Taf Fechan Forest, near Merthyr Tydfil

What's here

Parking (free)
Picnic area
Walking trail

Welcome

Taf Fechan Forest is in the Brecon Beacons National Park, just a short drive from Merthyr Tydfil and the South Wales Valleys.

Discover this peaceful forest on our short waymarked riverside walking trail.

You can start the trail from Owl's Grove car park or Pont Cwmyfedwen car park.

There is a picnic bench in the Owl's Grove car park.

Walking trail

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.

Taf Fechan River Walk

Grade: Moderate
Distance: 1¼ miles/1.9 kilometres
Time: 45 minutes
Trail information: The trail has some uneven and muddy sections, a short descent through trees and a section of forest road. The path is very wet underfoot after bad weather – wear appropriate footwear. There is a bench along the route.

This circular trail goes through tall conifer trees alongside the bubbling Taf Fechan River.

Other walking routes

Blaen y Glyn waterfall

You can walk to Blaen y Glyn waterfall from our car parks at Upper Blaen y Glyn and Lower Blaen y Glyn.

The route from the lower car park is shorter and has less of a climb than the route from the upper car park.

Both car parks are situated on the same road as Owl’s Grove car park – follow the road towards Talybont Reservoir and look out for the car park signs.

Beacons Way

You can join the Beacons Way long distance path from our car park at Upper Blaen y Glyn.

For more information about the Beacons Way go to the Brecon Beacons National Park website.

Long distance cycle route

The Sustrans National Cycle Network route 8 goes through Taf Fechan Forest.

For more information about this long distance cycle route, go to the Sustrans website.

Brecon Beacons National Park

Taf Fechan Forest is set in the heart of the Brecon Beacons National Park.

The National Park covers approximately 520 square miles of mountains and moorland in South and Mid Wales.

It is looked after by the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority.

For more information about visiting the Brecon Beacons go to the Brecon Beacons National Park website.

Closures and diversions

Sometimes we need to close or divert trails for your safety whilst we undertake maintenance work or other operations.

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 on site and any temporary diversion signs.

How to get here

Location

Taf Fechan Forest is 9 miles North of Merthyr Tydfil.

It is in the county of Powys.

Ordnance Survey (OS) map

Taf Fechan Forest is on OS Explorer OL 12.

The OS grid reference for Owl's Grove car park is SO 048 162.

The OS grid reference for Pont Cwmyfedwen car park is SO 042 164.

Directions

From Merthyr Tydfil, follow the brown and white signs towards the Brecon Mountain Railway.

Continue past the railway station and, after 1½ miles, turn right at the T-junction towards Talybont-on-Usk.

Follow signs for Talybont-on-Usk and the Owl's Grove car park is on the right.

For the Pont Cwmyfedwen car park, continue past the Owl's Grove car park and turn right at the T-junction and the car park is on the right after ½ mile.