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GLYNDWR’S WAY - SELF-GUIDED WALKING TOUR
Follow in the footsteps of Owain Glyndwr, the 15th century Welsh warrior prince who fought
against English domination, on this 133 mile National Trail through the heart of Wales. From the
English borders you walk into this historical region through a myriad of enchanting landscapes
from moorland to ancient forests.
The walk starts in the market town of Knighton heading north west to the ancient capital of Machynllerth
and then east to finish beside the Montgomery Canal in Welshpool. The route takes in the best of ancient
Wale, affording the chance to experience traditional villages and farmland that lies in the shadow of the
rolling hills. You will also walk amidst the wild landscapes of the surrounding mountains and woodlands.
Passing the ruins of skirmishes made by Glyndwr during his rebellion against English rule, you will also
experience the delights of the local flora and fauna.
Viewing the abundant wildlife including buzzards and red kites
Standing in awe of the magnificent Powis Castle
Taking in the panorama of the beautiful Dyfi Valley and spectacular Cader Idris
mountain.
Warmest and friendliest of welcomes from the locals
Walking along trails that wind through mining villages, forests and windswept moorland
WHY CHOOSE A SELF-GUIDED WALKING TOUR WITH US?
Macs Adventure are specialists in self guided walking tours. As passionate and regular walkers we
understand what makes for an unforgettable adventure and we deliver outstanding tours where every last
detail is taken care of. Great routes, breath-taking scenery and warm, welcoming accommodation can be
expected.
Each tour can be tailor made to meet your requirements. From your first contact with Macs Adventure you
will deal with a specialist who knows the region intimately. They will help you to make the most of your
time in Wales with their in-depth knowledge of the route, accommodation and must-see attractions on the
way.
We will supply you with a guidebook and map to help you every step of the way. The trail is extensively
way marked ensuring you don’t miss a turn. Your baggage will be collected and moved onto your next
accommodation, leaving you free to enjoy each days walking. In the unlikely event you should require
emergency support our office is always more than happy to help with your queries.
So, from the moment you decide to walk through this stunning countryside you can relax and look forward
to an unforgettable self-guided walking tour.
SUMMARY
What’s Included?
Accommodation: Hand-picked B&B’s, Country Inns and Guesthouses.
Meals: A hearty breakfast is included. Lunch and dinner are not included but al-
ways
available nearby.
Baggage Transfer: Door-to-door baggage transfer.
Information Pack: Comprehensive guidebook as well as a pre-departure
information pack.
Tour: Glyndwr’s Way
Code: WWSGW1-WWSGW5
Type: Self-guided walking tour
Price: See website
Single Supplement: See website
Dates: March-October
Walking Days: 4-9
Nights: 5-10
HIGHLIGHTS
Is It For Me?
If you enjoy walking through a country
landscape steeped in historical heritage and
natural splendour this would be ideal. The
route involves ascents so a reasonable level
of fitness is required. However the superb
views are sight to behold.
WALKING IN THE HEART OF WALES
GLYNDWR’S WAY
Arriving in Knighton
Knighton is easily accessible by road and rail
with the Heart of Wales line running through the
town linking Shrewsbury with Swansea. The
town’s Welsh name of Tref-y-Clawdd means
‘Town of the Dyke’ referring to its position right
on Offa’s Dyke, the 8th century man-made
border between Wales and England. The town,
today a quaint settlement with a central clock
tower, was attacked by Glyndwr in the early
years of his campaign.
Knighton to Felindre—15.5 miles
The official start of Glyndwr’s Way is the clock
tower. Moving out of town the walking on the first
day is relatively easy-going through farmland and
with an initial steady ascent up Garth Hill (346m).
The views from the top are a lovely introduction
to the next few days. Ascend down into
Llangunllo, situated in a sheltered valley with a
13th century church. The trail continues across
open moorland and eventually merges into
farmland as you near Felindre. Careful scanning
of the skies may be rewarded with views of
buzzard.
Felindre to Abbeycwmhir—15.5
miles
The trail rises out of Felindre passing an ancient
mound of earth with a keep known as a ‘motte’
and continues through farmland to join a short
section of road. The trail then passes Castell-y-
Blaidd or ‘Wolf’s Castle’, a Norman earth
ringwork that stands high on the hills. The trail
moves on to Llanbadarn Fynydd and up to
moorland with a ridge walk affording spectacular
views into the surrounding valleys. Continue
down to the Bachell Brook Valley and into
Abbeycwmhir. This hamlet is famed for the ruins
of its 12th century Cistercian Abbey.
