Forest bathing at Glyncornel Nature Reserve

Glyncornel is a council owned nature reserve on the valley side at Llwynypia, in the Rhondda Fawr. Around 20 hectares of natural woodland surround Glyncornel House, which was once linked to the Glamorgan Collieries and opened as an environmental centre in 1983; schools still use it to learn about plants, insects and local history. Above the reserve the woods run on into the forestry on the hillside.

The council's 4.5km Glyncornel Nature Reserve and Llwynypia Forest walk starts from the Glyncornel car park, taking you through the reserve and up into the forest. It is a steep valley side, so expect some climbing and muddy patches. Because it sits right above the valley floor towns, it is one of the easiest places in the Rhondda to get into woodland without driving far.