Brechfa Forest – Byrgwm, near Carmarthen

Welcome

Situated a couple of miles from the village of Brechfa, the Byrgwm car park is the starting point for mountain bike trails through Brechfa Forest.

Inexperienced off-road cyclists can get an introduction to mountain biking on the Derwen Trail which flows through the oak woodland.

The black-graded Raven Trail was designed by two well-known mountain bikers and it will test the skills of experienced riders.

The walking trail passes a derelict smallholding, one of several ruins throughout Brechfa Forest.

The woodland boasts some huge Douglas Fir trees and plant enthusiasts should look out for hard fern, broad buckler fern and bilberry.

There are portable toilets in the car park.

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.

Byrgwm Walk

• Grade: Moderate
• Distance: 4¼ miles/6.8 kilometres
• Time: 2½ hours
• Trail information: Requires a reasonable level of fitness. Walking boots and waterproofs recommended. Paths can be slippery when wet. Please watch out for mountain bikes, as they share sections of forest roads

This walk takes in views of the Cothi Valley, airy woodlands with huge Douglas fir trees, darker moss strewn Norway spruce areas, and a derelict smallholding.

Don’t be put off­ by the forest road ahead – soon views of the Cothi valley open up to your right with its landscape of farms and woodlands.

After just under a mile you will turn left leaving the road to go along attractive woodland paths.

Mountain bike trails

All our mountain bike trails are waymarked from start to finish and have been graded for difficulty.

At the start of the trail there is an information panel – please read this before setting off.

• Find out about mountain bike trail grades.
• For a list of our mountain bike trails and information to plan your ride, go to mountain biking.
• For more information about mountain biking in Wales, go to the Mountain Bike Wales website.

Derwen Trail

• Grade: Green (easy)
• Distance: 9.7 kilometres

Typically, green trails are all on forest roads or canal towpaths – but not in Brechfa Forest! We aimed to create a trail that engages the rider and heightens your senses giving a true taste of off­-road riding.

Named after the oak woodland it effortlessly flows through, the Derwen trail gives the inexperienced off-road rider a unique introduction to the world of mountain biking.

Clinging low to the valley sides, the trail eases you in with steady climbs and fun descents. Weaving through the forest you will encounter some lovely scenery and flowing terrain.

One ride will have you hooked and, perhaps, thinking of trying out the blue-graded extension.

Derwen Trail (extension)

• Grade: Blue (moderate)
• Distance: 3.9 kilometres (extension to the Derwen Trail)

This extension to the green-graded route climbs a steeper bank before taking in a longer, faster descent that will have you pumping and whooping all the way to the valley bottom.

This route is also a stepping-stone to the steeper and more technical red-graded Gorlech Trail from our car park at Abergorlech.

Raven Trail

• Grade: Black (severe)
• Distance: 19.1 kilometres

Suitable only for proficient bikers, the trail effortlessly mixes up the more traditional narrow woodland singletracks with Brechfa’s signature brash descents: fast, undulating trail that sweeps between trees and flows sinuously into berms and over jumps.

This trail takes you out into the more interesting corners of the forest and creates a ride that involves the forest’s unique environment, from spooky mossy overhangs to the magnificent Douglas fir Northshore Bridge.

Designed by Rowan Sorrell and Brian Rumble, this trail will test your full artillery of trail skills.

Brechfa Forest

Brechfa Forest is the modern name for part of the ancient Glyn Cothi Forest.

Glyn Cothi Forest was managed for centuries by local people in order to provide building materials, products and grazing.

In 1283, following the final defeat of Wales by Edward I, Glyn Cothi became a Royal Forest administered under Forest Law for several centuries.

Since those days a very different forest has developed. In the 1900s Brechfa Forest was replanted with conifers by the Forestry Commission to boost Britain’s timber reserve after the heavy use of timber in the First World War.

Today Brechfa Forest covers some 6500 hectares and is looked after by Natural Resources Wales for the benefit of people, wildlife and timber production, and more recently the production of wind energy.

Other car parks in Brechfa Forest

There are walking and mountain bike trails from these other Natural Resources Wales car parks in Brechfa Forest:

• Abergorlech - woodland walks, a mountain bike trail and an arboretum with a difference
• Gwarallt - easy short walk through beech woodland
• Keepers - choice of riverside trail or long walk past huge wind turbines
• Tower - forest walk with valley views and access to trail past wind turbines

National Forest for Wales

Brechfa 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.

Opening times

Please check the top of this webpage for any changes to these opening times.

The portable toilets are open at all times.

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

Byrgwm is 2 miles north-east of Brechfa village.

Postcode

The postcode is SA32 7RD.

Please note that this postcode may not take you to the car park if you use a sat nav or navigation app.

We suggest you follow the directions below or use the Google map on this page which has a pin on the car park’s location.

Directions

Take the A40 from Carmarthen towards Llandeilo.

After 4 miles, in the village of Nantgaredig, turn left on to the B4310 signposted towards Brechfa.

Continue through the village of Brechfa and after ¾ mile the car park is on the left.

What3Words

View this place on the What3Words website.

Ordnance Survey

The Ordnance Survey (OS) grid reference for the car park is SN 545 315 (Explorer Map 186).

Public transport

The nearest mainline railway station is in Carmarthen.

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.