Cambrian Way?

The message <[email hidden]>
from Peewiglet <[email hidden]> contains these words:

Quoted message said:

Has anyone done any part of this, or know anything about it?

ISTR that someone called George Foot did it in 4 days of non-stop
walking a few years ago and then claimed anyone could have done likewise
if they put their minds to it. Could well be harder than the Pennine
Way. It will certainly have a distinctly sharper profile.

--
Roger Chapman so far this year 55 summits
New - 33 (Marilyns 12, Sweats 5, Outlying Fells 21)
Repeats - 22( Marilyns 7, Sweats 16, Wainwrights 16)

"Peewiglet" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Has anyone done any part of this, or know anything about it?

I've walked the Brecon Beacons sections and the northern Snowdonia sections.
The book you want is by Tony Drake, it describes the CW from Cardiff Castle
to Conwy Castle.

The route is covered by a number of Check Points rather than a fixed route.
The idea is that walkers choose different routes, but must all pass through
the Check Points to qualify. The reason for this is that it may help with
erosion.

I have a copy of the book and other info on the route. I have to go out
now, but I'll try to answer any questions you have later.

Have fun,
Paul

In [email hidden]
Roger mused:

Quoted message said:

The message <[email hidden]>
from Peewiglet <[email hidden]> contains these words:

Quoted message said:

Has anyone done any part of this,

A bit - but only because routes I've walked in Wales have coincided with
the published 'official' route. Maybe one day I'll do the whole thing.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

or know anything about it?

Cambrian Way - ISBN 0 9509580 2-6

My copy was printed 1990.

Quoted message said:

ISTR that someone called George Foot did it in 4 days of non-stop
walking a few years ago

So he outstripped Naismith[1] by a whisker then?

Quoted message said:

and then claimed anyone could have done
likewise if they put their minds to it. Could well be harder than the
Pennine Way.

According to the little book 273.6 miles with 61540 ft. ascent (when
travelling south - north)

[1] 5 days 1 hour 58 minutes 12 seconds if I'm correct. No rest breaks
or sleeping on the job permitted.

--
A l'eau - c'est l'heure (French Navy Motto)

The message <[email hidden]>
from "Bootlaces" <[email hidden]> contains these words:

snip

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

ISTR that someone called George Foot did it in 4 days of non-stop
walking a few years ago

Quoted message said:

So he outstripped Naismith[1] by a whisker then?

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

and then claimed anyone could have done
likewise if they put their minds to it. Could well be harder than the
Pennine Way.

Quoted message said:

According to the little book 273.6 miles with 61540 ft. ascent (when
travelling south - north)

So distancewise much the same. I don't know what the total ascent on the
PW is but I doubt if it is even as much as half the CW total.

Quoted message said:

[1] 5 days 1 hour 58 minutes 12 seconds if I'm correct. No rest breaks
or sleeping on the job permitted.

The calculation is correct but I don't think that even Naismith would
class that as an easy day out. :-)

I had hoped to be able to find further details but so far I have been
unsuccessful. It was written up in a fairly recent issue (probably some
time in the last 10 years) of Strider, the journal of the LDWA but I
can't find it. I have a couple of issues missing (in 1999) so don't know
if it is there or whether it is mascarading under a misleading title in
the many copies I do have.

--
Roger Chapman so far this year 55 summits
New - 33 (Marilyns 12, Sweats 5, Outlying Fells 21)
Repeats - 22( Marilyns 7, Sweats 16, Wainwrights 16)

Paul Cummings said:

The route is covered by a number of Check Points rather than a fixed
route. The idea is that walkers choose different routes, but must all
pass through the Check Points to qualify. The reason for this is
that it may help with erosion.

Good strategy. Where are these check points?

If summits are involved then they'd make good check points. I rather
like the idea of suggesting a walk in terms of key points (easily
provided as GPS waypoints) which need to be visited, but letting the
individual figure out a route for themselves, although in many cases the
route from one summit to the next is pretty obvious.

I once saw a book on sale describing a Wales walk from Gower to
Snowdonia - that may have been the title, I'm not sure. Gower certainly
seems a better place to start/end such a walk than Cardiff.

If you want a Wales walk with maximum hills from coast to coast then
Port Talbot to the Carneddau would fit the bill, passing through
Barmouth enroute to visit all three coasts.

