Sarn Helen

Sarn Helen is a network of Roman roads crossing central Wales. The longest stretch runs 260 kilometres from Aberconwy in the north to Carmarthen in the west, though parts have been lost or absorbed into modern roads. Saint Elen, a 4th-century Celtic saint, is traditionally credited with ordering the construction of these roads. Sections still follow riverbanks, climb mountain valleys and pass ancient forts like Tomen y Mur near Trawsfynydd. Other parts lie beneath minor roads or railway lines such as the Corris Railway between Aberllefenni and Maespoeth Junction. The route is worth following for its surviving traces of Roman engineering and its links to Welsh legend. A 430-kilometre mountain bike trail uses parts of the old road between Conwy and Worms Head. The annual Sarn Helen Hill Race covers 26.6 kilometres from Lampeter, testing runners with road, cross-country and fell sections. Near Dolaucothi, the road once served the gold mines before reaching the Roman fort of Luentinum. Walkers and cyclists find quiet lanes, river crossings and upland tracks that echo the original line. At Llanio in Ceredigion, the road passes the remains of a small Roman fort called Bremia. Near Llandovery, the route ends at the junction of Roman roads that once linked gold mines to Carmarthen and Brecon. Sections of the Corris Railway and minor roads still mark the line, while the Sarn Helen Trail offers a long-distance route for modern travellers.