Forest bathing at Brechfa Forest

Brechfa Forest covers about 6,500 hectares of the hills north east of Carmarthen. It is the modern name for part of the ancient Glyn Cothi Forest, once a royal forest, which the Forestry Commission replanted with conifers in the last century. Natural Resources Wales now manages it for wildlife, timber and wind energy, so it is a working forest, but with several small car parks it is easy to find a quiet corner.

Gwarallt, a short drive from Brechfa village, is a gentle place to begin. A wide gravel path climbs gradually through beech woodland to an open area planted with oak, rowan and birch, then returns the same way; leaves cover it in autumn and winter. Abergorlech, further up the valley, has a riverside walk beside the Gorlech and a Forest Garden of trees from around the world, but storm damage has closed or diverted several trails at Brechfa, so check the NRW pages before you go.