Explore the forest, and beyond at Garwnant
Forest Rangers
An entire forest at your feet. Let us show you around...
Our Forest Rangers are experts in helping you have fun in the great outdoors. They know the forests like the back of their hand and will help you to understand and connect with the forest. With experiences that are designed to show you the very best of our location, whichever activity you choose, you'll have an unforgettable experience.
Make sure you book in advance as our experiences are popular! Just choose your activity in my account.
Guided Woodland Walk
Suitable for families, groups and couples
With an entire forest waiting to be explored, it’s hard knowing where to start! Join our Forest Rangers for a guided tour, taking in some unforgettable views whilst learning a thing or two about the wildlife who call our forests home.
Mini Forest Rangers
Suitable for families and 5-11 year olds
Become a mini bird detective! Spread your wings and get ready to discover the world of bird spotting and migration. Through exciting games, crafts and immersive activities – put our feathered friends into the spotlight with help from your Forest Ranger.
Little Wild Ones
Suitable for families and pre-schoolers
When imaginations run wild, a love for nature begins to grow. And there’s no better playground than the forest! Your Forest Ranger will guide your tiny explorers through woodland activities and imaginative play – bringing stories to life as they find their first Forest Feeling.
Forest Survival
Suitable for families, groups and couples
It’s the simple things in life — like how to light a fire and build a woodland shelter. Learn it all with your Forest Ranger, then it’s time to relax around the campfire, toast some marshmallows and enjoy a well-deserved cuppa from freshly foraged herbs.
Nature by Night
Available September to March, suitable for all
Evenings in the forest just got even more extraordinary. Join a guided walk as you uncover the world of biofluorescence, using UV light to unveil a whole new world of wonders.
Outdoor adventures
Throw yourself into adventure and enjoy the very best of the outdoors on these incredible local experiences...
- Garwnant Guided Walking Trail | from £15
- Forest Disc Golf | from £15
- Gorge walking (half day) | from £34.50
- Gorge walking (full day) | from £46
On the water
Where better to unwind than on the water? Pick up a paddle and try canoeing, kayaking or even stand-up paddle boarding (SUPing) to discover the nearby Pontsticill Reservoir.
- Canoeing | from £34.50
Forest Spa
Unwind with a spa experience like no other, surrounded by the forest and a natural soundtrack outside. Switch off with soothing treatments designed for couples' time, group relaxation, or simply some time just for you.
You'll need to pre-book our in-cabin spa treatments to make sure we can get everything in place for your stay.
Book your spa experience
You'll need to pre-book our in-cabin spa treatments to make sure we can get everything in place for your stay.
Book your spa experience
Bike hire
Looking to explore more of the forest? Venture out for the day on our bikes and discover acres of woodland, or go at your own pace with full break bike hire. There’ll be a helmet and bike lock for you too, so you can keep your bike just outside your cabin door:
Our cycling options:
- Adult bike hire | £18 per day or from £32 per break
- Child bike hire | £15 per day or from £28 per break
- Child seat | from £10
- Trailer | from £30
Just pre-book in my account, or ask at the Visitor Centre while you're here.
Elvis Owl Nature Trail
Get hands-on in the forest with this brand-new, self-led Forest Nature Trail.
Explore the incredible wildlife around you, get stuck into activities and learn amazing things about nature.
Use your discovery pack and follow our five stepping stones to nature while you get to know your forest friends. See, hear and touch nature all around you... and have an incredible adventure in the forest.
Quiz nights
Come along to our Forest Quiz every Wednesday and Saturday! Grab a drink, choose your team name and put your knowledge to the test for a chance to win. It’s free and everyone’s welcome - with special rounds for kids! Join us in the Forest Cafe from 5.30pm.
Good to know...
You can reserve a table for the quiz by booking in for dinner at the Forest Cafe. Pre-order our Forest Quiz specials in my account, or speak to our team while you're here.
Pottery painting
Head to the Forest Retreat and discover your creative side. Choose from a selection of our favourite woodland animals and experiment with spongy foam clay or paint a masterpiece to take away the same day.
