Walk Details
This stage takes us from The Groe in Builth Wells along an undulating trail to Erwood. There are a lot of ups and downs along this section of the walk – but you are also offered some magnificent views out across mid-Wales as a reward!
There is parking at Erwood Station Craft Centre, at the end of this stage, so you can park here if you want to catch the bus to Builth Wells where this stage starts. From the bull sculpture in The Groe park, walk towards the Wye Bridge and turn right in front of the Wyeside Centre.
Here you’ll pass an amazing mural on the building to your right of Llewelyn ap Gruffyd, the last true Prince of Wales before the title was re-used by Edward I and given to the male heir to the English throne.
In front of the Lion Inn, turn left and walk along Castle Street. Take the first right to continue along Castle Street, and bear right skirting around the site of Builth Castle on your right. You’ll find a stile on the right that leads you into a field, where sheep graze amongst the thistles and nettles on top of the castle mound.
Turn left along Newry Road. Cross Tanhouse Bridge. Stay on this road for just under 1.5km (1 mile), passing Sunny Bank. At the junction, keep left along the dead end road. You will soon hear the river below as you follow the road steeply downhill. Cross the Duhonw via the footbridge. Walk to the left of the house, going uphill along the gravel lane enclosed by hedges and trees. At the road turn left along a footpath, with lovely views to the north, which widens out further along. At the road go straight across, along a track signed Pantypyllau. As you climb the view opens up to the right towards Builth Wells and
the Royal Welsh Showground.
When the gravel track bears right to Pantypyllau, you need to keep left, going up a grassy path to a gate. Go through the gate and follow the path on the left hand side of the field, following it round and uphill. Go through another gate and follow the fence on the left up to open moorland and a waymarker where you turn left and continue along the fence. The Black Mountains and Bannau Brycheiniog come into view. Go through another gate and continue beside the fence, passing a section of very old slate wall and a small conifer plantation. Pass through two gates in quick succession, the highest point on this stage. Then head across the field (with a pond below) along an old hedge line to go through a gate. Follow the track (through bracken in summer), turning left immediately onto a more defined track heading to the right of the mountains in the distance.
Go over two small streams. Ignore the track to the left when you reach a crossroads of tracks. Keep straight on until you come to a junction at a fence. To get your first view of the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) and Pen y fan, the highest mountain in South Wales, walk a few feet past the left turn. Turn left at the junction and walk downhill beside the fence on the right, with far-reaching views to your left to the village of Aberedw and Llewelyn’s Cave on the opposite side of the river. These are the views that make this stage of the walk so special!
Follow the path down to a gate and keep straight on down to the road where you turn right, to walk along the road for about 2km. After a while Little Hill Common opens out to the left, with gorgeous views down to the river, Erwood Bridge, and the Black Mountains beyond. The road starts to descend, zig-zagging down and passing New House on the right. After New House, when the road curves left, look out for a path on the right dropping down to a footbridge. Cross the Fernant stream (SO 072 443) and turn left at the end of the bridge. Just after going through a gate the track forks. Take the right hand fork, ignoring the track joining on the right. After a scrubby bit the path soon opens out and starts climbing for a short distance. Very soon you meet a junction of paths, with a large ash tree just to the left. Take the left hand fork (which may be difficult to see when the bracken is at full height) to enter an old lane running between the hedges and trees. If the lane is overgrown – duck left to walk through the field beside the hedge. Reaching the fence, walk to the right of it and continue along the fence to your left.
Go through the gate and uphill onto the open common. Head straight on uphill (on a path through bracken during the summer months), going slightly to the right and crossing a couple of wet areas, before reaching the road. Turn left to walk downhill, over a cattle grid, and down to the A470. Turn left, and cross the road to walk over Erwood Bridge. Turn left at the end of the bridge and go through a gate to the right of the house, following a narrow path up to the carpark at Erwood Station Craft Centre where this stage ends.
To combine your walk with public transport, leave your car at Erwood Station Craft Centre and catch the T4 bus (Brecon to Builth Wells) which runs between Erwood and Builth Wells (except Sundays and public holidays) and stops on request at Erwood Bridge. There’s also the X15 bus (Hereford to Builth) that runs between Erwood and Builth which stops on request at Erwood Bridge (Wed only).
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