The Berwyn Mountains are a stunningly beautiful part of North Wales that is overshadowed by its big brother Snowdonia National Park, which sits to the west of the Berwyns.
It is a place of wild beauty and a haven for walkers, cyclists & mountain bikers. Unlike Snowdonia, which often feels crowded and busy, the Berwyns get fewer visitors which means you often have paths & trails to yourself. If you’re looking for somewhere to go walking in North Wales, you’ve just stumbled upon one of the region’s best-kept secrets.
Berwyn Mountains – WALKS From the DOORSTEP
From the bunkhouse door, there are endless walking routes in the area to explore the Berwyn Mountains. Which challenge below would excite you the most?
The Biggest Challenge - You may start the Berwyn Range - 177 miles in total. This mountain range is less walked than mountains in Snowdonia, but the Berwyns includes some high ridges with beautiful views and challenging aspects. The Berwyn Range roughly stretches from Llangollen in the east to Bala in the west. The highest peak is Cadair Berwyn, at 830m with another 24 peaks above 600m waiting to be explored. The route is made up of 5 sections with easily accessible starting & finishing points.
The Highest Mountain- Cadair Berwyn is the tallest mountain in the Berwyn range. The name translates to ‘Chair of the White Summit.’ On a clear day, the views from the summit of Cadair Berwyn are stunning, with Snowdonia and the Brecon Beacons visible. These are the most popular routes to Cadair Berwyn.
The Natural Wonder - Pistyll Rhaeadr Waterfall is the tallest single drop waterfall in Britain; falling 80m and it’s located in the Berwyns. It’s a spectacular waterfall and there are walks exploring the waterfall as well as venturing further into the Berwyns. These are recommended walks that include the waterfall.
Summits, Lakes & Waterfalls – It is a great opportunity to walk to the famous waterfall from the bunkhouse doorstep. A 13-mile route that takes in Cwm Maengwynedd, Berwyn Mountain summits including Cadair Bronwen, Cadair Berwyn & Moel Sych. Walking near Llyn Lluncaws & Tan-y-Pistyll (home to the famous waterfall), there is lots to experience on this route.
Circular routes - There is a fabulous book 'Walks around the Berwyn Mountains' by David Berry. Many routes in this book can easily be linked with others, to provide longer walks if required. We have a copy of this book in the bunkhouse for guests to borrow.
There are 32 walks in this book that range from an easy 1.75 mile stroll to a challenging 13 mile Berwyn Mountain ridge walk.
The Berwyn Round, from Llandrillo - 13 miles Cadair Berwyn and Cadair Bronwen - 10 miles Berwyn Fringes from Llandrillo - 2.75 miles Cadair Bronwen, from Llandrillo - 10 miles Tomle and Cadair Berwyn - 9.25 miles Pistyll Rhaeadr - 3 miles Cadair Berwyn and Pistyll Rhaeadr - 6 miles Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog and Bryn Ddu - 4.25 miles |
These are images of a winter walk to Mynydd Tawr my dad and I did (a subsidiary summit to Cadair Berwyn). We had gorgeous crisp, fresh weather, clear skies for stunning views and we had the route all to ourselves).
Berwyn Mountains - VILLAGES
Around the Berwyns there are villages which allow you to explore different routes and sections of the Berwyn Range. They are invaluable for the facilities they offer & supplies you can access.
Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant is to the south of the Berwyn Mountains. It has two pubs ‘The Hand’ and ‘The Wynnstay.’ As well there is a fabulous butcher's shop, a small cafe, fish & chip shop & a spar and village store to pick up essentials from. It is a nice place to visit if you are in the area or passing through.
Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog lies to the east of the Berwyn Mountains. It is a beautiful village lying on the River Ceiriog. It boasts a fantastic Inn called ‘The Hand.’ There are no shops in the village.
Llandrillo is to the west of the Berwyns and is a small village with a wealth of history. It is set in an astonishing ancient landscape and great for accessing routes to the Berwyns. The pub is sadly now closed.
BERWYN MOUNTAINS – OUR BUNKHOUSE
The sheep farming valley of Maengwynedd lies with the stunning backdrop of the Berwyn Mountains. This is where our Wild Valley Bunkhouse is located. The Bunkhouse is an ideal base for explorers for an adventure. It is pet-friendly, and it has off-road parking. The bunkhouse is a great base for walkers, explorers, and those who seek to be amongst nature; in the fresh air with stunning vista views.