Preseli Hills
Pontfaen Woods
Ancient oak woodland on the steep sides of the Gwaun valley, with a small church, mossy boulders and very few people.
- Distance
- 3.1 mi / 5 km
- Time
- 1 hr 50
- Ascent
- 200 m
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- 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
A circuit, and the steep part comes first. Paths climb through the woods from the village and return along the river. Steep in places with roots underfoot.
Worth knowing
- The woods are a Special Area of Conservation for their lichens and bryophytes.
- St Brynach’s church at Pontfaen has two early medieval crosses in the churchyard.
- Dark and damp; genuinely good on a hot day.
What you’ll see
Sessile oak with heavy moss cover, the Gwaun river, and the church and its crosses.
Background
The Gwaun valley oaks are among the least disturbed woodland in Pembrokeshire and support species that need continuous tree cover.