In Focus – The Cambrian Mountains
The Elan Valley Dams are a popular part of The Cambrian Mountains
What better way to start our first blog post of 2020 on providing an introduction to the Cambrian Mountains!
The Cambrian where? It could be argued that The Cambrian Mountains, a series of mountain ranges in central Wales is lesser known/ marketed than the national park areas of The Brecon Beacons, Snowdonia and Pembrokshire. In fact the area was proposed as a national park in 1965 by the National Parks Commission however, the proposal was opposed by many farmers and local authorities in the area and it never proceeded.
This though may have been a blessing in disguise as The Cambrian Mountains are one of the few remote wilderness areas left in Southern Britain. The Cambrian Mountains area extends over parts of three neigbouring counties: Ceredigion, Powys and Carmarthenshire. Within the catchment area of the mountain range are the following principal towns Machynlleth, Llangurig, Rhayader, Newbridge-on-Wye, Llanwrtyd Wells, Llandovery and Tregaron. Each with the own unique local shops and customs and waiting to be explored!
Did you know the source of the river wye is in fact in The Cambrian Mountains at Plynlimon!
Cambrian Mountains on Welsh Overland Safari
Soar y mynydd - The remotest Chapel In Wales
The Cambrian Mountains feature in many of our set tours including the popular Abergwesyn Pass and Twm Sion Catis Cave, The Grand Tour of The Elan Valley, Abergwesyn Pass – Tregaron – Strata Floria and Prince Llewyn’s Last Days!
“The Cambrian Mountains is a blessing to Mid Wales and features in many of our tours. One of my highlights would be on our Abergwesyn Pass tour where we go out of our way to visit Soar y Mynydd the remotest Chapel in Wales and then visit a disused telephone box (also the remotest in Wales) and challenge our guests to all fit inside”
Richard Davies, Welsh Overland Safari Founder and Tour Guide
Cambrian Mountains Initiative
The Cambrian Mountains Initiative seeks to help sustain traditional upland farms and communities by promoting craft and produce from the area, and by protecting the environment in which they are produced. HRH The Prince of Wales established his Welsh home in 2008 at Llwynywermod, in the southern hills of the Cambrian Mountains. Inspired by the landscape and pursuing a favourite hobby he painted a watercolour of Cwm Berwyn, near Tregaron, which is now used as part of the Cambrian Mountains local produce beef brand.
DID YOU KNOW - In 2015, the Elan Valley Estate (part of The Cambrian Mountains) achieved International Dark Sky Park status and became the first privately owned but publicly accessible park in the world to do so!