Severn Break Its Neck, Hafran Forest

Hafran Forest

Mid Wales is laced with walking trails. Each one better than the last.  Mid August 2022 the weather was blistering hot (80 or 27 depending on how you count it) and the draw of a swimming hole was irresistible. So with two grandkids in tow, we set off on an adventure.

This walk is in two halves.  The first is as pretty a walk as you will ever find. The second has THE SWIMMING HOLE. (the caps are warranted.)

Severn-Break-Its -Neck Section  Distance: 2 mile loop. Dirt trail and Dirt road, not  wheelchair. Well marked with Yellow trail markers. (Note on my map there are two extra bridges to head back if you need to not complete the whole route.) I am not sure if it is dog friendly, as I was busy wrangling kids. Toilets at the parking/trailhead. 

Boardwalk Section  Distance out and back: .75 miles. Paved and Boardwalk.  Wheelchair extra friendly. Dogs OK.  Benches and picnic tables. Wear your bathing suit or be prepared to duck behind a tree.

The map posted at the car park. The first half of the walk is the yellow dots, the second half is the red dots.

Parking Coordinates 52.468709687731035, -3.6841756726984416  In typical Welsh fashion, finding "there" is difficult.  The people in the UK use mapping and navigation systems totally not understandable by most Americans. I've spent a great deal of time trying to figure out the key words (and spelling) to help you find this place, but every time I feel like I got it, Google Maps failed. Find the place at the coordinates by leaving Llanidloes on Short  Bridge Road.  Lots of typical lovely mid Welsh stuff on the way, including Old Hall. The drive in it self is worth the trip.

Severn-Break-Its -Neck Section

Head down from the car park. At the bottom of the hill is a ford that will tempt you to take off your boots and wade in the Hafran.  Don't do it.  You will never leave, and there is a delightful walk ahead of you.

Turn left, almost a u-turn.  You will be walking alongside the Hafran on a gravel path. That is the Welsh name for the Severn  River further down stream.

At the staircase, head up the stairs.  Make note of the bridge that goes off to the right.  You may want to cross it later.

At the top of the hill is a clear meadow.  In the UK, after WWII there was a dire shortage of building material, so lots of acreage was planted in pine, fast growing but not sustainable.  To a Californian eye one is appalled at the clear cut.   But this is actually the right thing for here. Pine is a crop, like any corn or wheat.  It just has a longer time till harvest. Look at Google maps with the satellite view.  Really cool.

Now that there is not  the desperate need for fast building material, the managed forests are removing the pine as it comes up, favoring instead the Fir and deciduous trees. The Wiki on this is really informative. 

The path meanders above the Hafran, thru stands of blueberries (yum). and comes down to a dirt road that has two concrete bridges.  Make  note of these should you need to take  a short cut back to the parking to deal with cranky kids.

The best bit is as you leave the road.  Follow the yellow signs to Severn-Break-Its-Neck or as the Welsh call it Blaen Hafren Falls. The water tumbles over the raw slate. 

  

 

Head back up stream on the other side.  You will end up again on the dirt road.  Mull on the river's name as you walk.  Named by the Romans for the goddess Sabrina.  Anglicized to Severn.  The Welsh already had a name for it: Hafran.

 As I get to know  more about Wales, and the geography here, I am aware that many of the things I thought were rocky outcroppings are actually quarries. And not necessarily new quarries.  People have been excavating rock here for buildings, walls, and roads as well as mining since well before the Romans. That is a lot of chunk out of the hillside as well as holes in random places.  You can see one of these holes on the right as you follow the yellow signs to the right.

  

 As you re enter the forest, veer off to the right, following the yellow signs, down the hill.  When you get to the bridge (remember I said remember this bridge) you will want to make a decision.  Stay to the left if your shoes are easy to remove, or can get wet. Cross the bridge and continue up the river if you want to keep your feet dry.

Boardwalk Section 

When you get back too the ford (or if you decide to skip the waterfall hike) walk upstream on the boardwalk.  I think this may be the nicest wheelchair access walk I have found as yet in my travels.  There are benches and pull outs. All very comfortable.

On the right you can see the marshy area that is typical of the Hafran headwaters. The trees are mostly fir, as they have put much effort into removing pine from this area.  The pine will crowd out all of the slower growing trees and it is very acidic.  

On the left is the Hafran.  At the time we walked it, it was being fed from the Clywedog Reservoir. Down the Severn, the drought is causing problems, so keeping the water flowing is so important. 

As you approach the end of the boardwalk, you will see places where peoople duck behind trees to  change clothes.  Make notes as you may want to use one of these spots.

 At the end of the boardwalk is the BEST THING. Depending on which trail you take down, there is wading, paddling, or a swimming hole that is literally breath taking.  It was so cold I had a hard time breathing. (Note: never swim alone.  Always have a buddy. Slippery river bedrock and extremely cold water can cause real problems.)