Preseli Hills Golden Road

i Image by postywood1

How would you rate Preseli Hills Golden Road?

Tap a star to share your experience and help other hikers.

Preseli Hills Golden Road: Ancient Ridge Walk in Pembrokeshire

Published 17 July 2025 Updated 6 June 2026

648

Ranked #648 of 974

See the Top 100 →

HikeList Score

Preseli Hills Golden Road scored 77/100 on HikeList's trail-quality metrics.

Very Good

See score breakdownHide breakdown

Ideal length 55
Balanced challenge 100
Scenery & wildness 68
Varied terrain 94
Accommodation 83
Food & support 61
Path quality 98
Season flexibility 89

Computed from length, challenge, scenery & wildness, terrain variety, accommodation, food & support, path quality and season flexibility.

The Preseli Hills Golden Road is an approx 11 km point-to-point ridge walk across Mynydd Preseli in Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Wales. It is a moderate day walk, taking about 4 hours one way at a steady pace, with modest ascent but exposed upland conditions. It suits hikers who want a short, history-rich moorland route with rocky tors, prehistoric monuments and wide views, rather than a long-distance trek. Navigation matters: much of the route is open, unsurfaced and largely unwaymarked.

Route Overview

The classic line runs west to east from Bwlch Gwynt car park on the B4329 to the lay-by near Crymych at Llainbanal/Blaenbanon, close to Foel Drygarn. From Bwlch Gwynt, the ridge passes Foel Feddau, Carn Bica, Bedd Arthur, Cerrigmarchogion, Carn Menyn / Carn Meini, Carn Goedog and finishes near Foel Drygarn. It is a linear walk, so plan a car shuttle, taxi or limited bus access; it can also be made circular via Pantmaenog Forest and Rosebush. For a longer Welsh mountain journey, compare the Beacons Way; for coast-focused walking, see the Anglesey Coastal Path.

Prehistory on the Golden Road

The Golden Road, or Ffordd Aur, is an ancient ridgeway said to date back around 5,000 years to the Neolithic. It is thought to have been part of a wider route between Ireland and southern England, though the theory that Irish gold was carried along it towards Wessex is debated. The Preseli Hills are also closely linked with Stonehenge’s bluestones, quarried from local dolerite outcrops and transported to Salisbury Plain. Along the ridge are burial cairns, standing stones, stone settings and the Iron Age hillfort of Foel Drygarn.

Notable highlights

Carn Menyn / Carn Meini: A dramatic group of dolerite tors and the most iconic bluestone outcrop on the ridge. It has long been identified as a probable Stonehenge bluestone source, though recent research points more towards nearby Carn Goedog and Craig Rhos-y-felin.
Foel Drygarn, 363 m: An Iron Age hillfort near the eastern end of the walk, with ramparts around three large Bronze Age burial cairns. It gives broad all-round views and a strong finish to the ridge.
Bedd Arthur: A horseshoe-shaped Neolithic standing-stone setting traditionally linked in legend to King Arthur. It is one of several prehistoric monuments scattered along the route.
Foel Feddau, 467 m: The highest point on the Golden Road itself, topped by a Bronze Age burial cairn. Do not confuse it with Foel Cwmcerwyn, which is the highest Preseli summit but lies off the main line.
Far-reaching views: In clear weather, the ridge looks across Cardigan Bay towards Snowdonia, south towards the Brecon Beacons, and reputedly as far as Ireland. For a shorter North Wales outing, compare the Aber Falls Walk.

Challenges to expect

Expect open, exposed moorland with little shelter, so wind, rain, cold and mist can be serious even outside winter. The surface is mostly grassy and stony, but boggy sections are possible even in summer. The route is largely unwaymarked, so take a map and compass and know how to use them. There are no facilities on the ridge; carry water, food and suitable layers.

648

Ranked #648 of 974

See the Top 100 →