A popular country park in the Caerphilly county borough has become a major destination for walkers of all abilities who want to enjoy the sights and sounds of the beautiful Welsh countryside.
Cwmcarn Forest in the Nantcarn Valley is renowned for attracting walkers and cyclists from across the UK with its stunning scenery and variety of walking routes.
Recent figures from the Forestry Commission Wales have shown a 36.1% increase in the use of walking trails with walkers heading for the hills and forests in large numbers to get outside and get active.
For those who haven’t sampled the splendour and tranquillity of Cwmcarn Forest, it really is worth a visit. Families will enjoy the forest woodcarvings, adventure playground and picnic spots, all hidden away on the forest drive.
For the more adventurous walker there is a selection of longer, more challenging walks including a 6.5 mile Twmbarlwm Walk which, in the view of the Welsh Ramblers’ Association, is one of the best walks in Wales. This magical route takes walkers to an Iron Age Hill Fort, originally a Bronze Age burial mound, where the Iron Age community was thought to have settled between 500BC and 150BC. The 3600 views across South East Wales and the Severn Estuary are truly breathtaking.
Cwmcarn Forest has undergone a major transformation over recent years with a new £2million Visitor Centre opened in 2008. The two-storey centre boasts a café, gift shop, showers and changing facilities, children’s play area and outside viewing area.
The Centre also provides an annual events programme to suit the growing number of visitors.
For more information on Cwmcarn Forest, including walks, mountain biking and events, visit www.cwmcarnforest.co.uk or contact the Visitor Centre on 01495 272001.
