Pen-y-Bedd Wood, near Llanelli

Welcome

Pen-y-Bedd Wood is a great place for a gentle stroll and is a popular picnic site near the Carmarthenshire coast.

This area was once farmland near the site of a Royal Ordnance factory which closed in the 1960s and the waymarked woodland walk follows the disused railway line.

The large grassy picnic area is next to the car park and has three picnic benches.

The woodland is home to the Pembrey Conservation Trust who carry out many practical tasks here and in neighbouring Pembrey Forest.

Just down the road is Pembrey Country Park which offers a variety of leisure activities.

Walking trail

The walking trail is waymarked from start to finish.

Look out for the information panel at the start of the trail.

Find out about walking trail grades.

Pen-y-Bedd Trail

• Grade: Easy
• Distance: 1½ miles/2.2 kilometres
• Time: 1 hour
• Trail information: Sandy tracks, footpaths which are narrow in places and a short stretch of forest road. Benches along the trail.

Follow this gentle walk on sandy tracks past looming Corsican pine trees to a decked viewing area overlooking a pond.

Part of the route follows the old railway line which once served the Royal Ordnance factory and there are glimpses through the trees over fields and farmlands.

The trail returns to the car park through a mixed woodland.

Saint Illtyd’s Walk

This 64 mile/103 kilometre long distance walk runs through Pen-y-Bedd Wood and can be joined from the car park.

It starts at Pembrey Country Park, through rural eastern Carmarthenshire and Neath Port Talbot to end at Margam Country Park south of Port Talbot.

Saint Illtyd (or Illtud) was an early sixth century Welsh saint who founded an abbey and possibly Britain’s first school at Llantwit Major.

Find out about Saint Illtyd’s Walk on the Long Distance Walkers Association website.

Pembrey Country Park

Pen-y-Bedd Wood is situated just outside the popular Pembrey Country Park which offers a variety of leisure activities.

The country park has access to the long sandy Cefn Sidan beach and it is bordered by Pembrey Forest where you can follow our Pines and Shells walking trail.

For more information about the country park go to the Pembrey Country Park website.

National Forest for Wales

Pen-y-Bedd Wood 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.

Closures and diversions

Sometimes we need to close or divert trails for your safety whilst we undertake maintenance work or other operations.

We may have to close a site in extreme weather, such as high winds or snow and ice, due to the risk of injury to visitors or staff.

Please always follow any instructions on site and any temporary diversion signs.

How to get here

Location

Pen-y-Bedd Wood is 7 miles west of Llanelli.

It is in the county of Carmarthenshire.

Ordnance Survey map

Penybedd Wood is on Ordnance Survey (OS) map 164 or 178.

The OS grid reference is SN 419 013.

Directions

Follow brown and white tourist signs to Pembrey Country Park from the A484 between Carmarthen and Llanelli onto Factory Road.

The entrance to the car park is on the right, over the bridge just after leaving the A484.

Public transport

The nearest mainline railway station is Pembrey and Burry Port.

For details of public transport visit the Traveline Cymru website.

Parking

Parking is free of charge.

The car park can get full at busy times.

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.