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Introduction to Pumlumon Walks
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The Cambrian Mountains offer some wonderful walks. If you are planning your first - and possibly only - visit to Mid Wales, and would like to include a walk up its highest mountain: this page is for you!
Pumlumon Fawr from
Y Garn
Pumlumon (pronounced "Pimlimmon", and sometimes anglicised to "Plynlimon") is a massif rather than a single summit. Its highest point, and the highest point in the Cambrian Mountains, is Pen Pumlumon Fawr (2468 feet or 752 metres). A number of other summits in the range also exceed 2000 feet, the most significant being Pen Pumlumon Arwystli and Y Garn. From the summit ridges can be seen most of the mountains of Wales, from the Brecon Beacons to Snowdon; and the great sweep of Cardigan Bay, from Strumble Head to Bardsey island.
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Despite its height, the mountain looks from most angles like a big, rounded, and - dare I say it? - boring hill. But deep in its folds, and hidden from easy view, is some wonderful scenery.
Walking up Cwm Gwerin
WHATEVER YOU DO, DON'T ASCEND FROM THE SOUTH OR EAST!
The route to Pen Pumlumon Fawr from Eisteddfa Gurig (at the highest point of the A44 road) is awful. Yet for some reason it appears in countless guidebooks. Don't be tempted: the ascent is a tedious slog; you'll miss the good bits of the mountain; and much of the route is on ugly farm tracks. What's more, you'll pay £3 for the privilege of parking at Eisteddfa Gurig. You have been warned!
The route from Dyffryn Castell is only slightly better; its delights include traffic noise from the A44, a tatty conifer forest, and a veritable motorway of a farm track.
Another ascent route well worth avoiding is from Hafren forest in the east - unless of course you would enjoy miles of monotonous walking through conifer forest before you escape onto the open mountain.
THE GOOD ROUTES START FROM THE WEST SIDE
Much of the land on this side is Crown Common, so you don't have to keep to the public rights of way, and there is practically a free choice of route to the high ground. The best scenery is to be found round Llyn Llygad Rheidol; along Hengwm; and in Cwm Gwerin. The broad ridge from Y Garn north-east to Carnfachbugeilyn (GR 826904) is an exhilarating walk, and passes close to the sources of the Rheidol, Wye and Severn.
Some walks on the mountain:
Pumlumon Fawr Walk
Plynlimon & Three Sources Walk
Precipice Walk
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