Cambrian Mountains

The Cambrian Mountains stretch across Mid Wales, a wild upland region known locally as Elenydd. They run from Plynlimon in the west to Radnor Forest in the east and Mynydd Mallaen in the south. This land of rounded grassy hills and open moorland is often called the Desert of Wales because it feels empty and remote. The area contains the sources of the River Severn and River Wye, which rise on the eastern slopes of Pumlimon. In the 1960s and 1970s, plans to make it a national park were dropped after strong local opposition. The mountains are mainly formed from Ordovician and Silurian sandstones and mudstones, giving them their gentle shapes. They receive high rainfall from Atlantic winds and feed many rivers besides the Severn and Wye. Three large reservoirs—the Elan Valley Reservoirs, Llyn Brianne, and Clywedog—store water for South Wales and the English West Midlands. A controversial wind farm at Cefn Croes sits just south of the A44 between Aberystwyth and Llangurig. Walkers find wide grassy ridges and few tracks, making the area quieter than Snowdonia or the Brecon Beacons. The highest point is Plynlimon at 752 metres, with other summits such as Pen Pumlumon Arwystli and Y Garn nearby. The Cambrian Way long-distance footpath crosses the range, offering long views over rolling moorland. Visitors often spot red kites and other birds, while the reservoirs reflect the surrounding hills on calm days.