Swansea
Embrace Nature: 16 breathtaking woodland walks near Swansea!
Embrace Nature: 16 breathtaking woodland walks near Swansea!
Minwear Woods by Deborah Tilley under license CC BY-SA 4.0
The table above lists all the best woodland walks near Swansea. Click on each name to be taken straight to the part of the blog post for that walk.
The forests around Swansea are some of the most beautiful in Wales. They provide the perfect opportunity for a peaceful walk with plenty of different routes to choose from. You can explore the thousands of hectares of woodland at Brechfa Forest, trek along the boardwalks at the Crmlyn Bog National Nature Reserve or see the stunning landscape at Stackpole National Nature Reserve. With the diverse landscape on offer in this part of the country, there's something for everyone on the walks listed below, so be sure to explore them all!
Once you've read up on the forest walks to try on your visit to the south west of Wales, why not have a look at our posts for the activities that are available to do in this area. You can find them on the following buttons below:
The best 16 trails you don't want to miss near Swansea
In this blog post, we will be listing the many forest walks near to the city of Swansea.
Have a look below at the forest walks available on the interactive map and click on the buttons below the map for each walk, to be taken to the Natural Resources Wales pages, for further information on the forest trails.
Afan Forest Park
Afan Forest Park is one of Britain’s iconic mountain bike destinations. Located in a former coal mining valley just minutes from the M4, it offers trails for beginners and experts alike with three of their red graded trails that start from Glyncorrwg Mountain Bike Centre Car park!
The visitor centre is a great place to visit if you are looking for some outdoor activities. There's three different walking trails that range from a short route along old railway tracks up towards the more strenuous seven mile climb with panoramic views at the top!
Brechfa Forest
Brechfa Forest covers some 6500 hectares and is looked after by Natural Resources Wales for the benefit of the local people and wildlife. The car parks at Keepers and Gwarallt are where you can find two short waymarked hiking trails that will lead you into Brechfa’s woodlands; home to many animals and birds to look out for on your journey. There’s a further two car parks to start from with more walking and mountain bike trails that more information can be found through the button provided.
Caio Forest
Caio Forest is a magical place that's full of life. You can explore its many trails or take one of the waymarked circular walks for an easier pace with some riverside spots to sit by if you want some peace and quiet!
Carmel National Nature Reserve
An ancient woodland, flower-rich grassland and spectacular views greet you at the top of a steep climb through Carmel National Nature Reserve. A far reaching landscape made up mostly by limestone rocks extracted since the Middle Ages until today, the walk is worth the effort to sample the views.
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Cilgwyn Wood
The peaceful woods has a lovely mix of different trees, including large Douglas Fir and Old Beech. It's small but there is always something going on here! In springtime you'll find patches of bluebells along the walking trail, while summer brings dappled shade as well as scent from conifers in autumn - when leaves change colour around us all too quickly!
Crymlyn Bog by Tiia Monto under license CC BY-SA 3.0
Crymlyn Bog National Nature Reserve
Crymlyn Bog is an extraordinary wetland site in Wales that's home to a wide variety of plants and animals. Take one or more walks through the trails which include boardwalks throughout! There's plenty more than what meets the eye here; not only does it serve an important role internationally but also locally with its abundance of wildlife throughout the year.
Mill Wood
This ancient woodland still has remnants of late 18th century landscaping and tree planting. In spring look out for bluebells, red campion and male ferns amongst others, which are all common to these woodlands. What makes this woodland so special is its location within the boundaries that surrounded Penrice Castle!
Minwear Forest
The beautiful springtime colours of yellow and white make way for new life as the trees prepare themselves again each year for a change of season. In autumn, red oaks stand out amongst their brown counterparts in what can be a very dramatic landscape at times; while there are also plenty of exciting wild bird species to spot such as long-tailed tits or great spotted woodpeckers who've made this place home!
Oxwich National Nature Reserve
The diverse reserve is one of the most interesting areas in Gower. There are beaches, sand dunes that lead up into woodlands and cliffs overlooking salt and fresh water marshes - it's rare to find so many different habitats all within such close proximity! The mix of habitats found here makes it a haven for nature lovers. The long, sandy beach is undoubtedly popular but there's even more to see away from the shore!
Pant y Sais National Nature Reserve
Follow the boardwalk into the heart of this fascinating wetland reserve and you are guaranteed an encounter with one or more species from across its diverse range. The reed and sedge beds are home to a range of wetland plants, birds and insects so keep your eyes peeled on your walk and have your camera at the ready!
Park Wood
Park Wood has an abundance of natural beauty and archeological history that cannot be matched by any other location in South Wales. The caves and lime kiln found here are not only significant historic sites, but they are great places to explore on your walk.
Pembrey Forest by Alistair Hare under license CC BY-SA 4.0
Pembrey Forest
Pembrey Forest is a huge pine forest which was created on sand dunes near the gorgeous seaside town of Carmarthen. Home to many plants, migrant songbirds and birds-of prey alike - there's even colonies here for some butterflies!
Pen-y-Bedd Wood
If you're looking for a place to relax and enjoy some peace, Pen-y-Bedd Wood is just what your soul needs. This serene spot offers visitors the chance to not only walk through its forest trails but also take advantage of lovely views along south Wales' coastlines as well! Popular spot for a picnic!
Skomer Marine Conservation Zone
In the waters around Skomer Island and Marloes Peninsula off Pembrokeshire's coast lives an incredible abundance of sea creatures. Natural Resources Wales has designated this area as a Marine Conservation Zone to protect what life-support systems exist here, which are unique for such extensive stretches in Wales alone! Lovely views to be had on your walk here and highly recommend checking this one out on your visit!
Stackpole National Nature Reserve
The diverse landscape of Stackpole National Nature Reserve includes the shallow freshwater Bosherton lakes, woodlands and dunes. The site also has stunning limestone cliffs as well as beaches that are perfect for wildlife watching!
Talley Woodlands
Talley Woodlands is a beautiful forest area for seeing what nature has to offer and the trails here provide spectacular views of Carmarthenshire. The three different routes all end at a view point with a picnic bench, making it well worth the steep hike to the top!
Please note...
All outdoor activities including forest walks involve a degree of risk. The walks are recommended due to the well known features of each forest but this may change over time and further research is required before undertaking any activity. The weather can also impact the surface and general conditions of each path so please keep yourself updated with the weather forecast before setting off to enjoy your walk!
Conclusion
In this blog post, we have shared some of the woodland walks near Swansea. To find out more about things to do in the area, click on the buttons below:
I hope this article has been useful in highlighting the best forest walks near Swansea giving an insight into some of the amazing trails in this area. If so please share with your friends by clicking the social media icons below.
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