Article from Brecon Beacons National Park
Last Updated: 26 March 2008 14:48
Forestry Trails
The Forestry Commission manages several forests within the National Park which have Open Access under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. Most of the forests have designated car parks and compacted stone tracks which encourage easier access.
Many of the forest tracks are used for taking timber out of the forests by lorry. More and more sites now have an accessible gap by the side of the main forestry gates allowing barrier-free access along the main tracks.
Please note that some of the forests are in remote locations with some steep tracks and much of the land where trees grow is soft, so ground conditions are not always suitable for building and maintaining routes which are fully accessible. The condition of the forestry tracks varies greatly between different forests, especially when tree harvesting is taking place, when the tracks will be closed off.
The key forests in the Brecon Beacons National Park are listed below.
Mynydd Du- Black Mountains near Abergavenny. Other local easier access routes and sites include Llanthony Priory and Coed y Cerrig Nature Reserve.
Talybont - near Talybont-on-Usk. Other local easier access routes and sites include the Brinore Tramroad.
Coed Taf Fawr - north of Merthyr Tydfil on the A470. Other local easier access routes and sites include the Garwnant Forest Centre and Llwyn-on Reservoir.
Taf Fechan - near the Pontsticill Reservoir north of Merthyr Tydfil. Other local easier access routes and sites include the Taf Fechan Boardwalk.
Cwm Giedd -near Ystradgynlais. No easier access routes have been explored in this area.
Waterfalls Area - north of Glynneath and Hirwaun (please note – access to many of the waterfalls is steep with stepped footpaths which are often slippery following rain). Other local easier access routes and sites include The Powder Trail at Pontneddfechan and the Sychryd All Ability Trail.
Blaen Llia - north of Ystradfellte. No easier access routes have been explored in this area.
Glasfynydd - around the Usk Reservoir. Other local easier access routes and sites include the Usk Reservoir Trail and the Black Mountain Red Kite Feeding Station.
Contact: For more information on local Forestry Commission issues please contact the Llanymddyfri Forest District by telephone on 0845 604 0845, visit www.forestry.gov.uk and type the forest name in the search bar details and locations or visit the easier access pages at www.visitbreconbeacons.com.
