The Wern walk is a well surfaced, way-marked, forestry wander that begins and ends at the Garwnant Visitor Centre. It takes you both through trees and along a more exposed track so make sure you wear layers if it’s wet or windy. The distance means that younger adventurers may need a break or a short ride in a carrier to rest their legs. However, the terrain is not challenging and would suit off-road pushchairs (as long as you don’t mind going though a stream…) At the visitor centre there is parking, a cafe and a playground as well as a much shorter 1/4 mile puzzle trail.
Wern Walk
Distance: around 2 miles
Time: 2 hours – a bit longer if you stop and play
Guide
From the car park go through the archway with the green foot signposted Wern Walk.
Keep an eye out for the posts with information about trees and their leaves and head up the path, past the pavilion and around to the right..
Continue on this path, past the fabulous carved hares, and turn right at this post following the green footprint.
Take a moment say hello to the Gruffalo’s child…
.. then grab a friend and wander into the deep, dark wood…
On entering the woods follow the path around to the left and past a pretty cool looking fire-pit.
Keep following the path and the way-markers…
Until you reach a wide, stoney forestry track.
Our adventurers decided here was a good place to have a sit-down (definitely bring snacks on this walk!).
Turn right, following the signs, and wander up the hill into the forestry.
This part of the walk may seem a bit monotonous, but with a bit of imagination it can be turned into an adventure. We; looked for pine-cones, chased rocks, threw stones to splash in ditches, stamped in puddles, studied moss, listened for streams, climbed onto a fantastic view point bench, looked at the hills in the distance, ate snacks and balanced on fallen trees.
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When you have gone up a hill, along the top and down again you’ll arrive at this junction – green footprint way-marker here too.
Turn right down a narrower stoney track. There’s quite a steep drop on the left hand side here. Follow this path downhill, around to the right and past a ruined farm.
Remember to look around at the beautiful scenery of the Brecon Beacons.. stunning even with low cloud!
Down the hill, back into the forestry and into a stream – lots of splashing opportunities, I struggled to drag my adventurer away! If you’re doing this wander with a pushchair it really needs to be suitable for off-roading.
Further along the trail there’s another small stream for yet more splashing! I have found a toddler can never have too much splashing…
This track continues through the trees, past a farm building and down to a tarmac road.
Turn right on the tarmac road, this leads back to the visitor centre car park. Be aware that cars use this road to exit the centre.
Keep an eye out for chopped down trees, great for counting the rings to see how old the tree was.
Use this map to guide you on your way. Click to enlarge.
Directions (courtesy of Natural Resources Wales): Garwnant Visitor Centre is located just off the main A470 between Brecon (14 miles to the north) and Merthyr Tydfil (five miles to the south). It is well sign posted with brown tourism signs from the A470. The postcode for satellite navigation is CF48 2HU.
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