The Perthneidr Woodland Walk is about a quarter of a mile from the centre of Gilfachreda.  The woodland and the trail are maintained by the Woodland Trust

Walk along the B4342 towards Llanarth, past historic Plas y Wern on your left where The Earl of Richmond - later to become Henry VII, stayed in 1485 on his way to the Battle of Bosworth Field.  This was on the second night after he landed at Dale near Milford Haven. According to Samuel Lewis in ' A Topographical Dictionary of Wales 1833':  "he was hospitably entertained by Einon ap Dafydd Llwyd, on his route through this county to Bosworth Field." 

Pass the Woodlands Holiday Village and the path into the wood is on your left.  Please note that there is no parking at the start of the walk. 

A notice board (left) shows a map of the path as it starts to climb the hill. 

The path is wide and very well maintained, although rather steep in places. The woodland is predominantly of Oak, Birch and Ash with some Sycamore, which the Woodland Trust is attempting to remove as it is not a native species of the area.

The woodland is carpeted with Ferns, mainly Buckler Ferns  and Male Ferns, while many of the trees have the epiphytic Polypodium ferns growing on their trunks and branches. In the late summer and autumn a variety of  fungi can also be seen along the path. On the left is the Grisette, Amanita vaginata - a fungus of deciduous woodlands. Despite being closely related to the Death Cap, the Grisette is edible!

Towards the top of the hill, the path meets the triangular route around the hill. Take the path to the right (not up the steps) and continue until you reach a viewpoint. From here you can see across Gilfachreda to Cei Bach Bay.

Continuing uphill, the path passes through an area dominated by the Blackthorn or Sloe. In the  spring, the Blackthorn is covered with white  blossoms. The small purple fruits develop throughout the summer and ripen in the autumn. It is said that the sloes should not be picked until after the first frost - if the birds have not eaten them by then!

Certainly, judging from the photo on the left, this year will be a good year for Sloe Wine!

At the completion of the triangular section of the path, a series of steps takes you back to the first section of the trail.  Return down the hill back to the start.