Cambrian Way Part 1: Cardiff Castle to the Storey Arms

The Cambrian Way is one of the finest long distance footpaths in Wales, stretching from Cardiff in the south to Conwy in the north, winding its way across all the major mountains of the principality (so a lot of climbs and panoramic views)! This is the first section from Cardiff to the Storey Arms in the Brecon Beacons National Park. Waymarking is by a black Welsh hat symbol, although you really need a GPS track and a copy of Cicerone's "The Cambrian Way" (https://www.cicerone.co.uk/the-cambrian-way).
Starting at Cardiff Castle, urban walking is avoided by following a ribbon of green beside the River Taff. The path then climbs through woodland by Castle Coch up to the ridge that runs behind Cardiff. Following this ridge east through trees and fields the path arrives at the village of Machen. After the village the Cambrian Way climbs steeply to the summit of Mynydd Machen, marked by a group of aerials, before dropping down the other side to Crosskeys. Crossing a railway and a disused canal the next climb is up to the hillfort on top of Twmbarlwm. A long ridge walk takes you to Pontypool, where there are shops, cafes and accommodation.
Another ridge walk then follows to the summit of Blorenge after which the path drops into Abergavenny, the next opportunity for food and accommodation. A classic climb takes you up the Sugar Loaf, and down into the valley beyond, before another climb up to a ridge, which is followed northwards until the path drops down into Capel-y-ffin, a tiny village with a small, white church. Climbing out of the village the Cambrian Way leads to a summit called Lord Hereford's knob across rough moorland, with large views over the Wye valley beyond. The route than loops back towards the south, and after another long ridge walk on open hillside among heather, whinberries and cotton sedge reaches the small town of Crickhowell with food shops, cafes, accommodation and an outdoor shop.
Beyond Crickhowell the path crosses a plateau with a historic cave, and a disused quarry. After some kilometres over rough ground, the most popular area of the Brecon Beacons is reached, where the Cambrian Way crosses the multiple peaks of Fan y Big, the Cribyn, Pen y Fan, and Corn Du. Below Corn Ddu there is a visit to the monument of Tommy Jones, who died after becoming lost on the moors. This section ends at the Storey Arms, where there is a car park, bus stop, a trailer selling bacon baps but sadly no public house, although there is a Youth Hostel down the road.
More information is at the website of the Cambrian trust http://www.cambrianway.org.uk/, which has the GPX tracks on which this one is based, see also my blog https://johnponcambrian.blogspot.com/2020/05/cardiff-to-machen-on-cambrian-way-day-1.html. The next part on Wikiloc is at https://www.wikiloc.com/hiking-trails/cambrian-way-part-2-storey-arms-to-ponterwyd-57364422. Happy Hiking!