About

This walk starts in the village of Pennal close to the Dyfi estuary.  The village is best known for its historical association with Owain Glyndwˆ r, the last native Welshman to hold the title Prince of Wales. He instigated a fierce and long-running but ultimately unsuccessful revolt against English rule in Wales. In 1406, Owain Glyndwˆ r wrote from Pennal to Charles VI of France, pledging that Welsh bishops would pay allegiance to the French Pope, Benedict XIII, if only France would come to his aid by organising a crusade against Henry IV of England. Charles VI replied with encouragement but little else.

St Peter’s Church in Pennal was originally founded in the 6th century by Celtic missionaries, St Tanwg and St Eithrias. In the church is a facsimile of Owain Glyndwˆ r’s letter to Charles VI, and a painting of the great assembly he called. Llywelyn Goch, a famed 14th Century Welsh poet, wrote one of the finest and most poignant lovepoems in Welsh.

The story goes that Lleucu had fallen in love with Llywelyn Goch ap Meurig Hen (son of Old Meurig), but her father didn't like him. Llywelyn had to travel down to South Wales but promised Lleucu that he'd come back and marry her.  However, in his absence, Lleucu's father told her that Llywelyn had married someone else, and poor Lleucu died of a broken heart. Llewelyn soon returned to marry her, but instead buried his bride-to-be under the altar in St Peter’s church.

Discovery Walk starts in Pennal village
Grid Reference: SH 699 004 | Distance: 13.2km – 8.3 miles | Maps: OS Explorer – OL 23
Grade: Strenuous – A mountain walk, not to be undertaken in poor visibility
Terrain: Tarmac road, firm tracks, woodland, open moorland with boggy, tussocky ground, fields. Route sometimes undefined
Refreshments: Riverside Hotel, Plas Talgarth restaurant and village shop

1. Start from bridge in the village A and walk away from the main road to follow Wales Coast Path signs up a side road past two large chapels to go out of the village.

2. At a fork turn R and then further on turn R up a forestry track, past a parking area on the L, and keep L at the next 2 forks to cross a bridge. Walk L around the hairpin bend to follow the track uphill, until it bears sharp L in front of a twin telegraph pole.

3. Here turn R down the bank and then L and on across the hillside, going L at the fork, and on up through a woodland, ignoring any turnings on the L before swinging L and down B to reach a forestry track, then turn L to the end of the track. Just inside the trees turn R over a FB, and follow the path uphill and through woods and garden to Maesywerngoch. Go through a gateway into the courtyard and exit through a G on the opposite side, and take the descending access track. Where it swings R continue ahead along signposted path, cross a S and FB, and then follow the path up the hill and on as it veers L at the base of a slope. At a junction next to a wall fragment turn L to reach another forestry track, turning L again to walk downhill to a G and S.

4. Over this and immediately R uphill before bearing L to follow a faint boggy track with clearfell to the R. This gradually closes with the stream on the L to cross over a small FB. Turn L to walk up the bank, then R and on up to cross a forestry track to a steeply ascending path up a firebreak C in the trees.

5. Emerging at the top, go R through a G, and continue along a moorland path D with a fence on your L, around the head of Cwm Breichiau heading for the gap between the 2 hills ahead. Climb a S and walk to the end of the fence. Bear L and contour the side of the hill, before veering L down a faint path which eventually joins a track below and turn L.

6 Where track bends L, turn R to walk down the bank, through a G, and across the field on a faint path to the R of the ridge crest. Go through a gate opening and then bear L uphill towards a waymarker post. Continue in the same direction, to a second and third post E. Drop down half R to find a G and track which descends the LH side of the ridge. Continue down the track until it peters out and then downhill veering slightly to the L to reach another track and follow it down beside the valley, through a G and on with the steam on the L.

7. Where it bends L go up the bank, keeping the fence on your R and continue down through a G, with fence on R to turn R at a track. Go through G, then walk downhill to cross a CG and road bridge and on along lane to join your outward route at 2 and retrace your steps back to the village.