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Community woodland with visitor facilities for everyone to enjoy
Coed y Bont is a community woodland situated on the edge of the village of Pontrhydfendigaid in Ceredigion.
It is made up of two adjoining woods, Coed Dolgoed and Coed Cnwch.
Coed Dolgoed is a lower level, flat woodland of native broadleaf trees, mainly willow and downy birch with rowan, hazel, aspen and oak.
Coed Cnwch is an ancient woodland situated on the adjacent hillside with old oaks, areas of hazel and some conifer trees.
There is a range of visitor facilities at Coed y Bont, including two level accessible walking trails through Coed Dolgoed.
Coed y Bont Community Woodland Association helps to look after the woodlands in partnership with Natural Resources Wales, within the terms of a management agreement.
Volunteers from the association undertake various maintenance tasks such as renovating and upgrading paths, installing seats and keeping vegetation in check.
Their work has increased the diversity of habitats and species here as well as improving access to the woodland for local people and visitors.
The association also organises events in the woodland including conservation days and seasonal guided walks.
See the Coed y Bont Facebook page for details of events.
Water voles and roe deer have been recorded in Coed y Bont and the abundant insect life feeds many breeding birds.
Around 80 different bird species have been seen or heard in the woodland including blue tit, great tit, nuthatch, pied flycatcher, spotted flycatcher, redstart, marsh tit and tawny owl. Red kites nest here.
The deciduous trees and ponds in Coed Dolgoed are a favourite haunt of butterflies, moths and dragonflies.
The ancient woodland of Coed Cnwch on the hillside contains centuries-old oaks and hazel trees, along with wetter areas of birch and alder.
This mosaic of mature trees is rich in lichens and fungi, including the rare hazel gloves fungus, and the woodland is especially stunning in the spring when there is a carpet of bluebells.
There are still some blocks of larch and Douglas fir here which were planted by the Forestry Commission in the 1970s. These conifer trees will gradually be removed as part of an ancient woodland restoration programme.
The community association has developed a range of facilities for local people and visitors.
These include:
There are two purpose-built trails in the lower level, flat woodland of Coed Dolgoed.
Both trails are suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs.
¼ mile, 0.4 kilometres, easy
This short walk takes you through a young woodland and passes by a pond with a small island. The pond often dries out in the summer but it is a peaceful place to sit on one of the benches. Look out for the “trembling” aspen trees - their leaves shake in the breeze and turn a golden colour in autumn.
½ mile, 0.9 kilometres, easy
Meander through the birch trees and follow the path that goes between two small ponds. This is a very boggy part of the woodland so look out for dragonflies in late summer. The trail returns to the start along the forest road from where there are views of Pen-y-Bannau, a striking hill to the north.
There is a network of rougher and steeper paths through the ancient woodland of Coed Cnwch, situated on the hillside.
The woodlands that make up Coed y Bont were once within the grounds of the Cistercian abbey of Strata Florida, one of the largest abbeys in Britain.
Coed y Bont is on the Strata Florida Trail and there are information boards about the abbey’s history in the car park.
The abbey ruins are nearby and are open to visitors.
Go to the Cadw website for more information.
The trails around the lower woodland (Coed Dolgoed) follow easy access paths which are suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs.
There are several benches along the trails.
Please note:
Coed y Bont community woodland is 6 miles north of Tregaron.
The OS grid reference is SN 737 659.
Car parking is free of charge.
Take the B4343 from Tregaron towards Pontrhydfendigaid. After entering Pontrhydfendigaid, turn right onto Abbey Road following the brown and white sign for Strata Florida Abbey. After ½ mile the Coed y Bont car park is on the right.
There is a bus service to Pontrhydfendigaid.
For details of public transport visit Traveline Cymru's website.
Tel: 0300 065 3000
Email: enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk
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