To provide you with the best experience, cookies are used on this site.  Learn more

Allow cookies
Rheidol Valley

Book Tickets Online

About

Coed Rheidol is situated about 12 miles east of Aberystwyth. It occupies parts of both banks of the Afon Rheidol, upstream, and the south bank downstream of Devil's Bridge.

This is a magnificent stretch of ancient sessile oak woodland, protected largely by its inaccessibility, hanging precariously on the flanks of the gorge of the Afon Rheidol.

The naturally high rainfall and the local micro-climate at the foot of the narrow gorge contribute to high humidity, and a resulting abundance of the non-flowering plants - mosses,. liverworts, lichens and ferns. They clothe the trees, the ground and the rocks in a variety of greens and greys. Ferns include many species from the rare forked spleenwort to the much more common lady fern with its tall clumps of rather softly waving fronds.

Amongst the oak there also grows birch and rowan (mountain ash), with lesser amounts of wych elms and small leaved lime.

The steepness of the valley sides means that you are often getting a tree-top look into the forest and here you will find those characteristic inhabitants of Welsh oakwoods, the redstart, pied flycatcher (which have been intensively studied here) and wood warbler, along with the resident blue and great tits.

GRID REF : SN711785

ACCESS : Open via public footpaths, but many are steep and require extreme caution.

PARKING : In Devil's Bridge

TIME : This is a place to come to at your leisure and explore for half a day or more.

Book Tickets

Map & Directions

Road Directions

There are several access points to Coed Rheidol which is approximately 12 miles east of Aberystwyth, including:

Devil's Bridge Falls: Take the A487 from Aberystwyth, turn left onto the A4120 towards Llangurig. Devil's Bridge is on this road. Alternatively continue on the A4120 in the direction of Llangurig, there is an footpath into the woods from a layby on the left-hand side of the road at Ysbyty-Cynfyn.

Rheidol Hydro Electric Station: Turn off the A44 from Aberystwyth towards Llangurig at the village of Capel Bangor towards the dam at the Hydroelectric Power Station. You will pass an entrance to the Pant Da Reserve, which is on the left hand side of the road. There is limited parking directly in front of the access gate.

Public Transport Directions

The nearest mainline railway station is Aberystwyth, which is 12 miles away.

Coed Rheidol Nature Reserve (NRW)

Type:Nature Reserve

Coed Rheidol Nature Reserve (NRW), Ceredigion, SY23 3JW

Add Coed Rheidol Nature Reserve (NRW) to your Itinerary

Close window

Call direct on:

Tel0300 065 3000

Related

Afan Forest Park (NRW), Port TalbotThe Afan Valley is one of the narrowest, shortest, and most beautiful valleys in Wales, being about 15 miles long from its head at Bwlch yr Afan, to the sea at Aberavon Beach, Port Talbot.

Image Credit: SWAPCwmcarn Forest (NRW), Newport CityCwmcarn Forest offers something for all the family. Spectacular 7 mile forest drive set amongst rolling hills and green forests with 7 car parks to stop at. The visitor centre provides a place to stock up on refreshments and gifts.

Harlech Beach & DunesMorfa Harlech Nature Reserve (NRW), HarlechMorfa Harlech is one of two extensive sand dune systems which make up much of the southern Snowdonia coastline, extending from the Mawddach estuary in the south to Black Rock Sands in the north west.

Brecon Beacons | Craig CerrigCraig Cerrig Gleisiad & Fan Frynych (NRW), BreconCraig Cerrig-gleisiad and Fan Frynych National Nature Reserve is a 156 acre (631,000 m²) area of the Brecon Beacons National Park.

Crychan Forest and Halfway ForestCrychan Forest (NRW), Llangammarch WellsThe Crychan & Halfway Forest is set in beautiful countryside nestling between the Brecon Beacons & the Cambrian Mountains. Miles of waymarked trails for horse riding, cycling and walking take you through tranquil gorges, along old drover's routes & past cascading waterfalls.

