The Cambrian Way

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. From high moorland and remote lakes to rocky peaks and deep valleys, this long-distance trail showcases some of the very best mountain walking Wales has to offer.

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 sections
• Accommodation information is provided throughout the guidebook, including hostels, B&Bs, campsites and other facilities, 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 landscapes
• Downloadable GPX files are available, providing a digital navigation option for use on smartphones and GPS devices
• Practical 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.

The Cambrian Way Trust is responsible for publishing the guide to the Cambrian Way and maintaining the website (www.cambrianway.org.uk), as well as overseeing the condition and maintenance of the route and publicising it. The Trust is funded from the major legacy left by Tony Drake, who originally conceived the route, to the Ramblers, and its work is carried out with the assistance of Ramblers groups and members and Cambrian Way officers.

George Tod is a semi-retired IT support engineer and has long held a passion for long-distance mountain walking, starting with the Pennine Way in 1991. He has completed the Cambrian Way four times, the first in 2000. In 2005, at the request of Tony Drake who brought the Cambrian Way to fruition, he set up the Cambrian Way website and has continually updated and revised both this and Tony Drake's original guidebook.

Richard Tyler is a retired solicitor who has enjoyed a lifetime of walking in the Welsh mountains. He has considerable experience of long-distance hill and mountain walking in the UK, Alps and Himalaya. Richard carried out a full walk and survey of the Cambrian Way, finishing in 2016. He is chair of the Cambrian Way Trust, footpath secretary for Ramblers Powys Area and, at the time of publication, chair of Powys Local Access Forum.