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WalesOffasDykeCoastCambrianWay
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WalesOffasDykeCoastCambrianWay

Walk around Wales on the Wales Coast path, Offa's Dyke Path, Wales Coast Path and Cambrian Way. Read more
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  • RickSailsWalesOffasDykeCoastCambrianWayTraveler
    Delightful grass pathway in Coed Cornwall-fach
    Delightful grass pathway in Coed Cornwall-fachAmazing fungus that looks lmost like a frog

    Day 57d Coed Cornwall-fach

    July 29 in Wales ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    Wednesday

    At the bottom of Nant Egnant valley the Cambrian Way joins a minor road. A mile and a half along here it reaches Strata Florida Abbey. An ancient Cistercian Abbey that once controlled large sways of land in the area. It is being looked after by CADW and is having a number of more recent buildings around it restored to enhance the visitor experience. https://cadw.gov.wales/visit/places-to-visit/st… They do not have a café but they were able to do me a breakfast of tea, crisps & cake and allowed me to recharge my device.

    From here a route makes its way first through pleasant woodland, then forest, then hillside moorland. I made a navigational error staying on a forest track too long. I had to back track a few hundred yards to find a turning I had missed to that got me on the correct route.    Read more

  • RickSailsWalesOffasDykeCoastCambrianWayTraveler
    Gran Gron trig point and the shelter where I cooked lunch
    Gran Gron trig point and the shelter where I cooked lunch

    Day 57e Garn Gron

    July 29 in Wales ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    Wednesday

    Garn Gron had initially been my objective for the day where I was planning to wild camp. However, I arrived here early at 3pm and thought, I may as well stop here for lunch and a rest then push on. It was a further 7 miles to Ty'n Cornell hostel that I had already booked for 2 nights, not being sure when I would arrive. Additionally, rain was forecast overnight and early Thursday. In which case I would rather be camped next to a hostel than wild camped in the middle of nowhere.Read more

  • RickSailsWalesOffasDykeCoastCambrianWayTraveler
    Ty'n Cornell hostel
    Ty'n Cornell hostelDormitory that I had to myself

    Day 57 Claerddu bothy to Ty'n Cornell hostel

    July 30 in Wales ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    Wednesday: Up 08:00 away 09:05

    From Garn Gron the route was over moorland initially along a delightful level route that wound around four buttresses down from Esgair Ambor then into their intermediate valleys. This eventually gave way to farmland a short distance around Nantymaen farm, then 600 yards on its farm track before joining a minor road.

    A short distance up the road the route turned off left onto moorland. When I walked this south to north in 2018 I had got into a pickle here, being too close to a forest to the west. This time, with careful navigation, I was able to cross the high points of the Esgair Cerrig moorland and make good progress. Latterly, over Esgair Wynt, the route was covered with high grass which slowed me considerably. The absence of a stile or gate over boundary fence at SN 74688 55808 did not help and had me rotate and fall onto my back with some amusement. My fall was fortunately cushioned by my rucksack.

    After 2.3 miles the route became a forest track which soon joined the track to Ty'n Cornell hostel.

    Once in the hostel I discovered there were only three guests, two ladies, friends Katie and Claire, and warden Malcolm. Because I had paid for 2 nights camping (2 x £10), Malcolm kindly upgraded me to the 8 bed male dorm which I had to myself (normally £18). This proved to be fortunate as it was raining next morning.

    Arrival and departure times from features visited today.
    08:00 Up
    09:05 Began walking
    0:53 Cambrian Way half way point at SN 77321 65790 / 52.27654, -3.79956
    11:05 Reached road at bottom of Nant Egnant valley at Coed Tried y rhiw
    11:44 Arrived Strata Florida abbey. Stopped for tea and cake.
    12:33 Restarted walking
    15:12 Top of Garn Gron
    16:15 Left Gron Gron having had late lunch of pasta n' sauce
    18:00 Nant Y Maen telephone box reached
    19:42 Reached Forestry track / Road junction west of hostel
    20:02 Arrived Ty'n Cornell hostel

    15 miles with 2095' of ascent from Claerddu bothy to Ty'n Cornell hostel completed at end of 57th day of walking.
    Total miles so far : 542
    Miles in 2026 : 132
    Weather : Dull start, sunny mid morning continued for the remainder of the day
    Number of people passed : 0
    Objective tomorrow : Rhandirmwyn Camping and Caravanning Club Site    Read more

