Drover's Walk

The Drovers’ Trail over Mynydd Mallaen

It is estimated that the walk will take around three hours.

The route we have chosen follows an authentic Drovers’ Trail eastwards and upwards from the hamlet of Cwrt-y-Cadno (Foxes’ Court) over the open moorland plateau of Mynydd Mallaen and then down to the village of Cilycwm (Corner of the Valley). Cwrt-y-Cadno was a gathering point, where smaller herds would join together into one big unit of up to four hundred beasts for the arduous drive across the mountain. In the street at Cilycwm the pebble-lined gutters where the animals would slake their thirst on arrival may still be seen: at the end of our journey, walkers will hopefully have time themselves for a refreshing glass of ale and a ploughman’s in the Neuadd Arms.

The route is around 10km in length, and includes an ascent of some 250m in height: this climb is rugged underfoot and stony at times, but never beyond the capabilities of a seasoned walker. Once on the top, the path wends its way through upland grass and heather, although there may be two sections of muddy and boggy terrain around the fords of Rhyd Ddu and Rhyd Galed, the more so after recent rain. The route down is a straightforward descent through fern and open grassland, before following the forestry road to the village.

A clear day rewards the walker with wonderful views and offers many interesting causes for contemplation. Stopping to look backwards on the ascent, for example, he will see a vast expanse of rolling hills stretching westwards far into Carmarthenshire and Cardiganshire, and as the track meets the upland plateau, a glance to the left will reveal a recumbent standing stone, now shattered into three by the power, it is said, of a wizard from Cwrt-y-Cadno. As one begins to follow the undulating path across the moorland, further to the left the Standing Stone of Maen Hir (Long Stone) comes into view, and behind that the old burial cairns of Creigiau Merched (Ladies’ Crags) may be seen in clear weather.

The valley of the infant Merchon opens up to the north, dissecting the plateau and helping to create a wonderful alpine-like ridge that descends to the plain below – a wonderful walk in itself, but not one for today. Our path takes us down more gently alongside a Forestry plantation, revealing extensive views both of the long ridge above Llyn-y-Fan to the south and of the Brecon Beacons further to the south-east, before finally arriving at Cilycwm.

At the moment, it is envisaged that there will be fifteen places available on this walk, but there may be more if demand is sufficient. Minibus transport will be provided from Llandovery to the start of the walk at Cwrt-y-Cadno, and from the end of the walk at Cilycwm back to Llandovery.

The following timings are suggested: they are, of course, subject to change.
9 30 am: leave Llandovery Town Hall (bus stop, lower end of Stone Street)
10 00 am: start walk.
1 00 pm: arrive Cilycwm.
1 45 pm: arrive Llandovery.

Please note carefully

1. Intending participants should be physically fit and in good health. They should have good walking experience, and be properly kitted out with all the items needed for a walk on the hills of this kind. They should carry with them adequate supplies of food and drink.

2. Places on the walk are necessarily limited. Children under the age of 15 yrs will not be able to take part, and on account of the numbers of sheep still grazing free on the upland moors, no dogs will be permitted to accompany walkers.

3. The Llandovery Sheep Festival Committee can accept no liability for any difficulties or problems that may arise on the walk. All those who participate in this walk do so at their own risk.

4. A fee of £10 will be charged for participation in this walk, and this will include minibus transport to the start and from the finish of the walk, and the Ploughman’s lunch in the Neuadd Arms – but not the ale to wash it down! Applications to take part should be made on the form which can be downloaded from the Sheep Festival website.

5. Completed forms, together with a cheque for £10 per person, made payable to “Llandovery & District Chamber of Commerce”, should be sent to:
Glyn Evans, Tŷ Bihan, Maes y Coleg, LLANDOVERY SA20 0HS

A chance to experience a droving life