The Celtic Way

Location: South Wales, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Somerset, Dorset, Devon, Cornwall.

OS Maps: Explorer series

The Celtic Way is a 722 mile long distance route through western Britain and described in the guide in 18 sections. These do not all form a single continuous path. The first part through South Wales from Strumble Head in Pembrokeshire to Chepstow on the Severn is a continuous route. Parts of the Jubilee Way and the Cotswold Way are then used to reach the starting point of the next section at Dyrham in Wiltshire. The remaining Wessex and West Country sections do not form a continuous route, but a series of walks with a common theme; connecting sites associated with ancient Britain. The sections are listed below.

There are various ways of approaching the route. Each of the eighteen sections represents anything from two to five days' walking. Each section has some geographical and historic feature that makes it a unit. It is possible to begin with the Megalithic Sites section and do four days' walking in the Stonehenge area. Or one can begin with the Arthurian Centre section and spend two or three days doing the linear route linking Glastonbury and Cadbury Castle. One could begin at the beginning in Pembrokeshire, or the end at the tip of Cornwall. One could go straight to the sections on less-frequented areas such as Gwent or Carmarthen, or the the challenges of Dartmoor and Exmoor, or the high level walking on the Black Mountain. Most people will probably walk a section at a time over a long weekend, or perhaps two linking sections over a week.

Section 1: Preseli Mountains - Strumble Head, Fishguard, Gors Fawr
Section 2: Secret Carmarthenshire - Gors Fawr to Merlin's Hill
Section 3: Golden Grove - Bryn Myrddin (Merlin's Hill) to Llandeilo
Section 4: The Black Mountain - Towy Valley to the Swansea Valley
Section 5: Waterfall Country - Dan yr Ogof to Melincourt
Section 6: The Iron Hills of Afon - Melincourt to the Heritage Coast at Ogmore
Section 7: The Vale of Glamorgan - Ogmore to Caerphilly
Section 8: High Ways and Holy Places - Caerphilly to Caerleon
Section 9: The Gwent Borderlands - Caerleon to Chepstow
Section 10: Linking the Ways - Dyrham to Avebury
Section 11: Megalithic Sites - Avebury to Cley Hill via Stonehenge
Section 12: The Arthurian Centre - Gaer Hill to Glastonbury and South Cadbury
Section 13: The Hill Forts of Wessex - Cadbury Castle to the Axe Crossing
Section 14: The Exmoor Option - Glastonbury to Exmoor
Section 15: Dartmoor Crossing - Hound Tor to Tavistock
Section 16: Land's End Trail - Tavistock to Trencrom Hill
Section 17: The Penwith Round - a circular route around Penwith and a linear route to St Michael's Mount
Section 18: Stonehenge to Winchester

Guide Book: Now out of print but may be available from library or second hand

The Celtic Way by Val Saunders Evans. As a lengthy walking holiday, it's the challenge of a lifetime, but it's of just as much interest to those who intend to walk short sections of particular personal interest or as a series of expeditions. This is truly a pioneering route and will inspire all those who walk it. Take time to pause on this route to admire the skills of ancient craftspeople. Discover ancient barrows, fortifications and sacred stone circles. Draw closer to Arthurian, Celtic and Neolithic history as you walk through this ancient land. The book has been written by a team of enthusiasts and co-ordinated by Val Saunders Evans, a lifelong walker and expedition leader. Detailed walking directions and sketch maps are accompanied by photographs and illustrations together with a knowledgeable historical commentary.