Paul
--
http://www.wilderness-wales.co.uk
http://www.wildwales.fsnet.co.uk

Originally it was proposed as a long-distance footpath, but due to various
objections it never went ahead. Shame - it's an excellent route, including
many of the best bits of mid Wales IMHO.

Adrian

"Peewiglet" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Has anyone done any part of this, or know anything about it?

Best wishes,
--
Peewiglet

"Paul Saunders" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

Good strategy. Where are these check points?
If summits are involved then they'd make good check points. I rather
like the idea of suggesting a walk in terms of key points (easily
provided as GPS waypoints) which need to be visited, but letting the
individual figure out a route for themselves, although in many cases the
route from one summit to the next is pretty obvious.

Yes, sounds like a good idea, I believe that's the way the tgo challenge is
organised. But the guy who 'devised' the Cambrian Way also wrote a
comprehensive route guide to go with the checkpoints so everyone is pretty
much going to stick to that and the idea is pretty pointless.

Quoted message said:

I once saw a book on sale describing a Wales walk from Gower to
Snowdonia - that may have been the title, I'm not sure. Gower certainly
seems a better place to start/end such a walk than Cardiff.

I think the actual title is 'Snowdonia to the Gower' describing it North to
South. We might still have a copy. Apart from the Gower bit a lot of it
follows a similar route to the Cambrian Way. Can't remember why my
girlfriend picked the Cambrian Way out of the two. She did say the first
bit out of Cardiff was surprisingly good though. (Still hasn't finished it,
lazy cow. Got as far as the Rhinogs staying in B&Bs and Youth Hostels and
doing about a week at a time.)

In article <[email hidden]>,
[email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

Has anyone done any part of this, or know anything about it?

Best wishes,

You've only been back a couple of days!

Shirley you can't have itchy feet already?

--
Darren

Adrian Fawcett said:

Originally it was proposed as a long-distance footpath, but due to various
objections it never went ahead. Shame - it's an excellent route, including
many of the best bits of mid Wales IMHO.

A blessed relief.. Would have been an erosion nightmare. Instead we
have a network of unofficial routes, and its there for anyone to walk.
Much happier with it as a concept.

Now if properly funded with path maintainance it would be great, but
do you really want an ldp across the length of the Rhinogs.

I tried it once... Started from Porthcawl, and got as far as
Llandovery before jumping on a well timed train home. The Fastnet
gales of 1979 were just too much.. With years of hindsight, I know it
was a freak and I definitely did the right thing. Strange trip, put
up in a coal mine.. clubbing in Margam, and getting caught sheltering
in a cattle lorry,

Route was; Porthcawl, nr Margam, ridge to Craig y Llyn, past the
waterfalls, over Ogof Ffynnon Ddu orienteering area, Black Mountain
escarpment.

Would have gone up the Doethe, Devils Bridge, Pumlumon, Machynlleth,
Corris, Cadair, Rhinogs, Moelwyn, Snowdon, Glyders, Carneddau

Some trip.. but just got well beat.

Richard Webb

"AndyP" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Paul Saunders" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

Good strategy. Where are these check points?
If summits are involved then they'd make good check points. I rather
like the idea of suggesting a walk in terms of key points (easily
provided as GPS waypoints) which need to be visited, but letting the
individual figure out a route for themselves, although in many cases the
route from one summit to the next is pretty obvious.

Yes, sounds like a good idea, I believe that's the way the tgo challenge

is

Quoted message said:

organised. But the guy who 'devised' the Cambrian Way also wrote a
comprehensive route guide to go with the checkpoints so everyone is pretty
much going to stick to that and the idea is pretty pointless.

Tony Drake's book does have clear examples of one route, so there is
definitely the option to take that. However, I take him at his word and
pick my own route. For example, the check points in the Brecon Beacons are:
Sugar Loaf
Capel-y-ffin
Twmpa
Waun Fach
Pen Allt Mawr
Eglwys Faen
Pen-y-Fan
Fan Gihirych or Blaen Nedd Isaf junctions
Bannau Brycheiniog

When I did this section I also used it as an excuse to bag every nearby
summit. Made it much harder, but more satisfying for me. Who could
possibly miss out Cribyn? I seem to remember that I did over 30 summits in
five days crossing the park, not just the half a dozen mentioned.

For Snowdon north, you have:
Snowdon
Glyder Fawr
Glyder Fach
Tal-y-llyn Ogwen (SH666608) - to avoid route one up Pen y Ole Wen apparently
Carnedd Dafydd
Carnedd Llewelyn
Tal-y-Fan
Conwy Mountain
Conwy Castle

Who would miss the chance to bag some of the other 3000s at the time?

