St Davids Walk- St Davids to Bangor

Stop 1 I live in St Davids and it is as much as my life is worth for me to recommend a particular place to stay. But there is lots of excellent accommodation, much of it listed on the City web-site. For a taxi try 01437-721731, Franks taxis, or 01437-720931, Tony's taxis.

Stop 2 The Old School Hostel, Trefin, Haverfordwest, Pembs, SA62 5AU, 01348-831414 (not quite a Youth Hostel - see the website)
Awel Mor, Penparc, Trefin, Nr St Davids Pembs SA62 5AG, 01348-837865 (Grid reference SM 845 312, unfortunately 2.1 k from stop 2 but excellent and worth using as a base for several days)

Stop 3 No accommodation nearby. See above and below

Stop 4 Tregynon Farm, (054 345) phone 01239-820531 (About half a kilometre from stop 4. Classy, award-winning farm guest house although more expensive than the other places on this list. Worth using as a base for several days

Stops 5 and 6 have no accommodation nearby known to me but you can stay at Y Garreg Lwyd, Cenarth, SA38 9RB, 01239 710230 arranging transport through Tivy taxis at Llandysil, 01559-363463

Stops 7 and 8 have no accommodation but are very well served by the Glasfryn Guest House at Llanybyther where Shirley and Roger Hopkin are very welcoming and friendly. They will collect you from and leave you at stops 7 and 8, giving you a day with no luggage to carry. They do evening meals (home grown vegetables!). Tel.: 01570 481400 (mobile: 07866 216064), website at www.glasfrynguesthouse.co.uk email by clicking here. Address: Glasfryn Guest House, Llanybydder, Carmarthenshire SA40 9TY.

Section 2
(days 8 to 14 )

Stop 9 The Brunant Arms, Caio, Llanwrda, Carms, 01558-650483 (An excellent small pub. Click here for a picture.

Stop 10 The Royal Oak at Rhandirmwyn, Phone 01550-760201 Click here for a picture

Stop 11 No accommodation at this wild spot. The simple option is to pre-book a taxi to meet you and take you to Tregaron where you can stay at The Talbot Hotel, The Square, Tregaron, SY25 6LJ. Phone 01974-298208 You can get a reliable taxi from Dilwyn, 01974-298652, Ł28 for the 2 trips carrying two people in 2010.
But there are two alternatives. You can aim for one of the two remote Youth Hostel, both some distance from the main route. These are Dolgoch and Ty'n-y-Cornel.
Dolgoch, Tregaron, Ceredigion, SY25 6NR, 01974-298680 at 806 561 is nearly 5 Km off-route to the East but can be reached without adding much to the route as follows: from Soar Mynydd chapel go E into the forest and then N when you meet the Tywi river. Then, after spending the night there, on Day 11, aim for 794 574 and then head N, reaching Strata Florida easily. This alternative walk for day 11 is not as good as the splendid, proper day 11 route.
The other hostel Ty'n-y-Cornel 01980 629259 at 751 535 (you will probably speak to Richard Hollins who is not actually at the hostel but who can make a booking for you on the spot) is reached by diverting West from Soar Mynydd chapel. After spending the night there you can rejoin the route at the start of Day 11 by walking North from the hostel, over the top of Esgair Hir (756 561) I have not done this but I am told it is an excellent option.
Neither hostel offers meals but you may cook your own food at either hostel and Dolgoch has a small shop.
Despite all the problems, this is quite an adventure.
Prior booking is necessary and Ty'n-y-Cornel has its own web page (Click here

Dolgoch Hostel

There is an emergency phone box at stop 11 but it may have been vandalized.

Stop 12 Black Lion Inn, Pontrhydfendigaid, SY25 6BE, 01974-831624 (A short detour is involved from Strata Florida but it is pleasant walking and is included in the route details. The inn is run by Dominic and Claire Ward and the food is exceptional. There is a village shop where you can buy materials for a packed lunch. Click here for detais and reviews

Stop 13 The Old Post Office, Cwm Ystwyth, SY23 4AD, 01974-282231 On the route. SN790739. Mr and Mrs Budd are used to walkers. Very reasonably priced and an evening meal and packed lunch are available)

Stop 14 The George Borrow Hotel, Ponterwyd SY23 3A, 01970-890230 On the route. The only possible place to stay. Historic.

