Your walk starts in the lovely little market town of Knighton, midway on the border between England and Wales. The town can be reached easily by train, from Swansea in the south, or Shrewsbury in the north and has good road connections. Settle in for a traditional meal at one of its many pubs in preparation for the walk ahead.

The first day of your walk starts with a small but steady ascent up Garth Hill (346m), where you will be rewarded with lovely views over Knighton. From here, you will ascend another hill, Bailey Hill, before descending into the little village of Llangunllo, where you may like to stop for a drink at the local pub or visit the local shop. From Llangunllo, the path heads back up to the hill tops, where you will spend a few miles walking along beautiful bracken-filled moors before descending into the very small village of Felindre.

24km / 15 miles

The walking today is gentler, starting with a gradual ascent towards the site of an old castle, Castell-Y-Blaidd (no longer in existence). From here a short walk will take you to the village of Llanbadarn Fynydd, which has an excellent pub where you may like to stop for lunch.

After lunch, the trail gently climbs uphill towards open moors and then along a ridgeway with excellent views across the valleys below. You will then descend into the valleys toward the village of Abbeycwmhir, and the ruins of an ancient Cistercian abbey. Although there is little left of the abbey today, it has a fascinating history and was once intended to be one of the biggest abbeys in England and Wales.

24.8km / 15.5 miles

Day 4 is one of the more mountainous days, but it also has some of the best views of the entire walk.

The day begins with a steady ascent up towards the ridge of upper Esgair Hill, before descending again through open moor to the village of Bwlch-Y-Sarnau. From here you head through fields and forest for a few miles, after which you will begin to climb a series of steep hills. The path here is quite difficult, but you are rewarded for your hard walk with some truly spectacular landscape and views right in the heart of Wales. At the end, you will reach the lively and pretty little town of Llanidloes, which has plenty of shops, cafe’s, pubs and restaurants to relax in.

24.8km / 15.5 miles

If you have time, you may like to start today looking around Llanidloes with its 16th century Tudor buildings and pretty church.

From Llanidloes, you will begin with some lovely forest walking, followed by a short but steep ascent, and then a gentle descent into the Clywedog Valley. Here you will be treated to some spectacular views of the impressive Clywedog Dam, which you will be able to walk right up to. From the dam, the path climbs steeply through another forest, until you reach an ancient roman road, which you will follow until you reach the small hamlet of Dylife.

23.2km / 14.5 miles

Day 6 is another day of spectacular views. The walk begins through moorland, and the impressive landscape of the Afon Clywedog glacial valley. From here the path descends steeply until you reach Glaslyn, a lake and wildlife sanctuary, with wonderful opportunities for birdwatching. After this, you will climb a steep hill until you reach the highest point on the whole walk, which offers views of vast valleys, Cardigan Bay and the peak of the nearby mountain Foel Fadian.

You will then descend steeply into the valley below, passing across several smaller hills until you reach the historic town of Machynlleth. Machynlleth was once the home of Welsh Princes in the 15th Century, including Owain Glyndwr himself, and there is still plenty to see and do there.

23.2km / 14.5 miles

Day 7 begins gently, following minor lanes and fields until you reach the little village of Abercegir. You will then climb up through open moorland with lovely views towards one of Wales’ tallest mountains, Cader Idris. For the next few miles, the path is gentle, passing through rolling hills and valleys, with only small ascents and descents. The day ends with a section of forest walking leading to the top of a small hill with wonderful views of the valley below and the village of Llanbrynmair.

25.6km / 16 miles

The day starts with a steep climb up through the valley, with fantastic views at the top. The path will then pass through a large forest, and then fields as you make your way towards the top of Pen Coed (360m). From here you will pass through open moorland until you reach the village of Llangadfan, where you may like to stop for lunch.

After lunch, you will walk through the enormous Dynant Forest, gradually reach the peak of a hill which opens to reveal breath-taking views of the Lake Vyrnwy Reservoir below. The Lake Vyrnwy Reservoir with its 33 arch dam is one of the most iconic and beautiful pieces of architecture in the whole of Wales and is surrounded by spectacular landscape.

28.8km / 18 miles

Day 9 is a gentle day, which begins by following forest tracks and minor roads for several miles, before passing across woodland and fields until you reach the small village of Pont Llogel. You will then follow a lovely route along the River Vyrnwy for most of the day, with plenty of opportunity for spotting birds, until you reach the village of Pontrobert. From here you will walk through farmland until you reach the village of Meifod which has a shop and pub.

24km / 15 miles

The last day of your walk is the shortest yet, starting with a steady climb up through the woodland of Broniarth Hill. You will then walk around the lake Llyn Ddu, which is followed by a few miles of farmland walking. There is a final small climb at the end of the walk, with a great view at the top, before you head steadily towards your final destination, the town of Welshpool.

17.6km / 11 miles

You may like to spend today exploring the old market town of Welshpool, which was a key town in Owain Glyndwr’s fight again the English and the site of a bloody battle. A particular highlight is Powis Castle, a magnificent 13th century castle, just south of the town with a fascinating history.

When you are ready to depart, you will find train connections to Shrewsbury, and bus connections to Birmingham and London. Alternatively, a taxi can be arranged to take you back to Knighton.

Rural buses offer a fragmented service, particularly on the southern part of the route. Reliable services link the towns of Llanidloes, Machynlleth and Welshpool.

Check Traveline for latest timetable information and journey planning.

There are stations at both ends of the Trail. Knighton station is on The Heart of Wales line which links Shrewsbury with Swansea. Machynlleth and Welshpool are both on the Cambrian line which runs from Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth and Pwllheli.

Visit www.nationalrail.co.uk for rail information and journey planning.