Llanwrtyd Wells and the Irfon
Out of the smallest town in Britain along the Irfon, through oak woods and back. Quiet on all but a handful of days a year.
- Distance
- 3.1 mi / 5 km
- Time
- 1 hr 45
- Ascent
- 150 m
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Shape
- Circular
Where it is
The circle shows the general area, not the exact start. Use the directions link below to get to the car park itself. Contours and paths shown are OpenTopoMap, drawn from OpenStreetMap data.
The route
From the square, follow the river upstream on field and woodland paths, then loop back on the lanes above. Short, varied and well within most people’s reach.
Worth knowing
- The town hosts bog snorkelling in August and a man versus horse race in June. On those weekends, everything changes.
- Sulphur spring water still runs at the old wells site and smells exactly as advertised.
- Trains from Swansea and Shrewsbury stop here, which makes a car-free day out straightforward.
What you’ll see
The Irfon running clear, hanging oak woodland, red kites and dippers.
Background
Llanwrtyd grew as a spa around a sulphur spring discovered in the eighteenth century. Its Victorian hotels are still recognisable, and it claims the title of smallest town in Britain with a population of around 850.