Near Crymych, Pembrokeshire, Wales, SA41 3TZ
Tŷ Canol National Nature Reserve
Mixed-habitat reserve
Place photograph
7.1
Wildland
1–2 hours
Time
Free
Cost
Atmospheric
Feel
Why it's Wildland
7.1Gnarled ancient oaks, lichen-covered rocks and old stone walls give Tŷ Canol an unusually elemental feel. The reserve is also one of the richest lichen sites in Britain and Ireland, with a landscape shaped by centuries of grazing.
This reserve earns its place for the combination of ancient oak wood pasture, striking rock outcrops and remarkable lichen life. A waymarked moderate circuit brings those details together, with bluebells in spring and panoramic views across Pembrokeshire.
Atmospheric · Ancient-feeling · Wild
Find your way
Open mapNear Crymych, Pembrokeshire, Wales, SA41 3TZ
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The experience
Follow the waymarked circuit through ancient oak woodland and wood pasture, looking for lichens on trees and rocks, then take in the outcrops and views. Spring brings bluebells. The reserve can also be paired with a walk to the nearby Pentre Ifan burial chamber.
Things to do
Walk the Tŷ Canol circuit
Follow the waymarked moderate trail through the reserve’s ancient oak woodland and wood pasture. The route is 2.9 miles (4.7 kilometres).
About 1½ hours
Look closely at the lichens
Inspect tree trunks, branches and rock faces: lichens cover many surfaces here and are the principal reason for the woodland’s National Nature Reserve status.
Find the rocky outcrops at Carnedd Meibion Owen
The Tŷ Canol Walk passes rocky outcrops at Carnedd Meibion Owen and offers panoramic views across Pembrokeshire.
Look for spring bluebells
Natural Resources Wales highlights the spring bluebell display among the reserve’s seasonal sights.
Notice the wetter woodland at Hagr y Coed
In the reserve’s lower northern section, look for wet woodland and small spring-fed streams among oak, ash and downy birch.
Make a day of it
Quick escape · About 1½ hours
The lichen and oakwood circuit
- 01
Start at the reserve’s walking-trail information panel.
- 02
Follow the waymarked 2.9-mile (4.7-kilometre) Tŷ Canol Walk through ancient oak woodland and wood pasture.
- 03
Pause to look for lichens on the tree trunks, branches and rock faces.
- 04
Take in the rocky outcrops at Carnedd Meibion Owen and the panoramic Pembrokeshire views.
Half day · Half day
Make time for the reserve’s changing habitats
- 01
Walk the waymarked Tŷ Canol circuit at an unhurried pace.
- 02
Look for the transition from open oak wood pasture to the wetter woodland of Hagr y Coed, where small spring-fed streams are noted.
- 03
Spend time noticing the lichens on rocks and trees, and look for bluebells in spring.
- 04
Check current access and conditions before setting out; the route is graded moderate.
Full Wildland day · Check before visiting
Pair the woodland walk with Pentre Ifan
- 01
Walk the waymarked circuit at Tŷ Canol.
- 02
If you want to extend the outing, Natural Resources Wales notes that you can walk from the reserve to the Pentre Ifan burial chamber.
- 03
Allow time to explore the burial chamber and its setting; check current access and route details before you go.
Verified history
The woodland has changed over a long timescale: Natural Resources Wales says woodland cover here has ebbed and flowed since the Ice Age, and that the woodland was already old when the nearby Pentre Ifan burial chamber was built around 5,500 years ago. Centuries of grazing by cattle, sheep and ponies helped create the open wood-pasture landscape and conditions in which light-loving lichens thrive. The reserve’s landscape includes an Iron Age fort, though the supplied information does not give further details about it.
Hidden details
Lichens are the reserve’s defining feature — The richly lichen-covered trees and rocks are not just a visual detail: Natural Resources Wales identifies them as the main reason for the woodland’s National Nature Reserve status.
Hagr y Coed means ‘ugly wood’ — The name of the reserve’s lower northern section includes the Welsh word ‘hagr’, meaning ‘ugly’. Here the woodland is wetter, with small spring-fed streams and some long-abandoned fields.
When to go
Spring · No specific time of day is identified in the supplied sources; check conditions before setting out.
Natural Resources Wales specifically highlights the spring bluebell display. It also notes that the reserve’s landscape and wildlife vary with the season.
Check the forecast and current ground conditions before visiting. The route is graded moderate and includes rocky outcrops.
The route
- surface
- Check before visiting.
- distance
- 2.9 miles / 4.7 kilometres
- duration
- About 1½ hours
- difficulty
- Moderate
- waymarking
- Waymarked from start to finish.
- start point
- The walking-trail information panel at the start of the trail.
- parking start
- Natural Resources Wales lists free parking. Check current arrangements before travelling.
- Ancient oak trees and wood pasture
- Lichen-covered tree trunks and rock faces
- Rocky outcrops at Carnedd Meibion Owen
- Panoramic views of Pembrokeshire
- Spring bluebells
Worth pairing with
Pentre Ifan burial chamber
Natural Resources Wales says visitors can walk from the reserve to the nearby burial chamber, which dates to around 5,500 years ago.
What to look for
- 01
Lichen-covered trunks, branches and boulders
- 02
twisted sessile oaks
- 03
rocky outcrops at Carnedd Meibion Owen
- 04
old stone walls
- 05
spring bluebells
- 06
and the contrast between open wood pasture and the wetter woodland at Hagr y Coed.
The story
Archaeology
Best time to go
Spring, especially when the bluebells are in flower; the reserve’s scenery and wildlife vary through the year.
Spring is a rewarding time to visit for the bluebell display. For the walk itself, check the weather and ground conditions before setting out; the route is graded moderate.
How long to spend
1–2 hours; allow longer if adding the walk to Pentre Ifan.
Perfect for
Walkers · Photographers · Wildlife lovers · History lovers
Before you go
Practical information
Opening & access
Natural Resources Wales describes a waymarked walking trail and free parking. The reserve’s 2.9-mile (4.7-kilometre) Tŷ Canol Walk is graded moderate and takes about 1½ hours. The terrain includes rocky outcrops and uneven ground; check current access and conditions before visiting.
Check before visiting
Parking
Free parking is listed by Natural Resources Wales. Check current arrangements before travelling.
Check before visiting
Toilets
Check before visiting.
Check before visiting
Food & drink
Check before visiting.
Check before visiting
Dogs
Check before visiting.
Check before visiting
Accessibility
The Tŷ Canol Walk is graded moderate and includes rocky, uneven ground. Check current route conditions and suitability before visiting.
Check before visiting
Cost
Free
Gallery
Place photographsKeep exploring
Around Tŷ Canol National Nature Reserve
Within 50 km · approximate straight-line distances
Place photograph7.8Pentre Ifan Burial Chamber
Nevern, near Crymych, Pembrokeshire SA41 3TZ
1.1 km away
Place photograph7.1Castell Henllys Iron Age Village
Meline, near Crymych, Pembrokeshire, SA41 3UR
3.7 km away
Place photograph6.8Foel Drygarn Hill Fort
Near Crymych, Preseli Hills, Pembrokeshire, Wales
7.4 km away
