Afan Forest Park – Visitor Centre, near Port Talbot
Main starting point for mountain bike and walking...
The recent strong winds took a significant toll on our sites.
We’re continuing to assess the damage, but this will take some time.
We may close the car park and other facilities at short notice whilst we undertake recovery operations.
You should always follow any instructions given by signs or local staff including any trail diversions or closures, and beware of the danger of falling trees or branches.
Situated a couple of miles from the village of Brechfa, the Byrgwm car park is the starting point for mountain bike trails through Brechfa Forest.
Inexperienced off-road cyclists can get an introduction to mountain biking on the Derwen Trail which flows through the oak woodland.
The black-graded Raven Trail was designed by two well-known mountain bikers and it will test the skills of experienced riders.
The walking trail passes a derelict smallholding, one of several ruins throughout Brechfa Forest.
The woodland boasts some huge Douglas Fir trees and plant enthusiasts should look out for hard fern, broad buckler fern and bilberry.
There are portable toilets in the car park.
The walking trail is waymarked from start to finish.
Look out for the information panel at the start of the trail.
Find out about walking trail grades.
This walk takes in views of the Cothi Valley, airy woodlands with huge Douglas fir trees, darker moss strewn Norway spruce areas, and a derelict smallholding.
Don’t be put off by the forest road ahead – soon views of the Cothi valley open up to your right with its landscape of farms and woodlands.
After just under a mile you will turn left leaving the road to go along attractive woodland paths.
All our mountain bike trails are waymarked from start to finish and have been graded for difficulty.
At the start of the trail there is an information panel – please read this before setting off.
Typically, green trails are all on forest roads or canal towpaths – but not in Brechfa Forest! We aimed to create a trail that engages the rider and heightens your senses giving a true taste of off-road riding.
Named after the oak woodland it effortlessly flows through, the Derwen trail gives the inexperienced off-road rider a unique introduction to the world of mountain biking.
Clinging low to the valley sides, the trail eases you in with steady climbs and fun descents. Weaving through the forest you will encounter some lovely scenery and flowing terrain.
One ride will have you hooked and, perhaps, thinking of trying out the blue-graded extension.
This extension to the green-graded route climbs a steeper bank before taking in a longer, faster descent that will have you pumping and whooping all the way to the valley bottom.
This route is also a stepping-stone to the steeper and more technical red-graded Gorlech Trail from our car park at Abergorlech.
Suitable only for proficient bikers, the trail effortlessly mixes up the more traditional narrow woodland singletracks with Brechfa’s signature brash descents: fast, undulating trail that sweeps between trees and flows sinuously into berms and over jumps.
This trail takes you out into the more interesting corners of the forest and creates a ride that involves the forest’s unique environment, from spooky mossy overhangs to the magnificent Douglas fir Northshore Bridge.
Designed by Rowan Sorrell and Brian Rumble, this trail will test your full artillery of trail skills.
Brechfa Forest is the modern name for part of the ancient Glyn Cothi Forest.
Glyn Cothi Forest was managed for centuries by local people in order to provide building materials, products and grazing.
In 1283, following the final defeat of Wales by Edward I, Glyn Cothi became a Royal Forest administered under Forest Law for several centuries.
Since those days a very different forest has developed. In the 1900s Brechfa Forest was replanted with conifers by the Forestry Commission to boost Britain’s timber reserve after the heavy use of timber in the First World War.
Today Brechfa Forest covers some 6500 hectares and is looked after by Natural Resources Wales for the benefit of people, wildlife and timber production, and more recently the production of wind energy.
There are walking and mountain bike trails from these other Natural Resources Wales car parks in Brechfa Forest:
Brechfa Forest forms part of the National Forest for Wales.
The National Forest will:
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.
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.
Please check the top of this webpage for any changes to these opening times.
The portable toilets are open at all times.
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.
You may need permission from us to organise an event or to carry out some activities on our land.
Check if you are allowed to use our land.
Byrgwm is 2 miles north-east of Brechfa village.
The postcode is SA32 7RD.
Please note that this postcode may not take you to the car park if you use a sat nav or navigation app.
We suggest you follow the directions below or use the Google map on this page which has a pin on the car park’s location.
Take the A40 from Carmarthen towards Llandeilo.
After 4 miles, in the village of Nantgaredig, turn left on to the B4310 signposted towards Brechfa.
Continue through the village of Brechfa and after ¾ mile the car park is on the left.
View this place on the What3Words website.
The Ordnance Survey (OS) grid reference for the car park is SN 545 315 (Explorer Map 186).
The nearest mainline railway station is in Carmarthen.
For details of public transport go to the Traveline Cymru website.
Parking is free of charge.
Overnight parking is not permitted.
There are no staff at this location.
Contact our customer team for general enquiries during office hours, Monday to Friday.