All walks › Caerphilly and the Eastern Valleys
Caerphilly and the Eastern ValleysThe Cwmcarn Forest Drive
The full length of the forest drive on foot, climbing through felled and replanted ground to viewpoints over the Ebbw valley.
- Distance
- 5.0 mi / 8 km
- Time
- 2 hr 50
- Ascent
- 300 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
Follow the forest drive and its loops from the visitor centre. Long and steady on good tracks.
Worth knowing
- The forest was largely felled for larch disease and is regenerating; the views are better for it.
- The drive is open to cars in season but quiet enough to walk.
- Twmbarlwm summit is a detour from the top of the drive.
What you’ll see
Felled and regenerating forest, the Ebbw valley, and Twmbarlwm above.
Background
Larch disease forced the felling of much of the forest from 2014, changing the landscape completely within a few years.