Irfon Forest - White Bridge, near Llanwrtyd Wells

Welcome

Irfon Forest is situated in a remote and peaceful part of mid Wales but is easy-to-find. 

White Bridge is our main car park in Irfon Forest.

There are two short walking trails alongside the River Irfon which flows down from the Cambrian Mountains.

The pretty riverside picnic area is next to the car park.

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.

Afon Irfon Walk

• Grade: Easy
• Distance: 1¼ miles/1.9 kilometres (there and back)
• Trail information: This linear trail follows a path with a stoned surface and some loose stone in places. There is a bench by the river shortly before the turnaround point.

The Afon Irfon Walk follows the riverside path along the Afon Irfon and through a variety of woodlands before returning along the same path to the car park.

Enjoy the sound of the river and look out for the big Sitka spruce trees with their crusty plate bark.

Cwm Irfon Trail

• Grade: Moderate
• Distance: 1¼ miles/2.1 kilometres
• Trail information: This circular trail follows the same riverside path as the Afon Irfon Walk but it turns away from the river when the hard surface stops and climbs a stony track to join a forest road. There is a bench by the river.

The Cwm Irfon Walk follows the riverside path along the Afon Irfon and through a variety of woodlands.

It then climbs up to a higher track from where you can enjoy views of the valley and surrounding hills on the return to the car park.

Exploring Irfon Forest

White Bridge is our main car park in Irfon Forest and it is the starting point for the two waymarked walking trails.

Before you reach White Bridge car park you pass some cascades and a pool where farmers once washed their sheep before shearing them - look out for our Pwll Golchi (Washpool) sign and you can park in the small lay-by opposite this sign.

Half a mile further along the road from White Bridge car park towards Abergwesyn you will reach Pwll Bo car park and picnic site.

National Forest for Wales

Irfon Forest forms part of the National Forest for Wales.

The National Forest will:

• create areas of new woodland
• enhance existing woodlands
• restore Wales’ irreplaceable ancient woodlands

It will form a connected ecological network running throughout Wales, bringing social, economic and environmental benefits.

Parts of the network will eventually form a trail running the length and breadth of Wales, so anyone can access it wherever they live.

For more information go to the National Forest for Wales website.

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.

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.

How to get here

Location

White Bridge car park is 3 miles north west of Llanwrtyd Wells.

It is in the county of Powys.

Ordnance Survey map

Irfon Forest is on Ordnance Survey (OS) Explorer map 187.

OS grid references:

• White Bridge car park SN 856 507
• Pwll Bo car park and picnic area SN 852 513
• Pwll Golchi (Washpool) SN 859 499

Directions

From the A483 at Llanwrtyd Wells follow signs for Abergwesyn onto a minor road.

Follow this road for about 3 miles and go past the small lay-by at Pwll Golchi/Washpool.

After a further ½ mile the entrance to White Bridge car park is on the right over a small bridge.

Continue along this road for ½ mile to reach the Pwll Bo car park and picnic area.

Public transport

The nearest mainline railway station is in Llanwrtyd Wells.

For details of public transport visit the Traveline Cymru website.

Parking

Car 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.