Including Craig Fawr.
From Cardiff, take the A470 to the Llangurig roundabout. From Llangurig, take the first turnoff (left) at the roundabout, onto the A44 towards Aberystwyth. At Ponterwyd, turn left on the A4120 towards Devil's Bridge. From Devil's Bridge, turn left onto the B4343 towards Pontrhydygroes (the spelling used on the sign). Follow it for 7.5 miles to the tiny village of Ffair-Rhos, which has no village sign, but has a pub called the Teifi Inn. Turn left onto a lane, signposted to the Teifi Lakes. Follow the lane up onto the plateau, passing the first lakes. After passing the track on the right with the sign for Llyn Teifi, park at the next dirt track stub that leads off on the left, on a sharp bend to the right. SN 7898 6824.
For viewing from the road, continue along the road until the way ahead turns into a dirt track, and a cycle path joins from the right. The waterfall can be seen (though a little obscured) back to the left.
This area is the most extensive wilderness in Wales, a part where it is possible to walk for days, and see no paths, and no other people. Walking to a waterfall here seems a little short sighted, and visitors are encouraged to extend the walk to take in some of the wilderness. To facilitate longer stays, there are four bothies in the area - MBA's Moel Prysgau, Elan Valley Trust's Claerddu, MBA's Nant Rhys and MBA's Nant Syddion - making it possible to traverse the mountain range, and stay in something more comfortable than a tent.
From the track stub, walk away from the lakes, keeping a large ridge on your left, and a very small ridge (Banc Llyn-hir) on your right. Another fragment of dirt track should soon appear, which leads through a gap in the ridge on the right. This leads to the Claerddu bothy. Ignore the track, and keep to the left side of the small ridge, to reach the stream. Downstream, it flows through another gap to reach the bothy. Follow the stream upstream, passing through the next little ridge (Uchelfa) to reach the Craig Fawr waterfall.
For extending the walk, there are infinite possibilities. For a simple walk, I would suggest continuing upstream from the waterfall to reach the upper lakes, or to the high points at Llan Ddu Fawr and Carnyrhyrddod. Or of course, there are the Teifi Pools (or Lakes), with the outstanding ribbed rocks that surround them, and the Teifi Pools Walk may easily be extended to include the waterfall. Another option is to follow the old road between the Teifi Pools and the Claerwen reservoir. If you want a lengthy wilderness walk, try perhaps Newbridge on Wye to Drum Ddu, Gorllwyn, Drygarn Fawr, Llyn Gynon, Teifi Pools, Llan Ddu Fawr, Esgair Elan, Cefn Croes, Pumlumon, Glaslyn nature reserve and Machynlleth. Of course, if you are capable of such a walk, you don't need me telling you where to go. Make up the details for yourself.
Waterfall | Grid reference | GPS coordinates | Image |
---|---|---|---|
Craig Fawr | SN 79191 68970 | 52.305517°N, 3.773296°W |
Whilst every care has been taken in the compilation of this description, neither the author nor his fellow walkers can accept responsibility for loss or injury arising from any errors, omissions or inaccuracies in this description. This description is intended as a guide only, and you should select a route to suit your own abilities, at your own discretion. Ability requirements are a guide only. Route maps are approximated. You follow this description at your own risk.