Location : Gregynog Hall, Tregynon near Newtown. Distance : About 7 km (about 4 miles) Notes : Steep in places. Can be muddy after rain.

The walk starts at the car park of Gregynog Hall, a country house turned conference centre owned by the University of Wales (SO086977). Walk along the pebbled path past the front of the house. Cross the lawn via the stone bridge and a few metres after the bridge, turn right and walk past a large sculpture of a hand (see picture above).

Follow the clear track for about 300 metres to a wooden fingerpost with an arrow pointing to the left. You will see an old iron fence on your right. Turn left and follow the indistinct footpath through the trees. There is another fingerpost ahead but it is partly obscured by foliage.

The path bears right and goes uphill for about 300 metres to a house called Portmans. The path passes through the garden of the house and there may be friendly dogs around.

At the far end of the garden, climb over a stile and walk across the middle of the field, passing by some old oak trees, to a gate in the far corner.

Go through the gate and downhill over the next field to a gate and the road. Walk straight ahead along the road for about 50 metres to the driveway up to a farm called Ty Du.

Walk down the driveway, through the farmyard and long a clear track through fields for about 1km (about one mile) passing through a series of gates. When you reach the rusting piece of farm machinery, bear right and join a track that goes alongside the trees.

Cross a stile next to a gate and cut diagonally across the field to a metal gate at the far corner next to a large holly bush. Go through the gate and keep straight on, following the treeline. Turn through a gate on your right next to a large oak tree and walk downhill for about 30 metres to a gate on your left and then on to the road.

Walk downhill into the village of Bwlch y Ffridd, crossing a stone bridge over a stream with a telephone exchange on the right. Just after the exchange is a signposted footpath to the right, going past a black and white lodge. Follow this footpath back to Gregynog.

For a slightly longer walk, from the bridge follow the uphill road ahead past a chapel on your left. After about 400 metres (about 1/4 mile) you will see a road off to the left and a track off to the right. The track leads back to Gregynog.

Many thanks to Rachael Jones from Aberhafesp, near Newtown for sending us this walk. You can see two of her other favourite hikes in the area by clicking on the links below: