From Llandovery, the route follows the attractive River Towy valley at Rhandirmwyn, a once busy metal mining area. The remote path up the Doethie valley leads to the Ty'n-y-cornel Youth Hostel, the most isolated hostel in Wales and officially a Dark Skies site. The route follows the western side of the wild moorland and forest area known as the Elenydd, which includes the gathering grounds of the Elan Valley Reservoirs which serve Birmingham. After rambling country around Devil's Bridge and Ponterwyd, the route crosses the exposed massif of Plynlimon, with opportunities to view the sources of the River Severn and the River Wye. The hamlet of Dylife, once the workplace of 2,000 miners, now only has a few houses and the Star Inn. A mixture of forest and sheep grazing land leads through the windfarm on Mynydd Cemmaes and so to Mallwyd and Dinas Mawddwy.