Blaen Hafren Falls – Hafren Forest

Hafren Forest, in mid Wales, is a 40 square kilometre woodland where you’ll find many accessible walking trails of varying difficulty and length. As you make your way through the forest, you’ll discover riverside paths and rushing waterfalls, with peaceful places to stop and admire the stunning views all around.

There are no public transport options to Hafren Forest. There is a relatively small Forestry Commission car park at Rhyd-y-benwch – the easiest way to find this is by using the What3Words: ///frowns.gold.cornering. This car park is free to use but can fill up quickly, especially in Summer, and you’ll find cars soon start parking on the verge along the road leading to the car park. Our advice is to arrive as early as possible to secure a spot, and enjoy a tranquil walk before the Forest becomes busy.

At the car park there are toilets available between Easter and October, though during our most recent visit in July 2026 these were temporary portaloo style toilets. These are the only facilities here – there is no cafe, or bins for rubbish or dog waste, so if you walk this route with your dog make sure you pick up after them and carry the bags with you. Picnic areas and benches line the entire route, so there are plenty of opportunities to pause and appreciate your surroundings.

Each of the walking routes here begin at the car park, and are well way marked along the trails. The Blaen Hafren Falls trail is marked with dark blue arrows (see photos). This route is an easy one, following the River Severn along a mix of wooden boardwalks, dirt paths and forest trail, until you reach the turnaround point at Blaen Hafren waterfall. This is a fantastic spot to sit and admire the rushing water, and panoramic forest views.

Be advised that on hot weather days this route provides few stretches of shade – make sure you pack plenty of water, especially if you’re visiting with dogs. In colder months, the boardwalk may become slippery so take care and wear appropriate footwear for your walk. Hafren Forest has become increasingly popular over the years, with high visitor numbers affecting the limited infrastructure here. If you plan on visiting the area, please do so responsibly – park in designated areas, stick to the trails, and take any waste home with you.