Cwm Berwyn Plantation

This OS cut mark can be found on the NW parapet of the bridge. It marks a point 256.634m above mean sea level.

Looking east, with part of the Cwm Berwyn Plantation in the Doethie Fawr valley in the foreground. The buzzard is in "hover mode".

This is part of the former drovers' road between Abergwesyn and Tregaron. The moorland route is now a popular single track tourist route, more spectacular for passengers than drivers, and impassable during icy conditions.

This is part of the former drovers' road between Abergwesyn and Tregaron. The moorland route is now a popular single track tourist route, more spectacular for passengers than drivers, and impassable during icy conditions.

Pastel colours dominate in this beautiful valley at the end of the winter, before spring growth appears.

Pastel colours dominate in this beautiful valley at the end of the winter, before spring growth appears.

Although no public right of way is marked, this has long been part of a route known as the Cambrian Way "Hostel Variant". Walkers on the way between Ty'n Cornel and Blaencaron (near Tregaron) hostels also trod this way on a regular basis until the latter establishment was culled by the YHA. A glimpse of the Cwm Berwyn Plantation can be seen on the left. Compare with the July 2007 image: SN7455 : Towards Esgair Wynt, Ceredigion

Looking across the head of Cwm Doethie Fach to where the water from Llyn Berwyn used to flow between the felled area in the forest. Now the water diverts off to the south-west along the forest boundary to join the Afon Doethie Fawr. Did human intervention in the 1960s(?) when the Cwm Berwyn was planted, maybe, occur to speed up the drainage from the forest near the lake? The "hostel variant" of the Cambrian Way leads along the ridge on the left in front of the trees, the tussocky boggy area, where the easiest crossing is sometimes to walk the straight ditches, which have solid beds, to the ridge on the right past the rocky outcrop, then continue to the telephone box by Nantymaen.

Looking across tussocky and boggy ground near the head of Cwm Doethie Fach, and towards Cyrnau on the left skyline, and Esgair Wynt to the right.

The "hostel variant" of the Cambrian Way leads along this ridge and continues to the telephone box by Nantymaen. It is not a designated public right of way, and fences do need to be negotiated. Walkers on the way between Ty'n Cornel and Blaencaron (near Tregaron) hostels also trod this way on a regular basis until the latter establishment was culled by the YHA. A glimpse of the Cwm Berwyn Plantation can be seen on the left. Cwm Doethie Fach falls away to the right. Not exactly the same view - but close in July 2007: SN7455 : Elenydd Landscape north-east from Esgair Wynt, Ceredigion

Near the head of the cwm, this is the scene looking north-east from Esgair Wynt. Nant Esgaircerrig is the stream descending the far side of the valley towards the infant Afon Doethie Fach, which appears to have been deprived of its original source at Llyn Berwyn. Information on that subject will be appreciated. The summit straight ahead is Esgair Hir, topped by a triangulation pillar.

The Cwm Berwyn Plantation is part of the Tywi Forest in which trees are mature enough for felling, so there are many clear areas within it.

The edge approximates to the steeply dropping Nant yr Arian ('stream of silver/money')

We met a logging truck just now, 30 foot long with a 20 foot trailer - guess which of us reversed 100 yards into a passing place?