  • RickSailsWalesOffasDykeCoastCambrianWayTraveler
    A long way down to afon Doethie fawr from the footpath
    A long way down to afon Doethie fawr from the footpath

    Day 58c Nant Iwrch

    July 30 in Wales ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    Thursday

    500 yards east of Ty'n Cornell hostel, where the Cambrian Way crosses the afon Doethie fach (a tributary to the afon Doethie Fawr), I was passed by a group of 6-8 motorcyclists on off road machines. These ended up being the only people who would pass me all day.Read more

  • RickSailsWalesOffasDykeCoastCambrianWayTraveler
    High above the Afon Doethie fawr river
    High above the Afon Doethie fawr riverGreat looking bush. Heather I think?Another view down to the afon Doethie fawr river. In the foreground you can see the high ferns

    Day 58d Below Foel Fraith

    July 30 in Wales ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    Thursday

    A short distance after passing the motorcyclists the track veered left through a gate. Here I turned right up a steep path cut deep through shale. 50 yards further on, the Cambrian Way turned right off this path onto a narrow path. It followed high above the afon Doethie fawr river for 5 miles. Speed should have been quick as this was almost all downhill and, with no turnings, no navigation was required. However, speed was slowed by shoulder high Ferns for a great deal of the route.Read more

  • RickSailsWalesOffasDykeCoastCambrianWayTraveler
    Rhandirmwyn Camping and Caravanning Club Site reception
    Rhandirmwyn Camping and Caravanning Club Site reception

    Day 58 Ty'n Cornell hostel to Rhandirmwyn Camping

    July 30 in Wales ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    Thursday: Up 07:30 away 12:00

    It rained all night and was still running in the morning so I was glad I had upgraded from camping to a dormitory. Warden Malcolm was quite happy for me and the other 2 guests, Claire and Katie, to stay until the rain stopped. This it did just before noon. Then I finally got underway.

    After the high ferns and Towy Bridge Inn I have mentioned in the other footprints there was a little more road. Then a stile on the left, that I initially walked passed, which took me down a steep path to the river. The riverside path took me all the way to the Rhandirmwyn Camping and Caravanning Club Site. Friendy Hannah took my camping fee (£9.62 - my cheapest this year) and sold me a washing machine token (£4.50) & a tumble dryer token (£2.50). After setting laundry going, pitching and furnishing tent I then made pasta. Then I collected my laundry from the tumble dryer before making my way up the hill to get to the local pub (The Royal Oak Inn) for ciders.

    Arrival and departure times from features visited today.
    07:30 Up
    12:00 Began walking (after rain had stopped)
    12:28 right turn at maes y betws
    14:50 Rest stop
    15:48 Restarted walking
    16:10 joined farm track at SN 76871 47991 / 52.11649, -3.79968
    16:35 bridge over afon Doethie at Craig Clungwyn
    17:00 Bridge to B4344
    17:28 joined white tarmac road
    17:35 joined yellow rosd at Maes-llwyn-y-fydau
    17:42 Towy bridge Inn
    18:05 Riverside path
    18:19 Arrived campsite
    21:00 Laundry completed, tent pitched, supper cooked, on my way to the pub

    9.7 miles with 1776' of ascent from Ty'n Cornell hostel to Rhandirmwyn Camping and Caravanning Club Site completed at end of 58th day of walking.
    Total miles so far : 551.7
    Miles in 2026 : 141.7
    Weather : rain until noon, then sunnny all day
    Number of people passed : 0
    Objective tomorrow : Llandovery    Read more

  • RickSailsWalesOffasDykeCoastCambrianWayTraveler
    First view of Llandovery
    Llywelyn ap Gruffydd Fychan monument in LlandoveryLlywelyn ap Gruffydd Fychan information boardFirst view of LlandoveryLlandovery castle ruin

    Day 59 Rhandirmwyn to Llandovery

    July 31 in Wales ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    Friday: Up 09:30 away 13:00

    Only 7 miles to walk today so no rush. Unusually I decided to cook porridge for breakfast to get me started for the day. My pitch was shaded from the morning sun so tent took a while to dry. A number of people stopped to talk. All events that delayed my departure.

    The Cambrian Way goes through Rhandirmwyn Camping and Caravanning Club Site. As far as I can remember it is the only site that is actually on the Cambrian Way. Upon exiting the south of the site I immediately encountered 'Route closed' signs and pallets positioned across the route as barriers. I knew about this closure from other campers which is due to the riverside path collapsing into the river.

