Update April 2023
Tal y Fan 2001ft is Rowen’s nearest mountain, and a popular walk from the village. These notes and pictures describe the walk up to Cae Coch, and then the walk up Tal y Fan from Cae Coch, and some options for returning to Rowen.
Note… The Roman Road above Rowen is unsuitable for motor vehicles.
Tal y Fan is serious hill walking. Go prepared, with good boots, warm waterproof clothing, mobile phone, food and drink and OS map OL17. You are a long way from help!
Rowen to Cae Coch
1. Starting at the Ty Gwyn pub, you will be able to see Rowen Youth Hostel, high above the village.
2. Walk up the main street, passing Seion Chapel.
3. Turn right in the centre of the village, signposted Youth Hostel.
4. Continue uphill. The road gets steeper and steeper.
5. Pass Isallt on the left and then start the very steep walk up to the Hostel, with great views.
6. Continue along the track, which has been improved after storm damage.
7. Go through a gate across the track and onto the Roman Road.
8. Visit Maen y Bardd Neolithic Burial Chamber.
9. Continue along the Roman Road, passing several standing stones, until you reach the tarmac road at Cae Coch.
10. The footpath up Tal y Fan starts 100 metres along the road.
Looking towards Drum, 2526 ft.
Roman Road
Rowen Youth Hostel at Rhiw
Standing stone
Cae Coch
Maen y Bardd Neolithic burial chamber
Beyond the Youth Hostel
Along the Roman Road
Cae Coch to the summit of Tal y Fan
Five stiles, no gates. Easy walking until Stile 3, then rough stony paths and some scrambling to the summit.
1. Cross Stile 1 and head up the clear path towards Stile 2.
2. Head for Stile 3, which is high up in the S shaped stone wall, next to an intersecting wall coming in from the right.
3. Bear left after Stile 3 and pass a waymark post. The terrain changes to heather and bilberries and rough stone paths here. It can be boggy!
4. Cross over Stile 4, with good views of Anglesey.
5. Bear right and follow the rough path with some scrambling.
6. One tricky short downhill scramble leads to Stile 5 and the summit.
7. Good views all round: Llandudno and the Great Orme, Conwy Castle, Conwy Valley, Anglesey.
Stile 1 of 5, the start of the climb up Tal y Fan
Ruins of Tan y Braich
Easy path to stile 2
Stile 2
View back down from stile 2
Head for the S shaped stone wall, top left of picture.
Approaching stile 3
Stile 3
Stile 4 with good views of Anglesey
Rougher country
View from summit of Tal y Fan
View from summit of Tal y Fan
Trig point on summit of Tal y Fan
Circular routes back to Rowen
Easy routes
1. Via Hafodty Gwyn and the road with two gates
1. Retrace your footsteps to Cae Coch.
2. Follow the tarmac road downhill and take the first turning on the left.
3. Go through a gate and pass the ruins of Hafodty Gwyn on your right.
4. Go through another gate after five minutes, and continue downhill all the way to Rowen.
2. Via the Alpacas Field
1. Retrace your footsteps to Cae Coch.
2. Follow the tarmac road downhill and cross the Afon Ro over Pont Hafodty Gwyn bridge (aka Roman Bridge) which was rebuilt in about 1800.
3. Pass Fron Haul on right and take the next road left. Look out for six alpacas in the opposite field.
4. Continue pass scattered houses until you reach a tee junction, with a farm track opposite.
5. Turn left and continue downhill (passing my house Ynys Goch).
6. Turn left at foot of hill and walk for 15 minutes back to Rowen.
Longer, harder routes via the Tal y Fan ridge. Info to follow.
Via The Enclosure wall
Via Llangelynnin Old Church
Pictures from a walk on 1st April 2021
Summit of Tal y Fan
Summit of Tal y Fan
St. Celynnin’s Well
Enclosure wall
Compiled by Peter McFadden
Email peterhoney914@gmail.com