I can provide GRs and a full list of check points if anyone is interested,
but I would recommend Tony's book. Mine cost £5.50 about three years back.
Has some nice background and the route map through some difficult bits (main
ly the odd town or motorway crossing) are useful. Has some B&B addresses
too.

Have fun,
Paul

Have fun,
Paul

Paul Cummings said:

I can provide GRs and a full list of check points if anyone is
interested,

Yes, I'd be interested, in particular to see the checkpoints in the less
well known areas.

Quoted message said:

but I would recommend Tony's book.

I've got no plans to do the route so I'm not that fussed about getting
the book. Besides, in the spirit of the check points idea I'd rather
join up the dots myself to see what kind of route I come up with,
although I guess I'd then have to buy the book to compare it with his
route.

I did actually plan a backpacking route the length of Wales once, back
in the eighties, when I was a little more optimistic (and unrealistic)
about my walking capabalities. In retrospect it was a very hard route,
taking in most of the major summits. More of a masochistic peak bagging
route than an efficient backpacking route. I must try to find it.

I imagine it would be possible to plan an interesting route through
Wales using relatively easy paths and avoiding unnecessary ascent, yet
still passing through the most scenic areas. Not everyone is a peak
bagger.

Paul
--
http://www.wilderness-wales.co.uk
http://www.wildwales.fsnet.co.uk

On Tue, 21 Sep 2004 22:58:50 +0100, Darren G <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>,
[email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

Has anyone done any part of this, or know anything about it?

You've only been back a couple of days!

you can't have itchy feet already?

its called "re-entry"

I've read about it ;-)

SteveO

NE Climbers & walkers chat forum;
http://www.thenmc.org.uk/phpBB2/index.php

NMC website: http://www.thenmc.org.uk

"Paul Saunders" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Paul Cummings said:

I can provide GRs and a full list of check points if anyone is
interested,

Yes, I'd be interested, in particular to see the checkpoints in the less
well known areas.

Okay, Here we go:
1 ST180765 Cardiff Castle
2 ST131827 Castell Coch
3 ST224900 Mynydd Machen
4 ST242926 Twmbarlwm
5 SO270119 Blorenge
6 SO272188 Sugar Loaf
7 SO255315 Capel-y-ffin
8 SO225351 Twmpa
9 SO216290 Waun Fach
10 SO207243 Pen Allt Mawr
11 SO192157 Eglwys Faen
12 SO012216 Pen y Fan
13a SN881191 Fan Gihirych
13b SN408144 Blaen Nedd Isaf Junction
14 SN825218 Bannau Brycheiniog
15 SN767447 Towy Bridge
16 SN740610 Garn Gron
17 SN809720 Domen Milwyn
18 SN727782 Pontbren Plwca
19 SN790869 Plynlimon
20 SN861940 Dylife
21 SH859149 Dinas Mawddwy
22 SH833136 Bwlch Siglen
23 SH711130 Cader Idris
24 SH620155 Barmouth Bridge
25 SH661258 Y Llethyr
26 SH665270 Rhinog Fach
27 SH657290 Rhinog Fawr
28 SH659347 Moel Ysryfarnogod
29 SH683359 Moelfryn
30 SH658449 Moelwyn Mawr
31 SH648467 Cnicht
32a SH594462 Pont Aberglaslyn
32b SH641513 Bryn Gwynant YH
33 SH610544 Snowdon
34 SH643579 Glyder Fawr
35 SH656583 Glyder Fach
36 SH666608 Tal-y-llyn Ogwen
37 SH663631 Carnedd Dafydd
38 SH684645 Carnedd Llewelyn
39 SH729727 Tal-y-fan
40 SH760778 Conwy Mountain
41 SH783775 Conwy Castle

There you go. You owe me one for all that typing!

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

but I would recommend Tony's book.

I've got no plans to do the route so I'm not that fussed about getting
the book. Besides, in the spirit of the check points idea I'd rather
join up the dots myself to see what kind of route I come up with,
although I guess I'd then have to buy the book to compare it with his
route.

