Wild Camping on the Cambrian Way - 2021, 2018 & 2011

Mike Greenleaf's Schedule in 2021 - 9 days 19 hours

Day Start Finish OS Grid Ref
1 Cardiff Castle (midday) Pontypool ST 273977
2 Pontypool Pen Trumau SO 206296
3 Pen Trumau Fan Fawr SN 969203
4 Fan Fawr Rhandirmwyn * SN 776437
5 Rhandirmwyn Gelmast SN 780754
6 Gelmast Ffridd Dolgadfan SN 868999
7 Ffridd Dolgadfan Cadair Idris SH 690135
8 Cadair Idris Cwm Bychan * SH 648311
9 Cwm Bychan Cwm Llan SH 620521
10 Cwm Llan Cefn Llechen SH 746750
11 Cefn Llechen Conwy - 7am  
* if preferred there is a 'proper' campsite nearby.
Regarding water, there is very little opportunity between Abergavenny and Crickhowell.
Reliable source on the way up Sugarloaf.
Capel y ffin has a source on the way up the new route but it's easy to miss.
After Bwlch Siglen there is a good source, but thereafter nothing until Barmouth.

Mike Greenleaf's Schedule in 2018 - 10 days 6 hours

Day Start Finish OS Grid Ref
1 Cardiff (midday) Mynydd Maen hillside, Upper Cwmbran, Pontypool ST 262962
2 Upper Cwmbran, Pontypool Twmpa SO 224348
3 Twmpa Corn Du hillside, 0.9 miles ENE of Storey Arms SN 994211
4 Storey Arms Llandovery (farmer's field)  
5 Llandovery Hillside 0.3 miles S of Strata Florida SN 744653
6 Strata Florida 0.3 miles NNE of Pumlumon Arwystli, Plynlimon SN 818883
7 Plynlimon 0.25 miles ENE of Bwlch Siglen, Dinas Mawddwy SH 840139
8 Dinas Mawddwy Ridge 1.5 miles NNE of Barmouth Bridge SH 623179
9 Barmouth Woods 0.3 miles NE of Llyn Trawsfynydd Dam, Maentwrog SH 678381
10 Maentwrog Llyn Cwmffwynnon, 0.25 miles N of Pen y Pass SH 648560
11 Pen y Pass Conwy - 6pm  

Mike Greenleaf's Schedule in 2011 (with his children aged 15, 12 & 11)

Note that his children were already very experienced backpackers so it isn't suggested as a typical family schedule, but it does provide an easier one for other walkers.

Day Start Finish OS Grid Ref
1 Cardiff (midday) Coed Cefn-pwll-du 1 mile S of Machen ST 213876
2 Machen Mynydd Garn-wen 3 miles N of Pontypool SO 293053
3 Pontypool Ridge 0.6 miles NE Sugar Loaf SO 280194
4 Sugar Loaf Rhos Dirion 1.3 miles SSW of Twmpa SO 215334
5 Twmpa Waun Ddu 1.2 miles WSW of Llangattock SO 186165
6 Llangattock Corn Du hillside, 0.9 miles ENE of Storey Arms SN 993211
7 Storey Arms Pant y Bwlch 0.6 miles WNW of Fan Brycheiniog SN 816221
8 Fan Brycheiniog Llandovery (farmer's field!)  
9 Llandovery Esgair Wynt 1.3 miles WNW of Ty'n-y-cornel SN 746556
10 Ty'n-y-cornel Near Nant Milwyn 1.3 miles SE of Cwmystwyth SN 800727
11 Cwmystwyth Near Foel Wyddon 2.3 miles S of Plynlimon SN 781832
12 Plynlimon Waun Tyisaf 2.8 miles NNW of Dylife SN 851984
13 Dylife Bwlch Siglen 1.4 miles WSW of Dinas Mawddwy SH 840139
14 Dinas Mawddwy Near Pony Path 1.7 miles NW of Cadair Idris SH 691148
15 Cadair Idris Y Llethr SH 662259
16 Y Llethr Hillside 0.7 miles SW of Llyn Trawsfyndd Dam, Maentwrog SH 666370
17 Maentwrog Ridge 1.9 miles SW of Cnicht SH 629452
18 Cnicht Llyn Cwmffynnon 0.25 miles N of Pen y Pass SH 648560
19 Pen y Pass Foel Grach SH 690659
20 Foel Grach Conwy (2pm) SN 851984

 

Resupplies at:
Pontypool garage
Abergavenny
Crickhowell
Llandovery
Strata Florida visitors shop (ice cream)
Devil's Bridge store (now closed, so in 2018 use Ponterwyd garage instead)
Mallwyd garage
Barmouth
Beddgelert

Mike Greenleaf