The Roman Steps from Cwm Bychan

The walk starts from the farm's car park at the head of Llyn Cwm Bychan. Walk east along the lane for a few minutes and take the signed path on the right, through a wood and across a stream. Beyond the trees the Roman Steps begin: a way of flat slabs laid up the valley, climbing between crags and deep heather into the Rhinog National Nature Reserve. The steps lead to the head of the pass at Bwlch Tyddiad. The return is the same way.

It is 5.2 km with 312 m of ascent; allow about 2¼ hours. The grade is Easy.

The steps are a packhorse way of the Middle Ages, not Roman. They are slippery when wet. Off the path the ground is pathless, rough and slow, so this walk keeps to the steps; going on to Rhinog Fawr is a much harder outing, not for inexperienced walkers. There are no facilities in the reserve. Feral goats live here.

Parking is in a private field with an honesty box: bring coins. Cwm Bychan is reached from Llanbedr by several miles of very narrow lane with passing places. There is no public transport.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.