of the path is very well sign posted as it skirts around the edge of the golf course. Follow the signs around the edge of the course and you will come to an iron bridle gate. Pass through this gate and continue down hill to the next stile. Cross this and keeping the hedge on your right, continue down hill to the next farm gate in this hedge with a stile to the left. Cross this stile and continue along the field to the next stile. Head half left to a finger post in line with the farm buildings. Bear right on a grassy track. Pass through gate and continue in a northerly direction towards the church.
7. As you approach the church you will be walking down a sunken lane which turns left towards the farm house. Where the lane turns left look for a small gate in the hedge on the right up a few steps. Pass through this gate and walk along with the church wall on your left to the next gate. You will now pass through the cemetery to the road. Cross the road and pass through the bridle gate ahead and follow the path downhill to a second gate leading into the woods. Follow the path down hill which will bring you out onto the road around the lake. Turn right and follow the road until you can see the fine water fountain of the dragon and escorting fish. Continue around the lake to the Lakeside Restaurant where a well deserved drink and cake may be obtained. (To return to the railway station, continue along this road until you reach the Automobile Palace on your left. Cross Spa Road directly in front of you to the former St John’s Church. Bear right along Temple Street for about 150mand cross at the pedestrian crossing. Turn right and in about 50m turn left into Station Crescent. Follow the road downhill to the railway station (about 200 – 250m).
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