Beacons View, near Monmouth
Walk through heathland and woodland
The Spirit of Llynfi Woodland is located on the eastern slopes of the Upper Llynfi Valley, nine miles north of Bridgend.
Recently established on a former industrial site, this community woodland offers local people access to green space on their doorstep and has a range of facilities for all to enjoy.
The varied landscape includes ponds, marshland and heathland.
Over 60,000 trees have been planted here including a mixture of broadleaves, fruit and ornamental trees.
The woodland was designed and developed with the community, for the community. It was sponsored by the Welsh Government Nature Fund and the Ford Motor Company Global Fund.
Read more about the woodland's development.
The facilities include:
These waymarked running trails are a fantastic introduction to trail running.
The trails are on a mixture of forest roads, tarmacked surfaces, and a short section of single track road, with occasional mud and rocks.
Depending on the difficulty level of the trail, there are steep ascents and descents and undulating sections.
See the information below for more details on the route, length and level of fitness required.
The Llynfi Valley Trail is an all ability Sustrans route running through the lower half of the site.
An accessible path links the Sustrans route and the bridleway to allow easier access to the upper parts of the site.
Go to the Sustrans website for more information about the Llynfi Valley Trail.
The Spirit of Llynfi Woodland is on the site of the former Coegnant Colliery and Maesteg Washery.
The Keeper of the Colliery is an oak sculpture of a miner which celebrates the lives of the hundreds of miners who once worked throughout the Llynfi valley.
A poem was commissioned for the unveiling ceremony of the sculpture.
The poem is about the area’s industrial past and its rebirth through the Spirit of Llynfi project.
Listen to the Keeper of the Colliery poem in our video.
Poem written by Dan Lock and recited by local historian and former colliery worker, Roy Meredith.
Spirit of Llynfi Woodland forms part of the National Forest for Wales.
The National Forest will:
In time it will form a connected ecological network running throughout Wales, bringing social, economic and environmental benefits.
For more information about the National Forest for Wales go to the Welsh Government website.
Please note:
The woodland borders the communities of Maesteg, Caerau and Nantyfyllon.
It is in the county of Bridgend.
It can be accessed on foot from various locations around Maesteg:
Tel: 0300 065 3000
Email: enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk