Black Covert Woodland, near Aberystwyth
Sheltered picnic site with riverside walk
Small woodland with visitor facilities for everyone to enjoy
Coronavirus update
Our sites and most visitor facilities are open but, under the current coronavirus restrictions in Wales, this is intended only for the use of people who live locally.
You are strongly advised – in line with current Welsh Government regulations – not to drive to any of our sites to exercise unless you have specific health or mobility issues.
We have changed the normal route for some of our trails to help you maintain social distancing – please follow signs on site.
Coed y Bont is a community woodland situated on the edge of the village of Pontrhydfendigaid.
It is made up of two adjoining woods, Coed Dolgoed and Coed Cnwch.
Coed Dolgoed is a lower level, flat woodland of native broadleaf trees, mainly willow and downy birch with rowan, hazel, aspen and oak.
Coed Cnwch is an ancient woodland situated on the adjacent hillside with old oaks, areas of hazel and some conifer trees.
There is a range of visitor facilities at Coed y Bont, including two level accessible walking trails through Coed Dolgoed.
Coed y Bont Community Woodland Association helps to look after the woodlands in partnership with Natural Resources Wales, within the terms of a management agreement.
Volunteers from the association undertake various maintenance tasks such as renovating and upgrading paths, installing seats and keeping vegetation in check.
Their work has increased the diversity of habitats and species here as well as improving access to the woodland for local people and visitors.
The association also organises events in the woodland including conservation days and seasonal guided walks.
Go to the Coed y Bont Facebook page.
The community association has developed a range of facilities for local people and visitors.
These include:
There are two purpose-built trails in the lower level, flat woodland of Coed Dolgoed.
Both trails are suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs.
This short walk takes you through a young woodland and passes by a pond with a small island.
The pond often dries out in the summer but it is a peaceful place to sit on one of the benches.
Look out for the “trembling” aspen trees - their leaves shake in the breeze and turn a golden colour in autumn.
Meander through the birch trees and follow the path that goes between two small ponds.
This is a very boggy part of the woodland so look out for dragonflies in late summer.
The trail returns to the start along the forest road from where there are views of Pen-y-Bannau, a striking hill to the north.
There is a network of rougher and steeper paths through the ancient woodland of Coed Cnwch, situated on the hillside.
The woodlands that make up Coed y Bont were once within the grounds of the Cistercian abbey of Strata Florida, one of the largest abbeys in Britain.
Coed y Bont is on the Strata Florida Trail and there are information boards about the abbey’s history in the car park.
The abbey ruins are nearby and are open to visitors.
For more information, go to the Cadw website.
Water voles and roe deer have been recorded in Coed y Bont and the abundant insect life feeds many breeding birds.
Around 80 different bird species have been seen or heard in the woodland including blue tit, great tit, nuthatch, pied flycatcher, spotted flycatcher, redstart, marsh tit and tawny owl. Red kites nest here.
The deciduous trees and ponds in Coed Dolgoed are a favourite haunt of butterflies, moths and dragonflies.
The ancient woodland of Coed Cnwch on the hillside contains centuries-old oaks and hazel trees, along with wetter areas of birch and alder.
This mosaic of mature trees is rich in lichens and fungi, including the rare hazel gloves fungus, and the woodland is especially stunning in the spring when there is a carpet of bluebells.
There are still some blocks of larch and Douglas fir here which were planted by the Forestry Commission in the 1970s. These conifer trees will gradually be removed as part of an ancient woodland restoration programme.
Coed y Bont is located in the Cambrian Mountains which have some of the darkest night skies in Europe.
Coed y Bont is one of the best local places to see the stars and it has been designated as a Dark Sky Discovery Site.
Dark Sky Discovery Sites are places that:
Get tips for enjoying the night sky on the UK Dark Sky Discovery Partnership website
The trails around the lower woodland (Coed Dolgoed) follow easy access paths which are suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs.
There are several benches along the trails.
Coed y Bont community woodland is 6 miles north of Tregaron.
It is in the county of Ceredigion.
Coed y Bont is on Ordnance Survey (OS) map 187.
The OS grid reference is SN 737 659.
Take the B4343 from Tregaron towards Pontrhydfendigaid.
After entering Pontrhydfendigaid, turn right onto Abbey Road following the brown and white sign for Strata Florida Abbey.
After ½ mile the Coed y Bont car park is on the right.
The nearest mainline railway station is in Aberystwyth.
There is a bus service to Pontrhydfendigaid.
For details of public transport go to the Traveline Cymru website.
Parking is free of charge.
enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk