Afan Forest Park – Visitor Centre, near Port Talbot
Main starting point for mountain bike and walking...
Crychan Forest – Halfway, near Llandovery
What's here
We may close our car parks and other visitor facilities at short notice whilst we undertake recovery operations due to recent storm damage. You should always follow any instructions given by signs or local staff including any trail diversions or closures, and beware of the danger of falling trees or branches.
Welcome
Halfway is one of our car parks in Crychan Forest.
It is easy to find, just off the A40 a few miles from Llandovery, and is an ideal spot to stretch your legs.
The two waymarked walking trails both go alongside the stream.
There are picnic benches around the car park and by the river.
Walking trails
The walking trails are waymarked from start to finish.
Look out for the information panel at the start of the trails.
Find out about walking trail grades.
Nant y Dresglen Trail
- Grade: Easy
- Distance: 1.3 miles/2.1 kilometres
- Time: 45 minutes
The Nant y Dresglen Trail is a circular route which winds through the trees, never going far from the waters of Nant y Dresglen.
Melin y Glyn Trail
- Grade: Moderate
- Distance: 2.2 miles/3.6 kilometres
- Time: 1½ hours
Follow an old county road along the western side of the valley, before reaching the forest road bridge, at Melin y Glyn.
A mill used to be here many years ago, now there’s hardly a trace of it.
Return along a track through the trees and along the forest road.
Horse riding in Crychan Forest
There is open access for horse riding throughout Crychan Forest.
Our car parks in Crychan Forest are the starting point for many miles of horse riding on forest roads and old tracks.
There are also shortcuts onto the Epynt Way, a 50 mile long bridleway around the boundary of the Sennybridge military training area.
Facilities for horse riders at our car parks include corrals and tethering rails.
The car parks at Halfway and Brynffo are the most suitable for horse boxes.
There is access for carriage drivers at Brynffo car park.
For more information about horse riding in Crychan Forest, go to the Crychan Forest Association website.
Crychan Forest
Halfway car park is within Crychan Forest.
Set in beautiful countryside between the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park and the Cambrian Mountains, Crychan Forest is criss-crossed with many old tracks that linked the farms that were once here.
In the 1930s the Forestry Commission bought the farms and land and planted trees here as part of the efforts across the UK to replenish timber stocks which had been run-down during the First World War.
A few ruined dwellings remain and you may come across them as you explore.
The forest is made up of oak, ash, beech, hazel and conifers and the colours vary depending on the season from bluebells in the spring to the golden hues of autumn.
Nowadays it provides valuable timber and is home to a wide variety of wildlife.
Goshawks, buzzards and red kites nest here, and you may catch a glimpse of roe deer.
As well as the walking trails from Halfway there are walking trails from our three other car parks in Crychan Forest:
Halfway car park is the easiest of these to reach as it is situated just off the A40, a few miles from Llandovery.
The car parks at Brynffo, Cefn Farm and Esgair Fwyog are located on minor roads off the A483 between Llandovery and Builth Wells.
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.
Please note:
- military training takes place in this forest.
- unexploded flares or blanks may cause serious injury if handled.
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.
Organising an event on our land
You may need permission from us to organise an event or to carry out some activities on our land.
Check if you are allowed to use our land.
How to get here
We recommend you follow these directions or use the Google map below which has a pin on this place’s location.
Halfway car park is 5 miles east of Llandovery.
Take the A40 from Llandovery towards Brecon.
After 5 miles, turn left following the brown and white sign for Crychan Forest Trails.
Follow the short unclassified stone track to Halfway car park.
The Ordnance Survey (OS) grid reference for the car park is SN 835 330 (Explorer Map 187 or OL 12).
The postcode is SA20 0SE. Please note that this postcode covers a wide area and will not take you directly to the entrance.
View this place on the What3Words website.
Public transport
The nearest mainline railway station is in Llandovery.
For details of public transport go to the Traveline Cymru website.
Parking
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.
Related document downloads
Crychan Forest - Halfway site information
PDF [4.5 MB]
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Other websites
Crychan Forest Association
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