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Hafren Cascades Boardwalk – Hafren Forest Boardwalk loop from Rhyd-y-benwch

Routes

Hiking trails & Routes

Hafren Cascades Boardwalk – Hafren Forest Boardwalk loop from Rhyd-y-benwch

Moderate

4.8

(41)

364

hikers

Hafren Cascades Boardwalk – Hafren Forest Boardwalk loop from Rhyd-y-benwch

03:46

13.2km

310m

Hiking

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: August 9, 2026

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

Get Directions

462 m

Hafren Forest Stream and Boardwalk

Highlight • River

Although the forest still produces timber for Natural Resources Wales, it has also developed as a wildlife habitat and as a tourist attraction. The red kite is seen in the area, along with many other birds, plants and animals. There are numerous footpaths, and many bridleways that are popular for mountain biking and horse riding. Published walks include "The Source of The Severn", "Severn Breaks its Neck" and "The Blaenhafren Falls".[5]

The Wye Valley Walk finishes at Rhyd y Benwch in the forest.[6]

A quarry in the forest is used "explosion studies" by Aberystwyth University's Combustion Physics Group. This quarry had previously been used by British Aerospace.

Tip by

480 m

Hafren Cascades Boardwalk

Highlight • Waterfall

The forest covers around 40 square kilometres (15 square miles), and consists mainly of pine and spruce trees. It takes its name from the Afon Hafren (Welsh for 'River Severn') which rises in a deep peat bog approximately 800 metres (0.5 miles) outside western boundary of the forest, high on the slopes of Pumlumon, the highest mountain in Mid Wales.Although the forest still produces timber for Natural Resources Wales, it has also developed as a wildlife habitat and as a tourist attraction. The red kite is seen in the area, along with many other birds, plants and animals. There are numerous footpaths, and many bridleways that are popular for mountain biking and horse riding. Published walks include "The Source of The Severn", "Severn Breaks its Neck" and "The Blaenhafren Falls".[5]

The Wye Valley Walk finishes at Rhyd y Benwch in the forest.[6]

A quarry in the forest is used "explosion studies" by Aberystwyth University's Combustion Physics Group. This quarry had previously been used by British

Tip by

3.19 km

Blaen Hafren Falls

Highlight • Viewpoint

Blaen Hafren Falls is a small but pretty waterfall along the infant River Severn, situated in the Hafren Forest. Along this waterway, and indeed the many streams nearby, you can find dippers, frogs, toads and other amphibians, plus freshwater fish.

Tip by

3.19 km

Blaen Hafren Waterfalls

Highlight • Waterfall

This small but delightful waterfall forms part of the early stages of the River Severn, the longest river in Great Britain.

Tip by

4.12 km

Cascade Stream

Highlight • River

5.90 km

Source of the River Severn

Highlight • Viewpoint

The River Severn begins its epic 220 mile (354 km) journey right here, high in the Cambrian Mountains. The Severn is the longest river in Britain and has the most voluminous flow of water by far in all of England and Wales. A wooden post marks the source of the river. This is the start of the Severn Way long-distance hiking route, which follows the river all the way to Bristol.

Tip by

11.4 km

Small Waterfall

Highlight • Waterfall

13.0 km

Hafren Forest Boardwalk

Highlight • River

A stunning board walk wheelchair accessible you can further the walk to the waterfall this may be difficult terrain for some each is different

Tip by

13.2 km

End point

Parking

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

10.7 km

1.50 km

1.04 km

< 100 m

Surfaces

10.4 km

1.62 km

959 m

283 m

< 100 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Highest point (610 m)

Lowest point (320 m)

Weather

Sunday 30 August

16°C

9°C

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Comments

October 1, 2024,Hafren Forest & Source of the River Severn

A stunning location, starting off in Hafren Forest and heading up to the source of the River Severn. Some very boggy areas up on the top, but good paths and route markings throughout the forest!

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Hafren Cascades Boardwalk – Hafren Forest Boardwalk loop from Rhyd-y-benwch

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Hafren Cascades Boardwalk – Hafren Forest Boardwalk loop from Rhyd-y-benwch

Hafren Forest Stream and Boardwalk

Hafren Cascades Boardwalk

Blaen Hafren Falls

Blaen Hafren Waterfalls

Cascade Stream

Source of the River Severn

Small Waterfall

Hafren Forest Boardwalk

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