Forest bathing at Waterfall Country, Gwaun Hepste

Waterfall Country is the area of deep, wooded river gorges near Ystradfellte in the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park, where the Mellte, Hepste and neighbouring rivers fall over a run of waterfalls before joining to form the Neath. The Four Falls Trail from Gwaun Hepste passes Sgwd Clun-Gwyn, Sgwd Isaf Clun-Gwyn, Sgwd y Pannwr and Sgwd yr Eira, where a path runs behind the falling water. Between the falls the walking is through woodland, with the sound of water rising and fading as you go.

The main trail from the Gwaun Hepste car park is long but mostly on wide, stony paths with gentle gradients. The link paths down to each waterfall are narrow, rocky and slippery, with many steps, and the rivers are cold, deep and fast: stay out of the water and keep to the waymarked paths. The falls are popular, so come early or on a weekday, and find a spot in the woods between them rather than at the viewpoints.