Walking Holidays and Outdoor Adventures in the Cambrian Mountains National Landscape

Wales’ Wild Heart of Rewilding and Remote Trails

The Cambrian Mountains are Wales’ quiet wilderness — a land of high plateaus, tumbling rivers, and vast horizons. Sometimes called the “Green Desert of Wales,” this upland region between Snowdonia and the Brecon Beacons is one of Britain’s last great wild spaces. Here, walking holidays and outdoor adventures unfold among heather-clad ridges, rewilded valleys, and tranquil reservoirs — a landscape slowly returning to nature.

This is rewilding country. From the peatlands of the Elan Valley to the moors above Tregaron, conservation projects are bringing back life to the land — restoring habitats, rewetting bogs, and reconnecting woodland corridors. Walkers are part of that story, moving lightly through the hills where red kites soar and rivers carve their way toward the sea. Whether you’re following long-distance trails like Glyndŵr’s Way, hiking circular routes between ancient farms, or exploring the remote Monks’ Trod, the Cambrian Mountains invite you to move slowly, breathe deeply, and rediscover stillness.

Trails & Routes

• Glyndŵr’s Way – A 135-mile National Trail linking Knighton to Machynlleth through open moorland, forest, and quiet villages.
• Elan Valley Trail – A scenic route along former railway lines past reservoirs, woodlands, and rewilded peatlands.
• The Monks’ Trod – A historic upland route once linking the abbeys of Strata Florida and Abbey Cwmhir across the wild heart of Wales.
• Teifi Pools Circular – Remote loop walk around a chain of glacial lakes high above Pontrhydfendigaid.
• Afan Tregaron Walks – A network of local paths exploring riverside meadows and historic drovers’ roads near Tregaron.

Adventure Highlights

• Elan Valley – A rewilding landscape of reservoirs, waterfalls, and open moors.
• Tregaron Bog (Cors Caron) – One of Europe’s finest raised bogs, rich in birdlife and ecological diversity.
• Strata Florida Abbey – Historic ruins set among hills and streams at the spiritual heart of Wales.
• Soar y Mynydd Chapel – The most remote chapel in Wales, surrounded by silence and sky.
• Dark Sky Discovery Sites – The Cambrian Mountains are one of the UK’s best stargazing regions, with minimal light pollution.

Explore the Area

• Rhayader – Gateway to the Elan Valley, with trails, riverside walks, and wildlife.
• Tregaron – Historic market town on the edge of Cors Caron, ideal for exploring upland paths and local culture.
• Pontrhydfendigaid – Rural village near Strata Florida Abbey and the Teifi Pools.
• Llanwrtyd Wells – Britain’s smallest town, known for quirky outdoor events and easy access to the Cambrian Mountains.
• Soar y Mynydd – A place of peace and pilgrimage in the remote uplands between Tregaron and Llyn Brianne.