This awesome walk visits the Source of the River Severn from the Hafren Forest along a section of the Severn Way. Waterfalls, trees, hills, sheep – what is there not to love!
I find this walk is generally quite, once you get around half way through (where the terrain gets a bit more strenuous), but I would advise going early in the morning to ensure you can get a parking space as the lower part of the walk can get fairly busy and the car park can get full quick.
The source can be found high on Plynlimon, in the uplands of Mid-Wales, on the western boundaries of the forest. It can get pretty bleak up there, and on a trip before it was snowing lightly whilst down at the bottom there was lovely sunshine! Make sure to take appropriate clothing no matter the weather at the start please.
The walk starts from the Hafren Forest car park where you can pick up the Severn Way.
Find it here on google maps – https://goo.gl/maps/46Lk71SuZn6Vm3917
Follow the waymarked trail (which is a boardwalk at the start, nice and easy) north west along the infant River Severn or Afon Hafren.
The path gradually climbs through the forest before coming out on the slopes of Plynlimon. A short climb from the edge of the forest will then take you up to the source of the river.
Here you’ll find a marker post which lies at an elevation 620m or 2034ft. There’s also awesome views of the Cambrian Mountains and the mountains of Snowdonia from this elevated viewpoint.
It’s about a 7.5 mile walk there and back from the car park.
You could probably turn it into a longer circular walk by following different trails back through the forest if you have time and energy.
Below is my garmin & strava data from my most recent walk there, I am a slow walker and am currently not at my fittest, so will return soon to see how quickly I can manage it 🙂
I stopped and took some photos along the way, gallery at end of this post.
