Upper Wye Valley
Crychan Forest
Miles of forest track between the Bannau and the Cambrians, following old drovers’ routes through gorges and over open ground.
- Distance
- 5.0 mi / 8 km
- Time
- 2 hr 45
- Ascent
- 280 m
- Difficulty
- Demanding
- Shape
- Circular
Where it is
The circle shows the general area, not the exact start. Use the directions link below to get to the car park itself. Contours and paths shown are OpenTopoMap, drawn from OpenStreetMap data.
The route
Waymarked trails leave several car parks and loop through the forest. Long and quiet with steady climbing.
Worth knowing
- Drovers took cattle through here on the way to English markets and the routes are still traceable.
- The forest is large; take the map and note which car park you started from.
- Shared with horse riders and cyclists on the main tracks.
What you’ll see
Conifer forest and gorges, drovers’ routes, and views towards the Bannau.
Background
Llandovery below was a major drovers’ town, and the Black Ox Bank was founded there to serve cattle dealers.