Brechfa Forest – Gwarallt, near Carmarthen

Welcome

Gwarallt is a small car park near Brechfa village.

It is the starting point for a short walking trail in Brechfa Forest.

Pobl y Fforest, a local community group, received funding from Forestry Commission Wales (now Natural Resources Wales) to create this trail.

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.

Gwarallt Walk

• Grade: Easy
• Distance: ½ mile/1 kilometre (there and back)
• Climb: 100 feet/30 metres
• Time: 15 minutes
• Trail information: Designed for wheelchairs but involves a gradual climb. Low level of fitness required. Walking shoes with a good grip recommended. The path is wide with a gravel surface but this is covered with leaves in autumn and winter. The path narrows and goes over some small rocky sections as it reaches the small circuit at the top. The trail is a “there and back” route which follows the same path back to the car park. 

Climb through beech woodlands to reach an open area planted with native trees such as oak, rowan and birch.

Brechfa Forest

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.

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.

Other car parks in Brechfa Forest

There are walking and mountain bike trails from these other Natural Resources Wales car parksin Brechfa Forest:

• Abergorlech - woodland walks, a mountain bike trail and an arboretum with a difference
• Byrgwm - woodland walk and mountain bike trails for beginners and experienced riders
• Keepers - choice of riverside trail or long walk past huge wind turbines
• Tower - forest walk with valley views and access to trail past wind turbines

National Forest for Wales

Brechfa 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.

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

Gwarallt car park is 13¾ miles north east of Carmarthen.

It is in the county of Carmarthenshire.

Ordnance Survey map

Gwarallt is on Ordnance Survey (OS) Explorer map 186.

The OS grid reference is SN 520 322.

Directions

Take the A40 from Carmarthen towards Llandeilo.

Turn left onto the B4310 signposted to Brechfa.

In the village of Brechfa turn left at the village shop signposted to New Inn.

Follow this minor road for 1½ miles and pass the Keepers car park on the left.

The Gwarallt car park is ¼ mile further along the road on the right, up a short but steep forest entrance road.

Public transport

The nearest mainline railway station is in Carmarthen.

For details of public transport go to the Traveline Cymru website.

Parking

Car 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.