Tywi Forest, near Tregaron

What's here

Parking (free)
Walking trail

Welcome

Tywi Forest blankets the hills near the small town of Tregaron in one of the most remote parts of mid Wales.

This huge conifer forest was originally planted by the Forestry Commission to produce timber and it remains a working forest.

Our car parks have viewpoints over the spectacular Llyn Brianne reservoir and there is a short waymarked walking trail through woodland to an historic well.

There are also paths and forestry tracks suitable for walking, mountain biking and horse riding – these are not waymarked so you will need a map to explore.

Cwm Berwyn

Cwm Berwyn has a car park reached along a forestry track.

The viewpoint looks down the valley towards Tregaron.

Large stone boulders provide informal seating at the viewpoint.

There is a grassy area suitable for picnics near the car park.

Fannog

There is a short track from the small car park down to a viewpoint at the edge of Llyn Brianne reservoir.

The viewpoint juts out into the reservoir and is a beautiful spot for photographs or a picnic on the grassy bank.

Carreg Clochdy

Carreg Clochdy has a large car park with a viewpoint high above Llyn Brianne reservoir.

Large stone boulders provide informal seating to enjoy the views.

There is a grassy area suitable for picnics near the car park.

Holy Well

There is a short waymarked walking trail to an old well.

The trail goes past gnarled oak trees and crosses stepping stones over a river where there is a picnic bench.

The well may have been linked to the nearby Cistercian abbey of Strata Florida – the abbey ruins are managed by Cadw and are open to visitors.

Holy Well Walk

Grade: Moderate (find out about walking trail grades)
Distance: 1½ miles/2.3 kilometres
Time: 1½ hours
Trail information: The trail follows narrow paths through the woodland and alongside a river. Follow the waymarkers to the well, a slate box-shaped chamber with three steps. The five stepping stones over the river are about halfway along the trail. The stones are large, uneven and widely spaced, and they are slippery when wet. Take care crossing them and, if they are covered by high water, you will need to return the way you came. There is a picnic bench just after crossing the river and the trail continues past the remains of an old farmhouse and barn. The trail surface is muddy, rooty and rocky. There are steep ascents and descents and some sheer drops at the side of the trail.

Visiting safely

We want you to return home safely after your visit here.

You are responsible for your own safety as well as the safety of any children and animals with you during your visit.

For advice and tips to help you plan your visit here go to Visiting our places safely.

Changes to visitor facilities

See the top of this webpage for details of any planned closures or other changes to visitor facilities here.

For your safety, always follow instructions from staff and signs including those for trail diversions or closures.

We may divert or close trails whilst we undertake maintenance work or other operations and we may need to close other visitor facilities temporarily.

In extreme weather, we may close facilities at short notice due to the risk of injury to visitors and staff.

How to get here

Location

Twyi Forest is 10 miles east of Tregaron.

Holy Well and Cwm Berwyn are in the county of Ceredigion

Fannog and Carreg Clochdy are in the county of Powys

Ordnance Survey map references

Twyi Forest is on Ordnance Survey (OS) Explorer map 187.

Cwm Berwyn: SN 737 573
Carreg Clochdy: SN 811 501
Fannog: SN 809 515
Holy Well: SN 755 646 (start of walk)

Directions

Cwm Berwyn, Fannog and Carreg Clochdy

Turn off the B4343 at the Talbot Hotel in the centre of Tregaron and follow the brown and white sign for Llyn Brianne.

Continue along this minor road for 4 miles and the track to Cwm Berwyn car park is on the right.

For the Fannog car park, continue for a further 6 ½ miles. At the junction, take the hairpin right towards Llyn Brianne. Continue for 2 miles, following the shore of the reservoir and the Fannog car park is on the right.

For the Carreg Clochdy car park, continue along the road for around 1 ½ miles and the car park is on the right.

Holy Well

Take the B4343 from Tregaron towards Pontrhydfendigaid.

After 5½ miles turn right, following the brown and white signs towards Strata Florida Abbey.

Continue past the abbey and the road becomes singletrack.

The car parking area is a small lay-by on the left after about 1 mile, at the end of the singletrack road – look out for the information panel and please park considerately so as not to block the nearby property’s entrance.