Rambling from Bwthyn Gilfach

We are blessed at West Wales Retreat to be surrounded by miles and miles of public footpaths for all categories of ramblers, new and old. In fact, there are over 1,500 miles (2,500 km) of rights of way in Ceredigion, falling into the below four categories:

1. Public Byways Open to all Traffic (BOATs)
2. Public Bridleways
3. Public Footpaths and
4. Restricted Byways

Ceredigion Council has an interactive map of all rambling routes at Online Here. The postcode of West Wales Retreat is SA48 8BG and this map can be used to find the routes around us (and through us).

Whilst this is not intended to be a definitive list, here are some of the walks that we recommend:

Have a look at the National Trails Website or have a look at the ‘The best Trails in England and Wales’ leaflet for more information.

Coastal Paths

Ceredigion’s Coastal Path forms approx. 60 miles / 96 km of the entire Wales Coastal Path.  It stretches between Cardigan and Ynys-las just north of Aberystwyth.  For ease, the Path is broken down into 7 different ‘Sections’ and Ceredigion Council produce excellent information on their Website.

Then, of course, there is the entire Wales Coastal Path, an 870-miles walk showing Wales’ glorious beaches, estuaries, cliffs, woodlands and hills to their finest.

West Wales Retreat is situated perfectly to join either Paths in a number of places such as Aberaeron, New Quay or Llanrhystud.

Short Walks in Ceredigion

The Ceredigion section of the Wales Coast Path can be tackled in up to seven sections and we recommend viewing the Discover Ceredigion website for information on the following walks:

1. Cardigan to Aberporth (11.7 miles (18.7km))
2. Aberporth to Llangrannog (4.8 miles (7.7km))
3. Llangrannog to New Quay (9.4 miles (15km))
4. New Quay to Aberaeron (6.5 miles (10.5km))
5. Aberaeron to Llanrhystud (7.4 miles (11.9km))
6. Llanrhystud to Aberystwyth (10.6 miles (15.7km))
7. Aberystwyth to Ynyslas (11.7 miles / 18.7 km)

Longer Walks, Forest and Nature Trails

Some of the best walks in Wales are in the woodlands and National Nature Reserves all over the country. These comprise relaxing riverside strolls to slightly more strenuous treks.

Natural Resources Wales is the obvious place to point ramblers to save repeating the plethora of information on their Website.

West Wales Retreat is ideally located for all the following Mid Wales walks, woodlands, forests and National Nature Reserves:

• The Arch, near Aberystwyth (walk)
• Black Covert, near Aberystwyth (woodland with riverside picnic site and walking trails)
• Bwlch Nant yr Arian Visitor Centre, near Aberystwyth (small woodland walk)
• Cors Caron National Nature Reserve, near Tregaron (accessible boardwalk over vast bog and route for walkers and cyclists)
• Cors y Llyn National Nature Reserve, near Builth Wells (wildflower meadow, swampy woodlands and a dwarf forest)
• Dyfi National Nature Reserve - Cors Fochno, near Aberystwyth (one of Britain’s largest raised peat bogs)
• Dyfi National Nature Reserve - Ynyslas Visitor Centre, near Aberystwyth (estuary landscape and shifting sand dunes)
• Fishpools, near Knighton (woodland walk with views over Radnor Forest)
• Gogerddan Wood, near Aberystwyth (woodland walk with bluebells in spring)
• Hafren Forest, near Llanidloes (waterfall walks)
• Irfon Forest - White Bridge, near Llanwrtyd Wells (two short riverside walks and a picnic area)
• Nash Wood, near Presteigne (border country woodland between Wales and England)
• Ty’n y Bedw Wood, near Aberystwyth (woodland walks and small picnic area)
• Tywi Forest, near Tregaron (remote forest with viewpoints and walking trail to historic well)
• Warren Wood, near New Radnor (famous waterfall and three walking trails)