View from the front of the George Borrow

Stop 15 No accommodation - this point breaks the long stretch from Ponterwyd to Machynlleth. You cannot stay at or near this wild spot but the previous address will make arrangements to collect you and take you back if you give them notice of this when booking and stay there a second night. This point is the end of section 2 so, if you follow the recommended plan, you will have no problem

Section 3
(days 15 to 18 )

You will have to reach the starting point of day 15 by asking a friend to drop you there. But, if you are ollowing our suggested plan, this will be the start of a new section so it will work out well.

Stop 16 Maenllwyn Guest House, Newtown Road, Machynlleth. SY20 8EY, 01654-702928. (on the route and highly recommended)

Stop 17 The Riverside Guest House, Abergynolwyn, LL36 9YR. 01654-782235 (On the route as you start to leave Abergynolwyn. Mr and Mrs Ron Bott are the perfect hosts) website http://www.riverside-wales.co.uk/

Stop 18 Bryn Melyn Hotel, Panorama Road, Barmouth, 01341-280556 (On the hill out of Barmouth giving you a good start for your long day over the Rhinogs. You must arrange when booking if you want an evening meal and a packed lunch. Web site www.brynmelyn.co.uk)

View of the front of Bryn Melyn

Stop 19 A beautiful spot but no accommodation or mobile phone contact. You can get a taxi by phoning 0778-8431854 or 01341-247741 but you will have to arrange it in advance.

Section 4
(days 19 to the end)

If you walk this section from a single base, Beddgelert is ideal. See above for a way to reach the starting point

Stop 20 Bryn Dedwydd, Fronwynion Street, Trawsfynydd, LL41 4SW Try the village website for details of this and other accommodation. Trawsfynydd is a tiny village associated with the interesting story of the Shepherd-poet, Hedd Wyn, who was posthumously chaired at a National Eisteddfod after being killed in the 1914-18 war. Bryn Dedwydd is a few yards to the right of the main route, in the centre of the village)

Stop 21 The Oakeley Arms is right on the spot. Offers beauty therapy! See the website.
Alternatively, The Grapes, Maentwrog, Blaenau 4HN, 01766-590365 (from the point SH 665 412 which is 2.6 Km into the day 20 walk, it is less than a kilometre to this pub at SH 665 407)

Stop 22 Gwesty Plas Tan y Graig, Beddgelert, Gwynedd, LL55 4LT, 01766-890310 Ideal as a base for the whole secton. There is lots of accommodation and this comfortable little hotel - Gwesty is Welsh for Hotel - is ideal.

Stop 23 Pen-y-Gwryd Hotel, Nant Gwynant, Gwynedd, LL55 4NT, 01286-870211 (Exactly on the route and a most historic place. Used by the 1953 Everest Party in training before their successful first ascent of Everest and full of mementos of that and other notable climbing events. It books up solid quickly so book well in advance.
If you take the alternative, tougher, options for days 21 and 22, going over Snowdon and the Glyders, then the Pen-yPass Youth Hostel, Nantgwynant, Gwynedd LL55 4NH, 01286-870428 will suit you very well. Like the Pen-y-Gwryd Hotel, it was an historic climbing centre.

View of the Pen-y-Gwryd hotel

Stop 24 Idwal Cottage Youth Hostel, Nant Ffrancon, Gwynedd, LL57 3LZ, 01248-600225 (On the route map, this spot is called Ogwen Cottage but Ogwen Cottage is an outdoor activity centre with no accommodation for single overnights. Idwal Cottage, situated next door, is a Youth Hostel with fairly primitive but very comfortable facilities. It has a fine community atmosphere and is, anyway, the only possible place to stay)

Stop 25 Bangor is a large town, full of accommodation. Do a search on Google or a similar search engine for Bangor Gwynedd bed and breakfast and you will be spoiled for choice.