Beacons View, near Monmouth
Walk through heathland and woodland
Cwm Carn Forest, near Newport
Caerphilly County Borough Council
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
Set in the heart of the South Wales valleys, Cwm Carn Forest is home to a forest drive, walking trails and mountain bike trails.
It is 8 miles from junction 28 of the M4.
The car park, visitor centre, forest drive and most visitor facilities are managed by Caerphilly County Borough Council.
For information about visiting Cwm Carn Forest see the Cwm Carn Forest website or go to the visitor centre on arrival.
Cwm Carn Forest Drive
Following significant investment and redevelopment by Natural Resources Wales the forest drive re-opened in June 2021.
The seven-mile-long drive has eight stop-off points with a range of newly-developed visitor facilities including play areas, accessible footpaths, sensory tunnels and a wooden sculpture trail.
There are picnic areas, BBQ facilities and toilets in some of the stop-off points.
Caerphilly County Borough Council runs the forest drive through a partnership agreement with Natural Resources Wales.
For information about visiting Cwm Carn Forest Drive see the Cwm Carn Forest website.
Mountain bike trails
There are five mountain bike trails at Cwm Carn:
- Pwca: blue grade (moderate)
- Cafall: red grade (difficult)
- Twrch: red grade (difficult)
- Pedalhounds: black grade (severe)
- Y Mynydd: double black grade (extreme)
They are waymarked from the information panel in the visitor centre car park.
To find out what the trail grades mean go to mountain bike trail grades.
For information about the trails see the Cwm Carn Forest 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 trails
See the top of this webpage for details of any planned closures or other changes to trails 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.
Other places in South East Wales
Explore more
Elsewhere on the site
Our work at Cwm Carn forest
Last updated 4 Mar 2025