Social Walking Weekend – Cambrian Mountains, mid-Wales

Escape to the peaceful Cambrian Mountains, stay in a fantastic lodge and revel in two days’ of great guided walking.


Experience Type: Multi-Day Experience
Duration:
2 nights
Accommodation: Hostel
Group Size: Maximum 20 (but up to 32 sharing the accommodation)
Level: Active
Age: 18+
Dogs: No dogs, except trained assistance dogs only

In a Nutshell:

  • Explore a quiet, lesser-known but beautiful part of Wales.

  • Unwind in fantastic mountain chalet-style accommodation.

  • Get out an explore the Cambrian Mountain scenery on Active guided walks.

  • Leave all the route finding & catering to us so you can enjoy socialising with the rest of the group.


 

How do we grade our walks?

Unplug from normal life with a weekend of guided walks in mid-Wales, staying in a fabulous mountain chalet.

There’s something untouched about the wonderfully named Welsh village of Staylittle in the heart of the Cambrian Mountains where The Lodge, a five-star contemporary chalet-style hostel will act as our home for the weekend. 

This part of mid-Wales is steeped in history and a sparsely populated landscape dominated by rolling hills, crystal clear rivers and reservoirs – a walkers’ paradise.

We have booked out the whole of The Lodge and will be providing the group with home cooked dinners over the weekend. Then on both the Saturday and Sunday you can explore the surrounding area on foot, guided by Large Outdoors’ expert mountain leaders. We’ll have Active walks on offer to make the most of this stunning area (learn how we grade our walks).

Suggested Itinerary

Day 1

Feel free to arrive any time after 5pm. There will be a cups of tea and your Large Outdoors host will help you settle in and make introductions. There will be time to sink into one of the comfy sofas that look out at the panoramic views, and get chatting with the others. We will be sharing the accommodation with another Large Outdoors group taking part in a yoga & walking weekend and will all mingle together over dinners.

We aim to serve the evening meal at 8pm and amid all the banter we will outline the walk plans over the next two days.

Day 2

After breakfast we will pack up our lunches and head outdoors. We’ll have a few options up our sleeve, but we could follow a route around the moorland and lake that makes up the Glaslyn Nature Reserve. This area is known for its pretty white cottongrass, followed by a swathe of purple with the flowering heather in summer.

We aim to arrive back at the lodge by late-afternoon giving everybody some downtime to simply chill out and enjoy the surroundings. Then we sit down for the evening meal, re-united with the participants from the other group, so plenty of chance to swap tales of the day’s adventures. 

Day 3 

After breakfast we pack up our belongings, check out of the accommodation, and divide into groups once again to explore a different slice of the Cambrian Mountains.  

We aim to finish the walk around lunchtime, giving participants the opportunity if they want to find a café for one last cuppa and chat together before heading home.

Please note: on some days there could be a short drive required - where activities don’t start from the door of the accommodation. We don't include transport and participants normally car share.

Good to Know

  • Meeting Time: from 5pm
    You can arrive any time from 5pm - the Large Outdoors host will be at the accommodation to welcome you.

    Dinner will be served around 8pm so if you intend to arrive later than this, please ensure you have something to eat on the way.

    Meeting Location:
    The Lodge
    Staylittle
    Llanbrynmair
    Powys

    If travelling by car and using a SatNav: the postcode is SY19 7BU, however this is an area code that takes you to a farm and dead end! Once in Staylittle village, look up for a car park just passed Staylittle Stores. We would suggest driving via Llanidloes or Llanbrynmair along the B4518 if travelling from any direction. A GPS can often send you via Trefeglwys and some very tight, narrow and steep lanes. Difficult to drive when you don't know the road!

    Parking: There is parking available at the hostel.

    Public Transport: The Lodge at Staylittle is located approx. 15 minute drive (taxi journey required) from Caersws and Machynlleth Train Stations, with services to/from Shrewsbury and Birmingham New Street.

    Please Note: On some days there could be a short drive required - where activities don’t start from the door of the accommodation. We don't include transport and participants normally car share.

