Слайд 3CAMBRIAN MOUNTAINS
Spending less time in the vehicle and getting out
and about to enjoy the wonderful scenery is always an
option on any driven tour! In addition to a range of walks available in the Elan Valley, the Cambrian Mountains offer the opportunity to explore the rediscovered 17th century walks at Hafod near Devils Bridge.
Слайд 4The walks take in the former glory of these beautifully
landscaped grounds including small tunnels, chain bridges over deep gorges
and the ruins of the country house itself.
Слайд 5further south there is the opportunity to discover the ruins
of the former Cistercian abbey at Strata Florida in the
most picturesque of locations or perhaps the abundant wildlife on the Cors Caron wetland area just outside Tregaron with its amazing boardwalks and bird hides.
Слайд 6Walks in the Pumlumon ranges can take in mountain ridges
passing the sources of the rivers Severn and Wye to
admire the views north to Snowdonia and westwards towards the coast. Photo opportunities abound on such journeys with perhaps a break at the highest pub in Wales well deserved!
PUMLUMON
Слайд 7views include the mountains of north Wales, nearby Cadair Idris
and the spectacular Aran Fawddwy ridge - the highest mountain
in Wales outside of Snowdonia. The journey continues through Dinas Mawddwy, reputedly once the home of King Arthur returning to Llandrindod via quiet moorland roads with a range of dramatic scenery. A great day out for those who really want to go 'off the beaten track' - and for those with a good camera and a good head for heights!
HELL FIRE PASS
Слайд 9 ELAN VALLEY
This feat of Victorian engineering consists of 5
reservoirs constructed to provide water - by gravity alone -
to Birmingham via a pipeline 118km long. Most of the area is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest due to its birdlife, mammals, flowering plants.
Слайд 10Similarly, there are guided walking options available in the Clywedog
reservoir area including nature trails alongside the water's edge; explorations
of the former extensive 18th century mining community at Dylife - with a good old murder story "thrown in"; or perhaps a walk through parts of the vast Hafren Forest tracing the River Severn step by step to its source in a boggy pool high up on the slopes of the Pumlumon mountains - all with a chance of a well deserved drink at the highest pub in Wales to finish off the day!
LLYN CLYWEDOG
Слайд 11GLASLYN & NANT-Y-MOCH
Glaslyn Wildlife Reserve, high in the Cambrian mountains
provides numerous guided walking options including short walks around the
lake or perhaps exploring deeper into the mountains crossing into the area of Nant-y-Moch reservoir including the site of a bloody battle between Welsh and English forces in the summer of 1401.
Слайд 12Cistercian abbeys combined with a scenic drive across the Cambrian
Mountains or visit some of the hidden black and white
churches of old Radnorshire.
Churches & Abbeys
Слайд 13ABBEY CWM HIR & STRATA FLORIDA
Leaving the Llandrindod area, which
translated means 'the abbey in the long valley'. The ruins
of this hidden Abbey contain the 13th century burial site of the last Prince of Wales - apart from his head which went to the Tower of London!
Слайд 14Quaint and historic black and white churches abound in the
old county of Radnorshire so why not let us take
you on a day's driven tour to discover these wonderful old churches set in the remotest of locations.
THE CHURCHES OF RADNORSHIRE
Слайд 15walls echoed to the sound of a bloody battle in
1402 between the Welsh and English forces in the field
above the churchyard. Returning towards Llandrindod we finally pass the site of the thatched Quakers meeting house overlooking the Radnorshire countryside.
Слайд 19From the east, Cardiff Castle, Wales
Слайд 20Interior, looking east, Carnarvon Castle, Wales
Слайд 22The castle, Harlech Castle, Wales
Слайд 23Offas Dyke, the vast earthwork constructed along the length of
Wales around 785 AD to keep the Welsh out of
England (or vice versa!). Following an opportunity in Bishops Castle you may continue south into the Clun valley to visit the spectacular ruins of the castle.
Слайд 24The Heart of Wales contains a number of significant battlegrounds
from Welsh history. Owain Glyndwr is one of the key
figures in Welsh history and during the early 1400?s started an uprising against Henry IV including numerous battles with the most spectacular at Hyddgen high in the Pumlumon hills and another at Pilleth in deepest Radnorshire.
BATTLEGROUNDS
Слайд 25Romantic castle at Wigmore - the former home of Edmund
Mortimer the commander in chief of the English forces who
was eventually kidnapped and later married Glyndwr's daughter. The castle has been dramatically and romantically left to nature to largely reclaim with only a few paths cut through the undergrowth to expose the castle walls.
Слайд 26Offas's Dyke, the vast 8th century earthwork runs for 177
miles along the length of the Welsh / English border.
Our most popular sections for guided walks are near of Knighton in the "switchback" areas so called due to their tough, undulating nature. Here the Dyke passes through the tranquil Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with its remote communities and valleys.
NATIONAL TRAILS
Слайд 27The 135 mile Glyndwr's Way, named after the 15th Century
Welsh Prince, starts at Knighton and crosses the heart of
Wales eventually re-joining Offa's Dyke at Welshpool. We can offer a number of circular guided full day or half day walks along sections of this trail between Knighton and Machynlleth which rise across open sections of moorland with dramatic views before dropping through dense forests into remote valleys such as Abbeycwmhir - home to the remains of a 12th century Cistercian abbey.
Слайд 28There are numerous other local trails to discover in this
area such as the Eppynt Way which follows the boundary
of the vast Army training ranges high up in the mountains north of Brecon. A number of 6-mile linear sections can be easily followed and whilst noisy gun firing may be heard there is no danger from live ammunition!
LOCAL TRAILS AND WALKS
Слайд 29Wye Valley Walk which starts on the rugged slopes of
the Pumlumon mountains winding down through beautiful wooded valleys towards
the market towns of Rhayader and Builth Wells on its eventual 136 mile journey south to join the river Severn in the Bristol Channel.
Слайд 30For those preferring complete escapism, the remote peaks of Drygarn
Fawr rise high above the surrounding peat bogs and reservoirs
of the Elan Valley. Our eight mile guided circular walk takes in former mine workings and mountain streams leading to the two massive stone cairns with their white quartz stone caps and lie in an almost untouched part of Wales. The guided walk can also be extended to take in the lakeside beauty of the Elan Valley area as well as a cup of tea at the visitors centre!
Слайд 31Gilfach Nature Reserve wind through nearly 400 acres of meadows
and land that has been unimproved since the 1960's. The
paths lead to a restored 16th Century Welsh farm complex now converted to a cafe and interpretation centre providing information on the abundance of wildlife to be seen in the reserve including red kites, buzzards, kestrels, badgers and hares.
Слайд 32This 15 mile linear route at 1,000 ft follows one
of the most ancient high trackways in Britain whose origins
are lost in the mists of time and pre-dates the Iron Age earthworks along the route. Short return walks can be made or walks along the entire length - ending with a well deserved drink in a brew pub in Bishops Castle!
KERRY RIDGEWAY
Слайд 33SOURCE OF THE SEVERN
Source of the river Severn - the
longest river in Britain. Why not let us take you
on a guided seven mile return route through the spectacular Hafren Forest out onto the open and windswept Pumlumon Mountains to discover the source of this magnificent river which can be traced to a muddy pool on the open moorland.