Glyndwr’s Way Hike

The Glyndwr’s Way follows the horseshoe line for 135 miles (217km). The national trial follows Green valleys, farmlands, moorlands, and forests through mid-wales.

During your hike, you can take magnificent scenery and an insight into the history of wales. The path runs from the Town Clock Knighton to the canal in Welshpool in a huge swinging arc.

One of the things that makes this hike so special is the diversity of the terrain and the immersive culture of the Welsh settlements.

It passes through some of the most stunning landscapes in Wales, including the shores of Clywedog Reservoir, the heathers of Plynlimon, Radnorshire Hills. But that’s only the tip of the iceberg.

You’ll also be treated to phenomenal views over Cadair Idris, the Cambrian Mountains, Y Golfa, and Lake Vyrnwy.

The good thing about this walk is that anyone with a reasonable level of fitness should be able to take on the hike.

One thing to point out is the walk is very hilly and can often have many ascents and drop into valleys several times a day. The route will reach the highest point at Foel Fadian (510 meters); you can see the Dulas valley and the sea on a clear day.

At some points during the walk, you’ll be in very rural remote areas, which can make it pretty tricky for some people.

Ideally, you should understand map reading and using a compass if you want to navigate the hills efficiently.

Buy The Glyndwr’s Way Hike Guide

What does it look like?

How Long Does It Take?

If you’re interested in taking this amazing hike, you probably want to know how long it will take you to complete it.

It depends on how hard you want to go; the average walker can take on the route in around 9-days to walk. That works out to approximately 15 miles per day, give or take.

For people looking to take their time and enjoy the surroundings, this beautiful walk has to offer you have three other options:

• 10 days – 13.5 miles per day
• 11 days –  12.25 miles per day
• 12 days – 11.25 miles per day

These are just rough guidelines and could be walked in less or more time; it’s entirely up to you.

How To Get There And Back?

Most people like to start the hike from Knighton. So, if you’re planning to start your walk from there, you have a few options.

One of the most popular ways of getting there is via train. The trains run pretty regularly, which makes it easy to travel there.

And if you plan to drive, there’s a great parking spot at Offa’s Dyke Center in Knighton; just make sure you ring up first to let them know.

If you want to start the walk from Welshpool, you can catch the train; it’s pretty well connected, so you should be able to get there relatively easily.

You can also get buses to both locations, but it can be pretty tricky and isn’t really recommended.

The Best Time To Go

One of the great things about this hike is you can go there pretty much all year round. Summer is always a popular time to go. But maybe it’s a bit too popular at that point; there are usually many people there.

Spring is also a great time to go, especially if you like taking in the beautiful wildflowers the countryside has to offer.

If you’re looking for a wintery wonderland, there’s nowhere better than Wales. But one thing to note is some of the accommodation is closed, and there isn’t much light.

Another great time to go is during Autumn, where you can see some beautiful colours all around.

Where To Stay On Your Journey

A lot of the walk is very remote, but there’s still plenty of accommodation along the way. In summer, you’ll have a vast range of B&Bs, hotels, bunkhouses, farmhouses, and guesthouses to stay at.

The problem is:

They do get pretty busy during this period, so you’ll have to book well in advance if you want to get your ideal location.

During the winter, things can get a little trickier because many places close for the low season. That being said, if you do your research and start booking in advance, you shouldn’t have any problems.

If you want to do things on the cheap, then you have the option to camp along the way. There’s no shortage of campsites.

One thing to mention is the weather in Wales can change very quickly, so if you’re a fair-weather camper… you should probably book a room at one of the many bunkhouses.

Where To Get Food And Drink Along The Way

As for where to get food and drink from, you have a lot of options. Wales has a lot of great traditional pubs that serve locally sourced food.

You’ll also find a great range of restaurants to try out featuring a wide range of cuisines. The price varies quite a lot, but you shouldn’t have any problems finding something in your price range.

If you’re staying in a B&B, most will come with breakfast included, which should save you some money.

If you’re camping and want to do things on the cheap, you’ll find many local shops that have enough options to get you by.

Final Thoughts

The Glyndwr’s Way hike is a beautiful way to explore the countryside Wales has to offer you. During the walk, you can take in the fabulous views of rolling mountains, valleys, lakes and traditional Welsh culture.

Looking for more Hiking locations in the UK?

Check out our full guides to other hikes in the UK    Hiking In The UK