Abbeycwmhir to Llanidloes—15.25
miles
Coming out of Abbeycwmhir the trail climbs
through forest bringing you out on a route toward
the ridge of Upper Esgair Hill. From here the
undulating walk takes you to Blaentrinant which
offers awe-inspiring views of the mountain peak
of Cader Idris (893m) in neighbouring
Snowdonia. Some of the most beautiful
countryside of the Glyndwr’s Way follows with
the trail meandering down to the town of
Llanidloes, the heart of the medieval kingdom of
Arwystli. The first town on the River Severn, it
boasts a 14th century church.
Llanidloes to Dylife—14 miles
If you can force yourself to leave beautiful
Llanidloes you will cross the River Severn and
follow the trail as it joins the Severn Way Path
through mixed forest. In season you may note
many local bird species including redstart. The
trail descends into the Clywedog Valley following
a dam wall down to the shores of Clywedog
reservoir. In the forests that follow many local
bird species abound and in the skies above you
will may be able to see Red Kites. Moving on
through Hafren forest the trail climbs to moorland
following a Roman track along to the small
settlement of Dylife
Dylife to Machynlleth—14 miles
Leaving the old mining village the trail continues
across windswept moorland passing Afon
Clywedog, a valley carved by glaciers in the last
Ice Age. Buzzards may be see circling above.
Moving through woodland the trail passes the
azure waters of Glaslyn, which translates as
‘blue lake’, and you are provided with the
wonderful spectacle of Foel Fadian Hill (564m). A
demanding ascent brings you to the highest point
of the trail which has views all the way to
Cardigan Bay in the west. The trail continues
down through woodland to the town of
Machynlleth, which you enter via the ‘Roman
Steps’, a fitting way to finish the section.
Machynlleth is a vibrant town steeped in history
and it was here that Owain Glyndwr was
crowned Prince of Wales and established
parliament in 1404. Today it is the home of the
‘Centre for Alternative Technology’ dedicated to
sustainable development in the modern world.
Machynlleth to Llanbrynmair —15.5
miles
Starting at the Owain Glyndwr centre in the town,
the trail commences with a three mile minor road
section to Abercegir. From here the route enters
moorland once again affording further views of
Cader Idris. The trail reaches Cemmaes road
and makes its way through forest and beautiful
valleys toward Llanbrynmair.
Llanbrynmair to Llanwddyn—16.75
miles
The trail travels north along a new section which
climbs up a steep valley to provide lovely views
at the summit. Continuing through a forest the
trail climbs the edge of Pen Coed (360m) and
leads on across open moorland. You then enter
the Dynant forestry plantation and eventually
emerge to views of impressive Lake Vyrynwy
and it’s thirty three acre dam ahead. An evening
on the shores of the lake is an experience few
forget.
Llanwddyn to Pontrobert—11.25
miles
Leaving the shores of the lake the trail winds
along through forest tracks and gentle farmland,
shadowing the course of the River Vyrnwy into
the pleasant and tranquil village of Pontrobert.
The wildlife viewing potential on this section is
very good with the chance to see Pied Flycatcher
in season and Kingfishers feeding in the river.
Pontrobert to Welshpool—14 miles
Once again the trail makes its way through
farmland and woodland passing the pleasant
village of Melford to climb sedately up Broniarth
Hill. The trail then skirts Llyn Du or ‘’black lake’
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
WALKING IN THE HEART OF WALES
GLYNDWR’S WAY
before farmland walking takes you down to the
end of the Glyndwr’s Way at Welshpool, a
market town nestling into the upper reaches of
the picturesque Severn Valley. Evolving from the
historical name ‘Pool’ the Welsh princes kept
Pool as their stronghold and it is a fitting end to
the Glyndwr’s Way. The 13th century Powis
Castle is a magnificent and impressive reminder
of the border exploits of both the Welsh and
English forces as they each fought for control.
We offer the Glyndwr’s Way trail in three
itineraries varying in distance each day. Please
see the different walks below:
Description: Suiting experienced walkers or
those looking for a challenge. The full Glyndwr’s
Way in 9 walking days.
Walking Days: 9
Nights: 10
Average Daily Distance: 15 miles
Grade: Moderate to Strenuous
Description: The Southern section from
Knighton to Machynlleth. This itinerary fits
perfectly into a week and allows you to
experience some of the most beautiful parts of
the Welsh countryside.