    Finish Time: We aim to finish on the final day between 1pm and 3pm - the exact finish time may depend on the planned/chosen activity, group dynamic, weather conditions, whether the group chooses to grab a coffee or lunch together during/after, etc. If you’ve travelled via public transport, please ensure you book onward travel accordingly (i.e. an open return ticket), to allow for flexibility.

  • Accommodation Address:
    The Lodge
    Staylittle
    Llanbrynmair
    Powys

    Room Types:
    You can book one of the following options, subject to availability:
    Bed in a Shared Female Room
    Bed in a Shared Male Room
    Twin Room
    Single Occupancy Double Room

    The majority of rooms at this hostel are Shared Rooms, where you’ll be sharing a dorm room - usually with bunk beds - with other participants (room sizes vary and bathrooms are shared). Twin Rooms sleep up to two participants booking together, with two single beds (bathrooms are shared with other rooms). Single Occupancy Double Rooms sleep one participant, with a double bed (bathrooms are shared with other rooms).

  • Included:

    • 2 nights’ accommodation at The Lodge - Staylittle.

    • A Large Outdoors host/guide to welcome you, deal with meal preparation and the logistics for your experience.

    • Guided walks on two days (Day 2 and Day 3).

    • Home-cooked set 2-course dinners at the accommodation on both evenings.

    • A DIY breakfast each morning (toast, cereals, fruit and yoghurt provided).

    • A DIY packed lunch (sandwich and snacks) for Day 2’s walk. Please ensure you bring a lunch box or dry bag - to reduce waste, we do not supply cling film or sandwich bags.

    • Teas (including decaf and herbal options), coffee (including decaf option), and soft drinks at the accommodation.

    • Bedding and a towel - but don’t forget your own toiletries.

    • The chance to make new friends and meet like-minded people - Large Outdoors is all about making outdoor adventures sociable.

    • Pre-event support from the Large Outdoors team - give us a shout if there’s any advice or information you need and check out our Blog for useful articles too.

    Not Included:

    • Travel to and from the meeting location.

    • Travel from the accommodation to activity start points and back, where they don’t start from the door. On some days there could be a short drive required - we don't include transport and participants normally car share.

    • Any extra (i.e. not mentioned above in ‘Included’) excursions or activities that you may partake in which incur a cost.

    • Bottled water - tap water and squash are available at the accommodation, so please ensure you bring sufficient water bottles or carriers to fill up and take out with you.

    • Alcoholic drinks - please feel free to bring something with you to enjoy at the accommodation.

    • Any food, drinks or goods you choose to purchase at any shops, restaurant, pubs or cafés visited.

    • Travel/activity insurance - we recommend having insurance to cover, at a minimum: cancellation and curtailment; medical and emergency expenses (including repatriation); personal accident; injury and death.

  • Please see our Residential (Walking) Kit List.

    The compulsory items are selected for your safety, which is of paramount importance to us at Large Outdoors. Each participant should have the items listed.

  • What level of fitness is needed?
    This trip is graded as Active. Click here to see Large Outdoors’ Experience Levels.

    Can I attend on my own?
    Absolutely. The majority of our participants are solo travellers and adventurers. Plenty of fun, laughter and numerous long-term friendships (and a few marriages!) have begun on Large Outdoors experiences since 2008, so there’s no need to feel worried about your first experience, or indeed trying a new type of outdoor activity, with us.

    I am currently on a specific diet / have an allergy - can you cater for me?
    Unfortunately, we are generally unable to cater for a wide variety of diets or food preferences due to the nature and cost of our catered trips and/or the use of shared kitchens. However, we can offer vegetarian, vegan, and/or provide meals with gluten free ingredients - these options can be selected when booking. Please see our general FAQs for more information about dietary options.

    What transport is provided during this experience?
    We do not provide any transport for this experience. On some days there could be a short drive required to activity start points and back, where they don’t start from the accommodation - participants normally car share.

    Can I bring my dog?
    Dogs are not allowed on this trip, except for trained assistance dogs. If you wish to bring your trained assistance dog on an experience, please let us know in advance of booking so we can discuss the itinerary and any activity/equipment/accommodation, and of course additional safety requirements or considerations that may be necessary.

 

Book your Social Walking Weekend - Cambrian Mountains, mid-Wales