Stage 4 – Newbridge to Builth Wells

Standing opposite Pen-y-bont Farm (at the junction of the B4358 with the Llysdinam road) turn right signposted for Beulah, and walk for 750m along the verge beside the B4358 (please take care as any traffic passes you). When the road levels out, just after the steep climb, look out for a Wye Valley Walk signpost on the left and go through the gate.

Follow the path down through Estyn Wood over four boardwalks and then through a gate into the field. From here we’re heading steeply uphill to a gate in the fence line. Go through the gate and follow the fence on your right, until a waymark directs you left, diagonally, to a signpost in the far left hand corner of the field. Follow the zig zag path down to cross the footbridge over the Hirnant brook and up the other side. Then head straight across the field, through a gate and through the next field to another gate, where you turn left diagonally across the field to a veteran ash tree. Pass to the left of the ash tree and follow the hedge on your right, through a gate. Follow the hedge to your left down to a pedestrian gate beside the wood.

Go through the gate and walk along the edge of the woodland to a kissing gate and out onto a minor road. Here you turn left to walk along the road until you come to a post box where you turn right straight after at a gateway that takes you into the woods. Follow the woodland path and then cross the field to a signpost and gate into the farmyard at Porthllwdd. Turn right to walk to the right-hand side of the farmyard, around the barn and through a gate into a field. Head diagonally rightish to follow the fence to the woodland.

Go through the gate, walking alongside the field boundary until you are nearly at the end of the field, where several veteran oaks stand proudly beside a stream. You are looking for a footbridge on the right, just after the last oak, which crosses the stream into the woodland (dependent on the undergrowth – it may be hard to spot at first). Cross the bridge and go through the gate, following the path uphill past an old building. The Wye is now on your left and the path runs through lovely woods above the river. Cross another footbridge and go through the gate into the field to walk beside the Wye. Continue beside the river and after a while you reach a beautifully situated picnic bench on a bend in the river at Goytre Wood. The perfect place to pause for a moment or two.

When you’re ready, as the track climbs uphill, keep left staying close to the river on a narrow path. This path will widen and run through gorgeous woodland with the sound of the river rushing over rapids. Eventually, near Plum Tree Pool, you’ll pass three wooden sculptures to your right. Soon after these, you’ll join a minor road that continues beside the river and cross a cattle grid. Turn left immediately through a gate into the field. Keep left to walk through a series of lovely riverside fields and then under the railway bridge.

Stay on the path through more fields and gates, passing Penddol Rocks. When you can see the road bridge at Builth Wells, and houses to your right, bear right at the end of the field along the fence and then go to the left up to a gate in the corner of the field. Go through the gate, bear left and then turn left over the bridge. At the bottom of the steps turn left, passing the skate park and walking along an avenue of trees in The Groe, Builth Wells’ riverside park.

If you are collecting passport stamps look out for Bron Wye B&B. It’s on the right of the park, the last house next to the red brick wall, with the stamp on a small wooden wall box facing the park. This stage ends beside the life-sized bronze sculpture of a Welsh Black bull, by artist Gavin Fifield, at the very end of the park.

If you need to get back to your car at the start, you can catch the X47 bus (not on Sundays though).