Devlla two

Slow Way not verified yet. Verify Devlla here.

This was a really enjoyable long-distance stride right across the Cambrian Mountains. I set out on Devlla one with Dan who has uploaded this Devlla two to reflect the changes we made at various points to the route for access and ease. It's a long way, but the combo of back roads and forestry tracks, plus the signposted Wye Valley Walk and later the Borth to Pontrhydfendigaid trail mean that it can be done at a stride a lot of the time which helped me with stamina!
We gathered snacks at the Great Oak and coffee at the Hanging Gardens, both lovely, and left Llanidloes across farmland. In making a new version of the route we edited out a few footpath sections where the back road was so quiet and a simpler time-saving route.
The route crosses the A44 and makes its biggest altitude rise along broad forestry tracks, coming out on the dramatic plateau amongst the turbines of Cefn Croes windfarm. These tracks are not marked as rights of way, and are a bit ambiguous - on my 10yr-old paper OS map this forestry was marked as access land, but on the OS app it wasn't. But there was a sign with green ticks next to walking, and I think cycling and horseriding, so we went on reassured.
After the windfarm we got a wildfire sunset down over the sea in the far distance, as we descended along narrow tracks that had been firmed up with stones brought specially - presumably for downhill mountain biking.
More wide forestry tracks heading gently downhill, and then the Borth to Pontrhydfendigaid trail which did take us through a river (the Rheidol?) in bare feet, refreshing and a little slithery but not treacherous and only ankle-high.
Celebratory soup in the fantastically atmospheric Hafod Hotel as the moon rose!.

This may well be the best way to walk between Devil's Bridge and Llanidloes.

It's a great route that I thoroughly enjoyed hiking. The extended sections along forest tracks were especially delightful.

You can expect lots of (quiet) lane walking, some locked gates, steps, stiles and a shallow river crossing that demands a short shin-high paddle (which we did at night).

Longer review and photos to follow.

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