- On trail 16.1 mi 25.9 km
- Walking time 7–8 h
- Ascent 690 m 2,250 ft
- Descent 700 m 2,300 ft
- Difficulty Hard
Eleven miles along the top of the Black Mountains, on the border itself.
Section 3: Pandy to Hay-on-Wye map
Example stay The Swan At Hay Hotel (opens in a new tab)
Cross-check: National Trails route description . Opened 30 October 2026. The distance at the top of this page is measured between these ends. The route page's miles stay in the answers below.
The walk
This is the high point of the trail, about 700 m up on Hatterrall Ridge, and about eleven miles of the walk run along its top, on the border. On one side lies the Vale of Ewyas and the ruins of Llanthony Priory, on the other the Olchon Valley. The path is firm and clear in good weather. In mist or wind it is serious mountain ground, with no shelter until the drop from Hay Bluff.
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Start of section
Pandy
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High point
Hatterrall Ridge
About 700 m at its highest, with the path following the border along the top. The whole upland is a Site of Special Scientific Interest in the Brecon Beacons National Park.
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Off the path
Llanthony Priory
An 11th-century Augustinian priory in the Vale of Ewyas, below the ridge to the west. Walkers can stay there, off the ridge.
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Hay-on-Wye
The town of bookshops, with two Norman castle ruins, at the end of the descent.
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End of section
Hay-on-Wye
Section 3: Pandy to Hay-on-Wye overview
The ground
- Upland ridge
- Moor
- Slabs
An exposed upland ridge. Not technical, but long, high and without shelter. One of the three hard stretches the trail body names, with the switchbacks after Knighton and the Clwydian Range.
Stops
Refreshments
- Pandy
- Longtown (off the path)
- Hay-on-Wye
Toilets
- The route page does not name a public toilet on this section
Before you go
Opposite direction
Hay-on-Wye to Pandy
From Hay the climb onto Hay Bluff is a little steeper than the rest of the ridge, and it comes first, on fresh legs. Then the path runs south for hours, and the long descent to Pandy ends the day in farm country.
End of section
Pandy
Pandy to Hay-on-Wye FAQ
How long is Pandy to Hay-on-Wye?
The route page lists 17.5 miles (28.2 km), about eleven of them on the ridge. The distance at the top of this page is measured between these ends.
Can I break the ridge in two?
Yes. Our 13- to 16-day plans stop at the Crown Inn in Longtown, a walk of about 2.1 mi (3.4 km) down off the ridge, and climb back the next morning.
Can I download a GPX for Pandy to Hay-on-Wye?
Yes. Use the GPX button at the top of this page. It is this section's line, for Garmin, Komoot, or your phone. Open the planner if you want a file built around your overnight stops.
Walk this as a day
Days 3 and 4 of the 14-day share the ridge, with a night down in Longtown. Open the planner on that preset, then export a full-trip or per-day GPX.
Open in planner Read the 11-day itinerary
Full-trip and per-day GPX files. Free, no account.
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