    The alternative route was an obvious left turn through a gate. But from here it was less obvious. Navigation required frequent references to the map and required me to back track a few times.

    Eventually the tracks became roads and the route more obvious. I arrived in Llandovery quite early so diverted to the Coop for provisions. I had considered the Erwlon campsite on this east side of town. But decided to go to Llandovery Caravan and camping park on the south west side of town where I had camped previously. It is owned by the Llandovery Rugby club which has its grounds, changing rooms and clubhouse next door. It is closer to the town centre which is accessed via industrial and residential estates. By contrast the Erwlon campsite requires a half mile walk along the main road into town.

    After pitching I was going to walk into town to one of the many pubs but learned that the Rugby club would welcome visitors so I went there instead. It was only a 2 minute walk and they allowed me to charge my device while I wrote a few blog 'footprints'.

    Arrival and departure times from features visited today.
    09:30 Up
    13:00 Started walking
    15:40 Stopped to rest and blog
    16:25 Restarted walking
    17:55 Arrived campsite

    7.8 miles with 857' of ascent from Rhandirmwyn to Llandovery completed at end of 59th day of walking.
    Total miles so far : 559.5
    Miles in 2026 : 149.5
    Weather : warm and sunny all day with breeze particularly higher up
    Number of people passed : 3
    Objective tomorrow : Dan yr Ogof caves and campsite    Read more

  • RickSailsWalesOffasDykeCoastCambrianWayTraveler
    Chapel on the edge of Myddfai

    Day 60a Myddfai

    August 1 in Wales ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    Saturday

    Route out from Llandovery was up a gentle hillside then through lanes and fields. Had a chat with a farmer on a quad bike in one field about limping sheep and he set me in the correct direction after a map reading error. I made another map reading error a mile further on.

    Myddfai was 4.6 miles into my journey, which was almost halfway. I was looking forward to a late breakfast in its café. When I arrived I was somewhat dismayed to find it was closed for the day for a wedding.

    Instead I sat in the café courtyard in the shade to rest, eat what I had bought in the Coop and recharge my device before carrying on.    Read more

  • RickSailsWalesOffasDykeCoastCambrianWayTraveler
    My pitch at The Wildman Woods campsite beside their lake
    My pitch at The Wildman Woods campsite beside their lake

    Day 60 Llandovery to Llanddeusant

    August 1 in Wales ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    Saturday: Up 07:45 away 11:11

    After Myddfai route was a slog on a minor road uphill for mile. Then through fields even further uphill for another mile to the top of a hill. From the top the route was a pleasant walk over grassy moorland for 2 miles before crossing a road. Then another 2 miles of moorland in a semi circle around Bryn Cedni hill. I then desended the hill for ½ a mile through fields, before a mile on a minor road out of Llanddeusant village. Final section was a concealed right turn that I almost missed, through undergrowth, through a difficult to open farm gate, down a steep bank passed a house ruin, across a field, over a footbridge then up the other side to The Wildman woods campsite. Proprietor Gwilliam was very welcoming, pointed out the many locations where I could camp, the facilities and where I could charge my device, then left me to it. As can be seen for the photographs, I picked an idyllic spot by the site's small lake. Lots of people stopped to chat including nearby neighbour Marie from Djoin in France who visits Cardiff regularly where her boyfriend lives. It is a small world.

    Arrival and departure times from features visited today.
    07:45 Up
    09:30 Ready to start walking
    10:20 began walking after waiting for wardens to check if they had found mislaid walking stick.
    11:11 Left Coop Llandovery after a fruitless search for my mislaid walking stick
    11:25 Met Oliver Wicks, one of the Cambrian Way trustees. Stopped for a chat
    11:38 restarted walking
    13:25 Stopped in grounds of Myddfai cafe for a rest on a chair in the shade. Café was closed for a wedding.
    13:40 Restarted walking
    15:40 Stopped for a rest.
    16:20 Restarted walking
    18:15 Arrived The Wildman Woods campsite

    11.7 miles with 2299' of ascent from Llandovery to The Wildman Woods campsite completed at end of 60th day of walking.
    Total miles so far : 571.2
    Miles in 2026 : 161.2
    Weather : Sunny with fluffy clouds and warm all day
    Number of people passed : 0
    Objective tomorrow : Over Carmarthen Fans to Dan-Yr-Ogof caves' 'Brecon Beacons Camping and Caravan Park'    Read more