Brynarth to Llangeithio

Taking a left turn from the guest house and then the next track on the left, pass the farm buildings of Cwm Llechwedd, staying close to the stream.  Follow this picturesque valley up to the road and cross over to where gates open (or in this case don’t) onto a boggy heathland.  Crossing this terrain of reeds, heather and tussocks (with the occasional orchid) surrounded by marsh is possibly the hardest part of the whole Sarn Helen.  Keeping the fence to the right, head towards the right of a clump of trees and the road. 

 From there keep going in roughly the same direction heading towards the corner of the telegraph wires.  It doesn’t get any easier until you reach a fence where there was access to the next field.  

 Cross this field, which has the added disadvantage of a deep ditch, to a gate (another one that wouldn’t open) and walk down the lane to the farm buildings.  Turn left here onto the road which eventually follows what was a Roman road. A suggestion here is to continue south along this road, ignoring the guidebook instructions to take paths to Bronnant.  It’s road walking as opposed to climbing over fences and difficult overgrown terrain with no signs.  From the road there is a lane off to the right which leads to the village by the school.  Turn left then right onto the road to Bontnewydd and left again down a track at the sign for Bryn.  This lane passes the house and continues to a junction where a path to the right head towards woodland, crossing a stile.   

The path leads to a pretty lake. Take the forest track past a discarded caravan and head south.  There was no sign of the footpath through the woods which runs parallel to this track.  It reaches a house where the path should skirt the right of the building but this was completely overgrown.  

 

 An impassable green lane behind the building should have led down to fields but, in addition to fallen trees and undergrowth, barbed wire and other barriers made access impossible.  It was possible, but not easy, to follow the route in the field to the right and then crossing the fence to gain access to the path that cuts across the fields to the road.  Once again, the route was made difficult by the lack of a stile and barbed wire across the fence.  Sadly, there is no alternative way to reach Blaenpennal further down the lane.  

The route should go through the grounds 

 of an old mill cottage but the owner suggested an alternative access to the path across the fields as there were beehives.   Follow the path and track up to Tynewydd and, before the buildings, cut diagonally across the field, bearing downhill, towards another track leading to the stream.  Follow the grass track right to a gate where it is easier to access the stream bed, then walk downstream until a stile is seen high up on the opposite bank.  Climb up to the field and head to the buildings of Gilfachgoch.

At the farm there is a lane leading to a road.  Cut across the road to another lane to Maesrhug.  Beyond the buildings a track follow the fence.  Keep to the right of the fence and cross the fields by stiles and gates, some more challenging than others.  Follow the river down toward a large barn where the access to the road is through a gate.  Keep the house to the right and emerge on the lane.  Turn left, go downhill and cross the bridge.  Turn right and take the track up to Llanwen.  This lane continues between buildings and beyond, until the edge of a wood is reached.  A gate on the left leads to a steep uphill track to the summit from where Tanllan can be seen.  Turn right and follow the track between fields heading towards the church.   

 Although Sarn Helen doesn’t officially go through Llangeithio, it is one of the nicest places in the area with a friendly pub and an excellent B&B at Glanafon Guest House.   To reach Llangeithio, turn down the lane to the right of the church to reach the Aeron Valley and turn left for the village.  The total distance was over 12 miles.