Walking Days: 5
Nights: 6
Average Daily Distance: 15 miles
Grade: Moderate to Strenuous
Description: This is an easier version of the
Southern section as it incorporates shorter
walking days breaking down the route into more
manageable sections.
Walking days: 6
Nights: 7
Average Daily Distance: 12.5 miles
Grade: Moderate
Description: The Northern section from
Machynlleth to Welshpool. This itinerary is ideal
for a short break while taking in some of the best
walking on the Glyndwr’s Way. Finish the walk
off with a visit to the outstanding military
stronghold of Powis Castle
Walking Days: 4
Nights:5
Average Daily Distance:14.5 miles
Grade: Moderate to Strenuous
Day Route Miles
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Arrive in Knighton Walk to Felindre Walk to Abbeycwmhir Walk to Llanidloes Walk to Dylife Walk to Machynlleth Walk to Llanbrynmair Walk to Llanwddyn Walk to Pontrobert Walk to Welshpool Onward Travel
15.5 15.5 15.25
14 14
15.5 16.75 11.25
14
Total Distance 132
WWSGW4—6 DAYS & 5 NIGHTS
WWSGW1—11 DAYS & 10 NIGHTS
DETAILED ITINERARIES
Day Route Miles
1 2 3 4 5 6
Arrive in Machynlleth Walk to Llanbrynmair Walk to Llanwddyn Walk to Pontrobert Walk to Welshpool Onward Travel
15.5 16.75 11.25
14
Total Distance 57.5
WALKING IN THE HEART OF WALES
WWSGW3—8 DAYS & 7 NIGHTS
WWSGW2—7 DAYS & 6 NIGHTS
Day Route Miles
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Arrive in Knighton Walk to Felindre Walk to Abbeycwmhir Walk to Lllanidloes Walk to Dylife Walk to Machynlleth Onward Travel
15.5 15.5 15.25
14 14
Total Distance 74.25
Day Route Miles
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Arrive in Knighton Walk to Felindre Walk to Llananno Walk to Bwlch-y-Sarnau Walk to Llanidloes Walk to Dylife Walk to Machynlleth Onward Travel
15.5 10 9
12.5 14 14
Total Distance 75
GLYNDWR’S WAY
Description: The Northern section from
Machynlleth to Welshpool. This itinerary breaks
down the Northern route into more manageable
sections.
Walking Days: 5
Nights: 6
Average Daily Distance: 12 miles
Grade: Moderate
Accommodation
We specifically choose inns, guest houses and
B&B’s to ensure that you enjoy every minute of
your stay. They all offer a warm welcome to
walkers, traditional hospitality and delicious local
food. We always try and book your
accommodation as close as possible to the trail.
Occasionally a short transfer may be required but
you will always be advised of this.
Additional Nights and Extensions
Many of our clients choose to add extra nights
along the way to sample more of the wonderful
walking and attractions available on the
Glyndwr’s Way. Machynlleth and Welshpool are
great for recovery days or sightseeing
opportunities. There is also the potential to
extend the full trip by adding a section of the
Offa’s Dyke trail to complete a full circle.
Single Rooms
If you require single rooms we would be happy to
accommodate you although there is a single
room supplement payable.
Solo Walkers
We welcome solo walkers on the Glyndwr’s Way,
although you should of course take extra care in
the outdoors when walking solo. Supplements
will apply to baggage transfers.
Meals
A hearty breakfast is included each morning.
Lunch and dinner are not included so you are
free to choose from the available options. Most of
your accommodations will more than happy to
provide a packed lunch on request and this can
be booked on arrival. Dinner is available either at
your accommodation or nearby pubs/restaurants.
Baggage Transfer
Your bags will be transferred from your
accommodation as per your itinerary and moved
onto your next overnight accommodation. We
ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to
15kg per person.
Grade
This tour is graded Moderate to Strenuous. For
those wishing to complete the entire walk it is
advisable that you have some previous long
distance walking experience.
The route is a mixture of paths, hill ascents and
some minor road walking. Some of the path
sections can be rocky and steep as you traverse
the higher ground.
Navigation
The route is way-marked with wooden posts and
with the national trail acorn symbol, plus a red
dragon—navigation skills may be required if you
intend to venture off the trail for any distances.
Equipment
Your information pack has a detailed equipment
list which includes standard walking gear such as
good walking boots or shoes, warm and
waterproof clothes and a day pack.