Small Bisque - foam or paint | £6.95
Medium Bisque - foam or paint | £10.95
Large Bisque - foam or paint | £13.95
Rainy days
On rainy days, look out for TV messages for any indoor activities we're running. We also have plenty of board games in the Forest Retreat so why not pop in, pick up a game and grab a drink.
Build a Forest Friend
Looking for something to keep little hands busy indoors?
Head to the Forest Retreat, where mini explorers can build their own Forest Friend to join them on their adventures when they’re back outside. You can pre-book yours so they’re ready and waiting for when you arrive.
Local recommendations Garwnant
Pubs and restaurants
Traditional dishes, amazing views, or the perfect place to finish off a woodland walk. Take your pick from our top pubs and restaurants around the Brecon Beacons for a taste of the local.
International Welsh Rarebit Centre - Defynnog
International Welsh Rarebit Centre offers a modern take on Welsh rarebit and an irresistible menu. 20-minute drive.
New Inn, Bwlch
Head to New Inn, Bwlch for homemade pies and local ales – there's hearty grub and a warm welcome. 29-minute drive.
The Red Lion Inn, Penderyn
The Red Lion Inn, in nearby Penderyn, offers a seasonal, modern selection of food. Plus there's a great beer garden and wood-fired pizzas outside. 17-minute drive.
The Three Horseshoes, Groesffordd
The Three Horseshoes is a real hidden gem, tucked away in Groesffordd. There's a dog-friendly beer garden, excellent Sunday roasts and monthly live music. 23-minute drive.
Places to visit
With a National Park just a short drive away, and plenty of natural and man-made history to explore nearby, head beyond the forest and discover the area of Bannau Brycheiniog.
Discover Wales’s rich mining heritage in this amazing award-winning interactive museum complete with underground tour. Experience the sights, sounds, smells and atmosphere of an authentic coal mine. A 40-minute drive.
Brecon town
Brecon is a bustling market town on the northern edge of the Brecon Beacons National Park. It makes a great day trip if you want a taste of local culture. Stroll along the canal and browse independent shops, cafés and an 800-year-old cathedral.
Loads of events and animals to see, plus an indoor play area is perfect for rainy days. 29-minute drive.
Dan yr Ogof National Showcaves Centre for Wales
The National Showcaves Centre for Wales promises a packed day out. There's an incredible network of underground caves, farm, museum and Iron Age village. There's even a Dinosaur Park on site too! As a National Nature Reserve
and Site of Special Scientific Interest, there's so much to see and do to discover the rich natural history of Wales. 33-minute drive.
Pontsticill Reservoir
Want to have a go at water sports? Head to Pontsticill Reservoir, where there's something for all levels of thrill-seekers – from kayaking and paddleboarding to white-water rafting.
Waterfall Country
This beautiful and popular region is known as ‘Waterfall Country’, where the rivers Mellte, Hepste, Pyrddin and Nedd-fechan wind their way down deep, tree-lined gorges, over a series of dramatic waterfalls, before joining to form the River Neath. This area is of international importance and it has been designated as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
Walking trails
Llangorse Lake | 18km
With beautiful meadows and rare birds, Llangorse Lake is a stunning spot for a stroll. For a hefty circular route, walk around its perimeter (it’s as big as 400 football pitches!).
Pen y Fan | 7.4km
Fancy conquering the highest peak in south Britain? Climb 886 meters to the top of Pen y Fan, look out at panoramic views of dramatic valleys and feel on top of the world.
The Four Falls Trail | 8.8km
You won’t want to miss a visit to Waterfall Country, a spectacular region with some of the best walks in Brecon Beacons. The Four Falls Trail is a great option for seeing dramatic waterfalls. Don’t forget to listen out for that amazing thundering sound as you get closer to the waterfall...
Cycling trails
Bike Park Wales | 0.1-5km
Whether you’re already hooked on mountain biking or if it’s your first time, swoop down slopes at Bike Park Wales and get a serious burst of adrenaline.
Mynydd Illtud | 7.5km
Mynydd Illtud is a real crowd-pleaser. Zoom along flat farm tracks and winding roads, taking in stunning views of Corn Du, Pen y Fan and the Central Beacons as you go. All in only 7.5km, with less than 100m of uphill climb, it's part of a blue-coded bike path, 24.1 km in length. Try this easy-going triangular route, perfect for blowing away the cobwebs.
