Cwm Wood

Wood, Forest in Pembrokeshire

Wales

Cwm Wood

St Aidan's Church In a glorious position on the Eastern Cleddau down cliff from Llawhaden Castle. — St Aidan's Church Credit: Deborah Tilley

Cwm Wood is a picturesque forest located in the county of Pembrokeshire, Wales. It is situated on the western coast of the country, near the village of Cwm. The wood covers an area of approximately 100 acres and is known for its stunning natural beauty and diverse wildlife.

The forest is predominantly made up of native broadleaf trees, including oak, beech, and ash, which create a lush and vibrant canopy. These trees provide a habitat for a variety of species, including small mammals such as squirrels and voles, as well as numerous bird species like woodpeckers and owls.

Cwm Wood is crisscrossed by a network of walking trails, allowing visitors to explore and appreciate its tranquil surroundings. These paths lead through dense undergrowth, past babbling brooks, and across quaint wooden bridges. The area is particularly enchanting during springtime when the forest floor is scattered with a colorful carpet of bluebells and wildflowers.

This woodland area is also home to a number of historical features, including the remnants of old stone walls and ruins of former buildings. These remnants provide a glimpse into the rich history and heritage of the area.

Cwm Wood is a popular destination for nature lovers, hikers, and photographers, who flock to the area to experience its natural splendor. Whether it is for a leisurely stroll, birdwatching, or simply immersing oneself in the peaceful atmosphere, Cwm Wood offers a charming and idyllic retreat from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

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Cwm Wood Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 51.824212/-4.8037537 or Grid Reference SN0617. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

St Aidan's Church

In a glorious position on the Eastern Cleddau down cliff from Llawhaden Castle.

Deborah Tilley

Main street in Llawhaden

Deborah Tilley

Broomhill Grove

A cottage on the bridleway out of Llawhaden.

Deborah Tilley

Directions to Holgan Camp

Holgan Camp is a tapering oval enclosure, set upon a steep-sides, east-facing promontory, about110m east-west by 60m, delineated by double banks and ditches on the west, with an entrance at their southern limit, elsewhere defined by scarps above steep natural slopes. A limited excavation yielded radio-carbon dates indicating occupation in the 3rd-4th centuries BC. Source: Williams & Mytum 1998 Llawhaden, Dyfed (BAR British ser. 275), 7, 69. RCAHMW AP945092/42

Deborah Tilley

View across the Eastern Cleddau

Taken from the lane to Dan y Coed (Under the Trees).

Deborah Tilley

Rural Idyll

Viewed from just above Holgan Fish Farm on the Eastern Cleddau.

Deborah Tilley

View of castle, church and fishfarm

A beautiful setting, near to many prehistoric settlements. This area has been inhabited for a very long time.

Deborah Tilley

View downriver

Looking from the top of the footpath into Llawhaden in the direction of the A40.

Deborah Tilley

Ruined farm house and buildings in Llawhaden village centre

For as long as I have known these buildings and this village I have thought that they should be restored and returned to use. Very memorable though.

Jeremy Bolwell

The remains of Llawhaden Castle gatehouse

Impressive gatehouse which reveals the wealth and importance of the castle owners, the Bishop of St. Davids in the 14th century.

Jeremy Bolwell

Part of the ruins of Llawhaden Castle

This section of walls and towers are part of the eastern range. A human figure stands on the stair landing for scale. This site should be more popular, but for its relative isolation and lack of awareness or promotion it would be.

Jeremy Bolwell

Part of the ruins of Llawhaden Castle

The rear face of the ruined gatehouse stands on the right. The well sits in the centre of what would have been the courtyard.

Jeremy Bolwell

Impressive remains of Llawhaden Castle

Compared to many much better known castles Llawhaden still has much of its remains accessible and interpretable. A great day out.

Jeremy Bolwell

Part of the moat ditch at Llawhaden Castle

I don't suppose that many visitors get access down there but they should. This castle seems to have it all; quiet site, large standing remains, easy access, tall towers, 'dungeons', a well, gatehouse, great outlook, interesting history, battlements, ditch or moat, stairs... I could go on.

Jeremy Bolwell

Part of the undercroft at Llawhaden Castle

This area at the ground level base of a tower or under the Great Hall was a central part of the castle where people would have cooked, served food, lived and worked.

Jeremy Bolwell

Arch of the undercroft at Llawhaden Castle

The castle was abandoned by the Bishops of St. Davids following the Dissolution in 1536 and was gradually robbed out as a source of building stone for the nearby village or farms. The structure decayed, like all too many castles, over the centuries until only relatively recently we have taken them into public care and restored them to some semblance of their former selves. People lived and worked here for maybe two centuries.

Jeremy Bolwell