"There are over 400 mountain summits in England and Wales which reach the  height of  2,000 feet and it is the ambition of many walkers to climb them all. This  book describes  how to ascend the 181 mountain summits of Wales, all in a series of  forty-nine walks."

South Wales

The finest hills in South Wales are in the Brecon Beacons National Park. There are 33 "tops" over 2000' and the highest and greatest of these is Pen y Fan. Pen y Fan is very far from being a major peak by American or World standards but nevertheless in context it is quite magnificent. At 2907' it commands a view across the whole of Mid Wales and on a clear day it is a wonderful place to be. Pen y Fan attracts crowds but there are plenty of other less frequented hills in the park  and the area behind the Carmarthen Fan on its Western edge comes close to providing a genuine wilderness experience.

On the Eastern edge of the Beacons are the Black Hills which are grouped around the brooding Honddu Valley which gives access to Hay on Wye via the Gospel Pass at its head. This area is a constant source of delight to long distance ridge walkers, the longest circuit being about 18 miles in length. The Black Hills lie on the English border and were the site of constant strife in centuries past. Now they provide the oppurtunity for a quiet long distance hike away from the crowded heights of Pen y Fan.

Hay on Wye to the north of the Black Hills is a a small town wholly dedicated to the second hand book trade. It claims to be the largest second hand bookstore in the world. The drive to it over the Gospel Pass will take you past Hay Bluff which is a popular location for hang gliding. It is worth stopping at the top of the pass and making the short walk up to the top of  the Bluff. From here the views across England and Mid-Wales are spectacular.

see also:-  Pen Y Fan

Mid-Wales

The hills of Mid Wales attain an altitude of 2467ft at Pumlumon Fawr. Elsewhere they are generally around 2000ft or lower. They are wild, windswept and largely unfrequented save by the vast hordes of sheep which are indigenous to the whole of Wales. I have included two pics in the left hand column gallery - one of the hills around Devils Bridge near Aberystwyth and one of myself walking in the Elenydd, an upland area of Mid-Wales which demonstrates the loneliness and featurelessness which characterises much of this area.

There is a campaign to have a large area of Mid-Wales around the Elan Valley in the Elenydd designated as Wales fourth National Park. This was originally proposed in 1972 and we are still waiting. Much of the area is currently an AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) but this does not accord the same degree of protection that full National Park status would. I have included a link to a site which deals with this question in much more detail.

Large areas of Mid-Wales are still relatively unfrequented and the Doethie Valley can feel like the loneliest place on earth when walked on the right day.

North Wales