Dog-walking trails
Bring your furry friend on an adventure and explore one of the many forest trails, where acres of woodland, hills and paths make a great spot for a scamper.
Caerphilly Mountain | 10.6km
Walk around the mountain for a short incline, or a longer three hour-long trip. You’ll pass the Wern Ddu Clay Pit, known as Coed y Werin, a Geological Site of Special Scientific Interest with 300 million-year-old carboniferous rocks and coal seams.
Hay-on-Wye and River Wye Circular | 3.4km
Mini explorers will love the Hay-on-Wye River and Rail Trail, it’s mostly flat but with lots to see! Just make sure dogs stay on lead around any grazing sheep!
Go Ape
Take a trip through the trees, full of adventure! Save 10% on your Go Ape experience when you stay with us, including on Saturdays.
Look out for our emails with offers and activities to book before your stay – they'll include your unique discount code. There's only one Go Ape in Wales, at Margam Country Park, so they've made it a good one. You can experience:
- Go Ape Tree Top Challenge from £36
Activities nearby
Explore local activities close to Garwnant, where there's lots of adventure in the old industrial landscape.
- Phoenix, the world's fastest seated zip line, at Zip World Tower
- Bike Park Wales
Wildlife experiences
Meet some of our forest friends up close with incredible experiences near to the forest.
Why not try...
Flying experiences at The British Bird of Prey Centre
Meet shire horses at Dan yr Ogof Shire Horse Centre
Alpaca treks with Alpaca My Boots
Wildlife and trees
Wildlife at Garwnant
What can you spot?
Willow Tits
Wake up to the amazing sound of birdsong...and not just any birdsong. The Brecon Beacons are home to rare birds like Willow Tits, Nightjars, Bullfinches and many more.
Attenborough’s Hawkweed
On the Brecon Beacons’ stunning slopes, you’ll see loads of amazing plants found nowhere else in the world. See if you can spot an Attenborough’s Hawkweed, the first British species to be named after Sir David!
Want to learn more about the wildlife here? Book onto a Forest Ranger experience and discover all the secrets of Garwnant!
Trees at Garwnant
Trees you'll find in the forest
Sitka Spruce
With needle-like leaves that are sharp, straight and flattened, the Sitka Sprice is much more prickly than the similar Norway Spruce. Sitka spruce trees grow close together, forming a dense canopy which few plants can grow beneath.
This dense foliage provides cover from the wind and rain for larger mammals, while birds of prey and smaller birds, such as crossbill, tree creeper, coal tit and siskin, can use it for nesting.
Scots pine
Scots pine is one of only three native conifers, and our only native pine. You'll spot this all-year round as its needle-like leaves are evergreen. It’s the perfect habitat for iconic Scottish wildlife such as the red squirrel, as well as animals like the pine marten and Scottish wildcat. Scots pines in southern England are also the main caterpillar foodplant for the pine hawk-moth.
Silver birch
Birch trees are hardy, able to live in a range of temperatures, from as far south as Spain to as far north as Lapland. Birch woods (either downy, silver birch, or both) have a light, open canopy and thrive in dry woodlands, downs and heaths. Their open canopy also helps grasses, mosses, wood anemones, bluebells, wood sorrel and violets to grow.
Silver birch provides food and habitat for more than 300 insect species, as well as homes for nesting birds like woodpeckers.
Supporting the forest
We’re more than just a holiday
Nestled within inspiring natural spaces, we offer a unique way to experience and enjoy the UK’s forests, helping you experience and reconnect with nature.
We look after the land we love for us all, protecting wildlife and helping to preserve the forest for the future. By putting nature centre-stage, we give you the best of the outdoors. A sense of freedom and a unique experience, where you feel connected to the forest and to each other. Because you don’t just visit the forest, you really feel it.
And once you’ve found that Forest Feeling, you’ll never let it go.
Let's look after what we love
Help to care for the wildlife around you in small, but important ways. You'll find it's as good for you as it is for nature!
Give nature a helping hand by....
- Creating habitat piles using old logs and branches
- Picking up any litter you see – the forest and wildlife will thank you for it
- Turning off the lights when they’re not in use to reduce energy use
- Using the bins provided to separate your waste and recycle properly
