Home > Days out > Places to visit > Mid Wales

Radnor Forest - Warren Wood, near New Radnor

Gateway to a spectacular waterfall and three walking trails

What's here

Dogs welcome

Parking

Walking trail

Overview

Warren Wood has been popular with tourists for over 200 years because of the waterfall known as Water-Break-its-Neck.

Named after the rabbit warren which once provided a source of food, this area has seen huge changes since Radnor Forest was an ancient hunting forest.

In those days, it was a large moorland but in Victorian times the then-owners, the Harpton Court Estate, decided to create a “picturesque” forest and planted lots of trees.

You can see many of these trees, which are now huge, on our three waymarked walking trails which follow historic walking routes.

There is a small picnic site in the parking area which you pass on your way to the main Warren Wood car park.

Radnor Forest

View from Fishpools Trail, Radnor Forest Warren Wood is in the area known as Radnor Forest.

Radnor Forest was once a royal hunting ground but it wasn’t an area covered in trees, which is our understanding of the word ‘forest’.

To the Norman kings it was an unenclosed piece of land, legally set aside for them to hunt deer.

Today Radnor Forest is a land of hill farming and great moorlands, steep narrow valleys and hills, rising up to the highest point in Radnorshire, Black Mixen at 2150 feet (650 metres).

There are walking trails at two other woodlands managed by Natural Resources Wales within Radnor Forest. Go to Nash Wood and Fishpools for more information.

Walking trails

Two women walking in wood All of the walking trails are waymarked and start from the car park.

Waterfall Walk

⅓ mile, 0.5km, easy

This mainly level short walk goes along a steep-sided gorge to the waterfall, which was a popular destination for Victorian tourists. The waterfall is a spectacular sight after a few days of rain but it can be reduced to a trickle after a long hot spell. The trail returns via the same route to the car park or you can join one of the longer trails through the wood.

Water-Break-its-Neck Trail

¾ mile, 1 km, moderate

This circular woodland walk leads you to a viewpoint above the famous Water-Break-its-Neck waterfall. The trail then goes up and over an old stone arched footbridge with views down into the waterfall gorge.

Warren Trail

1½ miles, 2.3 km, strenuous

Woman with dog walking in wood The Warren Trail is an energetic ramble with a climb of 560 feet (170 metres). This circular route has great views of some of the largest trees in Radnorshire, many of which were planted in Victorian times. Look out for the monkey puzzle trees!

Closures and diversions

Please note:

Sometimes we need to close or divert trails for your safety whilst we undertake maintenance work or forest operations
Occasionally we may have to close a site in extreme weather, such as high winds or snow and ice due to the risk of injury to visitors or staff
Please always follow any instructions onsite and make sure you follow any temporary diversion signs in place

How to get here

Warren Wood is 1 mile south west of New Radnor.

Parking is free of charge.

Download the location map.

Directions

Follow the A44 from New Radnor to Llandrindod Wells. About one mile after New Radnor, turn right at a brown tourist information sign. Go past the first small parking and picnic area and follow the forest road uphill to Warren Wood car park.

The OS grid reference is SO 187 598.