Walk 3023 - printer friendly version

Great Rhos & the Radnor Forest from New Radnor Walk

Author - Lou Johnson

Length - 9.0 miles / 14.6 km

Ascent - 1750 feet / 530 metres

Grade - moderate

Start - OS grid reference SO212609
Lat 52.240624 + Long -3.1554452
Postcode LD8 2TD (approx. location only)

Mid-Wales offers much for walkers and this particular route is one of the best including three summits over 2000 feet. Like much of the area the paths see few people and you could well complete the circuit without meeting anyone else. There are sections that would be hard to navigate in low cloud and there are also a few areas where the going could be muddy after rain.

Park on the street in the small town of New Radnor taking care not to obstruct anyone's access. Locate the only major junction in the town centre and take the lane that heads roughly north (Mutton Dingle). Follow this lane for about 200 metres and fork right along a track. The gentle climb leads you alongside a wood with rounded Knowle Hill to your right. Just over the summit of the col locate a narrow path that heads into the wood. This leads to a forest track. The trees were being felled in this area so the onward path may be hard to follow but you need to exit the wood by a gate at the most northern point of the plantation.

Reaching open land take the left fork through a gate and follow a path across the moor. If you are into peak bagging then a short diversion right to the summit of Bache Hill is necessary otherwise stay on the main path and descend to the corner of a forested area (grid ref. 205638). The onward route climbs out of a small valley to head northwest across the moor to the summit of Black Mixen, which is home to an unsightly mast.

Continue from the summit in a north-westerly direction to head for the forest boundary (grid ref. 190650). If the visibility is good keep as far to the left as possible following a narrow path along the top of the deep valley of Harley Dingle. This way you get the best views of the rocky outcrops that fringe the eastern side. Reaching the forest boundary turn west and stay on the moorland side of the fence for about a kilometre to reach an eroded track that exits the woods. Turn left along this for about two hundred metres before turning left again along a narrow path that makes for the summit of Great Rhos. This is the highest point on the walk although the view is not the best!

Continue south on a narrow path and keep trending to the left (without trespassing on the range) until the main bridlepath descending into Harley Valley is reached after a shallow valley. Follow this down to the stream below. In a short way you pick up a more substantial path which meanders high above the stream to reach a wider track. This leads south east to the col between Fron Hill and Great Rhos. The views from this col are the best of the walk and the gradual descent into Harley Dingle provides a superb end to this route. Reaching the stream on the valley floor cross the footbridge and take the left-hand fork which leads you back through a wood and fields to New Radnor.

Messaging & Social Media

Message Walking Britain and follow the latest news.

Mountain Weather

Stay safe on the mountains with detailed weather forecasts - for iOS devices or for Android devices.