Forest bathing at Coed y Cerrig National Nature Reserve

Coed y Cerrig is a small National Nature Reserve in a deep valley shaped by glaciers, four miles north of Abergavenny, inside Bannau Brycheiniog National Park. Wet alder woodland covers the valley floor, many of the trees multi-stemmed from old coppicing, while mixed woodland clings to the steep sides. The road through the reserve was once a railway used to build the Grwyne Fawr reservoir.

The Alder Tree Boardwalk starts just over the road from the car park. It is wide and level, with passing places and wooden benches, and it is suitable for wheelchairs, so you can sit among the trees without a climb. Do not step off it: the ground beside is soft mud. For a change of pace, the short Woodland Climb goes up rough stone steps on the valley side. The car park only holds about three cars.