Coed y Brenin Forest ParkCoed y Brenin Visitor Centre (NRW), DolgellauCoed y Brenin Visitor Centre is in the heart of southern Snowdonia near Dolgellau, is the gateway to Coed y Brenin Forest Park. Try world-class mountain bike trails, family walks, café, cycle shop, all-ability play area and an easy access trail.

Lake VyrnwyDyfnant & Vyrnwy Forests (NRW), Lake VyrnwyDyfnant and Vyrnwy Forests are in a part of Mid Wales renowned for rolling hills, lush green valleys and picturesque farmsteads and villages. The Forest caters for horse riding and carriage driving as well as walking and picnic areas.

Dyfi Forest - Nant GwernolDyfi Forest (NRW), MachynllethThe Dyfi Forest is located mainly to the north of the Afon Dyfi between Dolgellau to the north and Machynlleth to the south. Dyfi is a 6000ha forest - a spectacular landscape well worth exploring.

Gwydir Forest Park (NRW), Betws-y-CoedGwydir Forest ranges across the hills on Snowdonia's eastern flank. High wooded ramparts rise steeply from the level pastures of the Conwy valley, enfolding Betws-y-Coed, and creating a dramatic setting for the town of Llanrwst

LLyn GeirionnyddGwydir Forest Park | Llyn Geirionnydd (NRW), LlanrwstIn the northern section of the Gwydir Forest Park, Llyn Geirionnydd is a 0.75 mile long lake is reputedly the home of the 6th century poet Taliesin.

Alwen Reservoir | Llyn Brenig (NRW), RuthinAlwen Trail can be started from Alwen Dam in Alwen which is part of Hiraethog Forest.

Minwear Forest (NRW), NarberthTogether with nearby Canaston Wood, Minwear has been thickly wooded for centuries.

Wye Valley Woodlands (NRW), MonmouthThe Wye Valley is recognised as one of the most beautiful woodlands in Britain, with most of it’s 4,300 hectares lying within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Whitestone (NRW), ChepstowWhitestone lies adjacent to a section of the famous Wye Valley Walk. Visitors to the site can enjoy pleasant walks that take in a number of fantastic views across the Wye Valley

Fforest Fawr near CardiffFforest Fawr (NRW), CardiffA beautiful mainly broadleaved woodland which is very accessible from Cardiff City. Excellent recreation facilities with many different trails within. Close to Castell Coch The OS grid reference is ST 143 838.

Abergorlech Forest Garden Brechfa - NRWBrechfa Forest (NRW), LlandoveryThe famous Brechfa Forest is managed by Natural Resources Wales for the benefit of people, wildlife, recreation and timber production.

Ceri Forest - NRWCeri Forest (NRW), NewtownCeri Forest is a coniferous forest which sits astride the Kerry Ridgeway in the uplands of Montgomeryshire.

Newborough ForestNewborough Forest (NRW), NewboroughNewborough Forest is a great place to relax in. With waymarked trails to explore and wildlife to discover. It is a small forest of mainly corsican pine planted on Newborough Warren sand dunes.

Moel Famau Country Park (NRW), MoldMoel Famau Country Park, 2000 acres of important upland landscape, and forms part of the Clwydian Range Area of Outstanding natural Beauty (AONB).

Clocaenog Forest (NRW), RuthinThis large forest lies to the north of the B5105 on the Hiraethog Moors. It has some of the best and most well managed coniferous plantations in Wales. It has hundreds of hectares of forest over 50 years old.

Nature /Walking TrailsNewport Wetlands Nature Reserve (NRW), Newport CityNewport Wetlands is a partnership between Natural Resources Wales, Newport City Council and the RSPB. This nature reserve offers a haven for wildlife on the edge of the city.

Oxwich Nature Reserve (NRW), SwanseaOxwich supports a huge variety of wildlife and is protected as the Oxwich Bay SSSI and the Gower Ash Woodlands SAC.It has a mosaic of different habitats including dune slacks and limestone cliffs.

Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) near summitYr Wyddfa (Snowdon) National Nature Reserve (NRW), LlanberisThe Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) National Nature Reserve covers a massive 1,671 hectares, and it is home to arctic plants that have survived there since the end of the last glaciation approximately 12,000 years ago.

Cwm Idwal National Nature Reserve (NRW), LlanberisCwm Idwal was the first officially recognised National Nature Reserve in Wales; it was given this status by the Nature Conservancy Council in 1954. Along with Cadair Idris, Cwm Idwal was a favourite haunt of Charles Darwin.

Coedydd Aber Nature Reserve (NRW), ConwyThe main attraction for visitors to Coedydd Aber has long been the reserve’s spectacular waterfall, but the valley is home to a diverse range of habitats, from mixed woodland to grassland.

Hafren ForestHafren Forest (NRW), LlanidloesChoice of walking trails along the River Severn which flows through Hafren Forest. Trails go to waterfalls and the source of the Severn on Pumlumon. Riverside accessible trail with viewing platform over cascades. Picnic area and toilets.

Morfa DyffrynMorfa Dyffryn Nature Reserve (NRW), Dyffryn ArdudwyThe spectacular Morfa Dyffryn Reserve stretches for about 4.5 miles along the coast of Cardigan Bay from Afon Ysgethin in the south to Afon Artro in the north.

Coed y Brenin Forest Park (NRW), DolgellauCoed y Brenin Forest Park is set in Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park near Dolgellau and forms part of the National Forest for Wales. There are many walking trails from various car parks within the Coed y Brenin forest park where you can see waterfalls, ruins of a copper mine and have accessible…

Coed y Brenin CafeCoed y Brenin Visitor Centre | Meetings & Conferences (NRW), DolgellauCoed y Brenin visitor centre near Dolgellau, is the gateway to Coed y Brenin Forest Park. Try world-class mountain bike trails, family walks, café, cycle shop, all-ability play area and an easy access trail.

What's Nearby

  1. Devil's Bridge Falls is a spectacular waterfall attraction at Devil's Bridge in the heart…

    0.84 miles away
  2. The Silver Mountain Experience is where history, myth and legend collide in a fantastic…

    1.7 miles away
  3. The Magic of Life Butterfly Centre is a must-visitor attraction for all nature lovers! It…

    2.08 miles away
  4. Enjoy the free guided tours around the Power Station including the fish farm & visit our…

    2.23 miles away
  1. The Rheidol Valley or 'Cwm Rheidol' is a good choice for a touring day out, featuring…

    2.38 miles away
  2. Bwlch Nant yr Arian Visitor Centre sits at the head of a dramatic valley and has…

    2.47 miles away
  3. Discover the awe-inspiring beauty of Pumlumon, aptly named "five peaks," as it stands as…

    4.92 miles away
  4. Llyn Teifi is the largest of a group of six pools and reservoirs in Mid Wales in the…

    6.94 miles away
  5. Coed y Bont is a community woodland situated on the edge of the village of…

    7.58 miles away
  6. Just three miles from Aberystwyth, Gogerddan is an easy-to-find woodland with a small…

    7.66 miles away
  7. Strata Florida Abbey or Ystrad Fflur as it is known locally, is on the western edge of…

    7.82 miles away
  8. Rich with history, wildlife and culture, Strata Florida is the perfect place to visit.…

    7.87 miles away
  9. Choice of walking trails along the River Severn which flows through Hafren Forest. Trails…

    8.76 miles away
  10. The National Library of Wales is one of the world's great libraries. It is a legal…

    9.6 miles away
  11. Historic landscape with dramatic walks, waterfalls and views. The Hafod Forest occupies…

    9.64 miles away
  12. School of Art Gallery and Museum

    The School of Art houses an extensive teaching and research collection of fine and…

    9.95 miles away
Previous Next

Don't Miss

Don't Miss

Don't Miss