Eryri · Moderate · Circular

Tal y Fan from Rowen

The most northerly 2,000-foot top in Wales, from Rowen by the Roman road and back past a hillfort and a lonely old church.

Distance
10.9 km (6.8 mi)
Ascent
583 m
Time
About 4 h 30 min
High point
607 m
Grade
Moderate

Line © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), checked by Global Adventurer.

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Move along the height chart to see each point on the map.
Tal y Fan from Rowen
Jones · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

The walk

The walk starts from the small car park in Rowen. A very steep lane climbs west out of the village and becomes a green track: the Roman road towards Bwlch y Ddeufaen, which passes the burial chamber of Maen y Bardd. After a short stretch of the mountain road a path turns north across the moor to the heathery col between Foel Lwyd and Tal y Fan. Turn right and climb steeply, past a false top, to the wall on the summit ridge; the trig point, at 610 m, is over a stile. The way down is north-east off the hill, then south-east past the hillfort of Caer Bach to the old church of Llangelynnin, and by paths and lanes back to Rowen.

It is 10.9 km with 583 m of ascent; allow about 4½ hours. The grade is Moderate.

The lane out of Rowen is very steep indeed. The path to the col has only occasional waymarks and the moor is wet and boggy in places, so take a map; the top is very exposed to the wind. This is sheep country, and on the open hill dogs must be on a short lead from 1 March to 31 July.

Parking in Rowen is limited to a few spaces. There is no public transport to the village.

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.

Good to know

  • Tal y Fan, 610 m, is the most northerly 2,000 ft summit in Wales
  • A survey in 2013 measured it at 609.98 m and confirmed it as a 2,000-footer
  • Up by the Roman road through Bwlch y Ddeufaen, past the burial chamber of Maen y Bardd
  • Back past the hillfort of Caer Bach and the old church of Llangelynnin

Summits on the way

  • Tal y Fan 610 m

Getting there

Start: Rowen. 53.23009, -3.85878

Directions to the start

By train: Tal-y-Cafn station is 2.7 km from the start.

Places to stay nearby

Rooms in and around Tal-y-Cafn: Booking.com → Expedia →

Affiliate links: if you book, Global Adventurer earns a small commission at no cost to you.

Paths change, and the weather decides the day. The line and figures come from OpenStreetMap and our own checks; take a map, check the forecast, and turn back if it isn't right.