I found the route through the Brecons to be a little too gentle. I modified
it to bag every peak I could. This is my peak bagging route :
Starting at Capel-y-Ffin YH
Twmpa
Rhos Dirion
Twyn Talycefn
Waun Fach
Mynydd Llysiau
Pen Twyn Glas
Pen Allt-mawr
Pen Cerrig-calch
Table Mountain
Pan y Creigiau
Craig y Fan Ddu
Bwlch y Ddwyallt
Craig Cym-oergwym
Fan y Big
Cribyn
Pen-y-Fan
Corn Du
Bwlch Duwynt (how can a peak be a Bwlch???)
Y Garn
Fan Fawr
Fan Llia
Fan Nedd
Fan Fraith
Fan Gyhirych
Cefn Cul (how I hated this one)
Fan Hir
Fan Brycheiniog
Picws Du
Waun Lefrith
Fan Foel
Finishing at the YH.

I didn't like this finishing point, especially as it made the last day too
short and included too much road.

Quoted message said:

I did actually plan a backpacking route the length of Wales once, back
in the eighties, when I was a little more optimistic (and unrealistic)
about my walking capabalities. In retrospect it was a very hard route,
taking in most of the major summits. More of a masochistic peak bagging
route than an efficient backpacking route. I must try to find it.

There is someone's similar route on the Internet somewhere. Called "Across
the Dragon's Back" or something like that to include all of the Welsh 2000s.
IIRC it was written by a woman in her mid 40s who completed it alone and
spent a lot of time camping on the route. Quite an impressive feat and a
nice read.

Quoted message said:

I imagine it would be possible to plan an interesting route through
Wales using relatively easy paths and avoiding unnecessary ascent, yet
still passing through the most scenic areas. Not everyone is a peak
bagger.

What???? Next you'll be saying you don't need a GPS or camera to go
walking.

;-)

Have fun,
Paul

On Tue, 21 Sep 2004 22:58:50 +0100, Darren G <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

You've only been back a couple of days!

Shirley you can't have itchy feet already?

Have to get working on the next escape ;-)

Best wishes,
--
Peewiglet

On Thu, 23 Sep 2004 10:37:35 +0100, SteveO wrote:

[...]

Quoted message said:

its called "re-entry"

I've read about it ;-)

Re-entry, eh? Hmmm... 🙂

Best wishes,
--
Peewiglet

On Tue, 21 Sep 2004 16:55:13 +0100, Roger <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Could well be harder than the Pennine
Way. It will certainly have a distinctly sharper profile.

That's what I've heard - really hard work, but interesting...

Best wishes,
--
Peewiglet

On Tue, 21 Sep 2004 18:32:32 +0100, "Bootlaces"
<[email hidden]> wrote:

[...]

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

or know anything about it?

Cambrian Way - ISBN 0 9509580 2-6

Ahaa! Thank you 🙂

[...]

Quoted message said:

[1] 5 days 1 hour 58 minutes 12 seconds if I'm correct. No rest breaks
or sleeping on the job permitted.

Uh-oh...

Best wishes,
--
Peewiglet

On Tue, 21 Sep 2004 20:20:52 +0100, Roger <[email hidden]>
wrote:

[...]

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

According to the little book 273.6 miles with 61540 ft. ascent (when
travelling south - north)

So distancewise much the same. I don't know what the total ascent on the
PW is but I doubt if it is even as much as half the CW total.

I don't know, but certainly I have the impression that it's
significantly harder than the PW.

[...]

Quoted message said:

I had hoped to be able to find further details but so far I have been
unsuccessful. It was written up in a fairly recent issue (probably some
time in the last 10 years) of Strider, the journal of the LDWA but I
can't find it. I have a couple of issues missing (in 1999) so don't know
if it is there or whether it is mascarading under a misleading title in
the many copies I do have.

I read about it here:
http://www.gtleisure.co.uk/walks/cw00/cambwaya.htm

Best wishes,
--
Peewiglet

On Tue, 21 Sep 2004 17:40:41 +0100, "Paul Cummings"
<[email hidden]> wrote:

[...]

Quoted message said:

I've walked the Brecon Beacons sections and the northern Snowdonia sections.
The book you want is by Tony Drake, it describes the CW from Cardiff Castle
to Conwy Castle.

Many thanks 🙂

Quoted message said:

The route is covered by a number of Check Points rather than a fixed route.
The idea is that walkers choose different routes, but must all pass through
the Check Points to qualify. The reason for this is that it may help with
erosion.

What a great idea!

Quoted message said:

I have a copy of the book and other info on the route. I have to go out
now, but I'll try to answer any questions you have later.

Thanks again! I'll look further into it, and may come back with
further questions in due course 🙂

Best wishes,
--
Peewiglet