Afan Forest Park – Visitor Centre, near Port Talbot
Main starting point for mountain bike and walking...
Crychan Forest – Halfway, near Llandovery
What's here
Welcome
Halfway is one of our car parks in Crychan Forest.
It is easy to find, just off the A40 a few miles from Llandovery, and is an ideal spot to stretch your legs.
The two waymarked walking trails both go alongside the stream.
There are picnic benches around the car park and by the river.
Walking trails
The walking trails are waymarked from start to finish.
Look out for the information panel at the start of the trails.
Find out about walking trail grades.
Nant y Dresglen Trail
- Grade: Easy
- Distance: 1¼ miles/2.1 kilometres
- Time: 45 minutes
The Nant y Dresglen Trail is a circular route which winds through the trees, never going far from the waters of Nant y Dresglen.
Melin y Glyn Trail
- Grade: Moderate
- Distance: 2¼ miles/3.6 kilometres
- Time: 1½ hours
Follow an old county road along the western side of the valley, before reaching the forest road bridge, at Melin y Glyn.
A mill used to be here many years ago, now there’s hardly a trace of it.
Return along a track through the trees and along the forest road.
Horse riding in Crychan Forest
There is open access for horse riding throughout Crychan Forest.
Our car parks in Crychan Forest are the starting point for many miles of horse riding on forest roads and old tracks.
There are also shortcuts onto the Epynt Way, a 50 mile long bridleway around the boundary of the Sennybridge military training area.
Facilities for horse riders at our car parks include corrals and tethering rails.
The car parks at Halfway and Brynffo are the most suitable for horse boxes.
There is access for carriage drivers at Brynffo car park.
For more information about horse riding in Crychan Forest, go to the Crychan Forest Association website.
Crychan Forest
Halfway car park is within Crychan Forest.
Set in beautiful countryside between the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park and the Cambrian Mountains, Crychan Forest is criss-crossed with many old tracks that linked the farms that were once here.
In the 1930s the Forestry Commission bought the farms and land and planted trees here as part of the efforts across the UK to replenish timber stocks which had been run-down during the First World War.
A few ruined dwellings remain and you may come across them as you explore.
The forest is made up of oak, ash, beech, hazel and conifers and the colours vary depending on the season from bluebells in the spring to the golden hues of autumn.
Nowadays it provides valuable timber and is home to a wide variety of wildlife.
Goshawks, buzzards and red kites nest here, and you may catch a glimpse of roe deer.
As well as the walking trails from Halfway there are walking trails from our three other car parks in Crychan Forest:
Halfway car park is the easiest of these to reach as it is situated just off the A40, a few miles from Llandovery.
The car parks at Brynffo, Cefn Farm and Esgair Fwyog are located on minor roads off the A483 between Llandovery and Builth Wells.
National Forest for Wales
Crychan Forest forms part of the National Forest for Wales.
The National Forest will:
- create areas of new woodland
- enhance existing woodlands
- restore Wales’ irreplaceable ancient woodlands
It will form a connected ecological network running throughout Wales, bringing social, economic and environmental benefits.
Parts of the network will eventually form a trail running the length and breadth of Wales, so anyone can access it wherever they live.
For more information go to the National Forest for Wales website.
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.
Please note:
- military training takes place in this forest.
- unexploded flares or blanks may cause serious injury if handled.
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
Halfway car park is 5 miles east of Llandovery.
It straddles the county borders of Powys and Carmarthenshire.
Ordnance Survey map
Halfway car park is on Ordnance Survey (OS) Explorer map 187 and OL 12.
The OS grid reference is SN 835 330.
Directions
Take the A40 from Llandovery towards Brecon.
After 5 miles, turn left following the brown and white sign for Crychan Forest Trails.
Follow the short unclassified stone track to Halfway car park.
Public transport
The nearest mainline railway station is in Llandovery.
For details of public transport go to the Traveline Cymru website.
Parking
Parking is free of charge.
Overnight parking is not permitted.
Contact details
There are no staff at this location.
Contact our customer team for general enquiries during office hours, Monday to Friday.
Related document downloads
Crychan Forest - Halfway site information
PDF [4.5 MB]
Other places in South West Wales
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