Travel Insurance
It is a requirement of booking this tour with Macs
Adventure that you have suitable travel
insurance which covers you for the activity and
emergency evacuation and hospital care.
Getting to Knighton
By Train– Knighton is on the Shrewsbury to
Swansea train line and connections from major
towns and cities to these points are well served.
The journey time from Shrewsbury ranges from
just over an hour to 3 hours depending on
changes. From Swansea the journey time ranges
from around 3 to 5 hours depending on changes.
For schedules and fares please go to the
National Rail website.
By Car—The most direct route from Shrewsbury
is the A488 with an estimated driving time of 1
hour. There are no designated car parks but we
would endeavour to accommodate you in
properties with secure parking should it be
required.
Getting from Welshpool
By Train/bus—There is a train station in
Welshpool and trains/buses regularly serve
Shrewsbury to allow train travel back to Knighton
or to further destinations.
TRAVEL INFORMATION
WALKING IN THE HEART OF WALES
WWSGW5—7 DAYS & 6 NIGHTS
Day Route Miles
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Arrive in Machynlleth Walk to Llanbrynmair Walk to Llangadfan Walk to Llanwddyn Walk to Pontrobert Walk to Welshpool Onward Travel
15.5 11 7.5
11.25 14
Total Distance 59.25
GLYNDWR’S WAY
TOUR INFORMATION
Getting to and from Machynlleth
By Train— There is a direct train service from
Shrewsbury to and from Machynlleth. The
journey time is approximately 1.5 hours.
By Car— The A458 goes directly from
Shrewsbury to Machynlleth with a journey time of
about 1.5 hours. A good source of reference for
travel details is the travel line website:
www.traveline.org.uk
Price
Please refer to our website for up to date prices.
Availability
This walking tour is best enjoyed between the
end of March and start of October.
Springtime weather is changeable but usually is
the driest time of year, from April to June. This is
when hills and valleys are verdant are often filled
with wildflowers. Also this is the time when the
woodlands are filled with bird song.
You can start on any date that suits your travel
plans. The Glyndwr’s Way can be very popular
and accommodation can get booked quickly so it
is best to book as far in advance as you are able
to.
Included
Bed and breakfast accommodation in ensuite rooms wherever possible
Door to door baggage transfer.
A detailed info pack and guidebook
Emergency telephone support from our office in the event of a problem.
Excluded
Lunches, dinners, snacks and drinks.
Travel Insurance.
Transport should you need to skip a stage
Maps not included though we recommend OS Landranger series 125, 126, 135, 136, 137 and 148
We operate tours in some of the most beautiful
areas of the British Isles and try to operate in an
environmentally aware and sustainable manner.
We do this by following our M.A.C.S.
Responsible travel policy. We believe that by
engaging our team and clients in environmental
and community projects we can make a real
difference. Travel and our business activity does
of course contribute to carbon output and climate
change. We have put several policies in place to
minimise our carbon footprint. Macs Adventure
has worked hard to ensure that our holidays are
sensitive to the community you are visiting and
sustainable over the long term.
When you are ready to book you can do so securely online at www.macsadventure.com or by phone: +44 (0) 141 530 8886.
Financial Security
In accordance with "The Package Travel,
Package Holidays and Package Tours
Regulations1992" all passengers booking with
Macs Adventure Ltd are fully protected for the
initial deposit and subsequently the balance of all
monies paid to us, including repatriation if
required (this insurance will not cover repatriation
to the country of origin for the passengers
outside of the EU), arising from cancellation or
curtailment of your travel arrangements due to
the insolvency of Macs Adventure Ltd
ABTA Member Statement
Macs Adventure Holidays is
a Member of ABTA. ABTA
and ABTA members help
holidaymakers to get the
most from their travel and assist when things
don’t go according to plan. We are obliged to
maintain a high standard of service to you by
ABTA’s Code of Conduct. For more information
on ABTA, the Code of Conduct and the
arbitration scheme available to you if you have a
complaint, contact ABTA, 30 Park Street, London
SE1 9EQ, Tel: 020 3117 0581 www.abta.com
Book with Confidence. We are a member of
ABTA which means you have the benefit of
ABTA’s assistance and Code of Conduct. We
provide full financial protection for your money
PRICE AND AVAILABILITY
M.A.C.S RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL
WALKING IN THE HEART OF WALES
HOW TO BOOK
BOOK WITH CONFIDENCE
GLYNDWR’S WAY
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