Ffawydd Fach, at the end of a long climb from the road, is a peaceful, secluded hilltop woodland. It's not a huge acreage, but the variety of terrain resulting in different areas with small level spots within them which could be developed into nature hides, or dens, or just a nice spot for a cuppa, make Ffawydd Fach seem bigger.

A sheltered enclosed pull-in area has been cut into the hillside at the north western corner of the woodland.

Trees: A wide range of broadleaf to be found here, and of varying age which is a good sign in a woodland, ensuring as the woodland further matures there will be specimens to take the place of the loss of older trees in the future.

In the younger regenerating area in the western half of the wood, there are some lovely healthy saplings and young established specimens of rowan, birch, oak and hazel making up dense growth, interspersed with gorse, bracken and some bramble, with more mature oak and beech up on the southern boundary where the thicker canopy has resulted in less undergrowth.

Some well spaced stumpy beech give great character to the mid section of Ffawydd Fach, and supress excess growth in the understory, allowing for easier movement through the woodland here, towards the eastern boundary. There are some large multi stem hazel here also.

Wildlife: A plethora of birds seen and heard here - the familiar robin, wren and blackbird; also chiff chaff and wood warbler with its distinctive call as well as the unmistakable knocking of the woodpecker.  Also evident are many small burrows of woodland mammals, species unconfirmed but likely to include voles and wood mice.

Lots of wildflowers here, yellow pimpernel, herb Robert, stately foxglove and cranesbill and lots of honeysuckle winding its way.

Public footpaths: There are no public footpaths through Ffawydd Fach itself, but a footpath does run along the outside of it's eastern boundary, through part of the neighbouring woodlands Coed Telor and Allt Foel-fawr, and down to the main entrance gate.

Sporting rights: Included.

Mineral rights: Included, except as excluded by statute.

Local area and history: The reservoir in the valley bottom used to provide water for Carmarthen but has been decommissioned for many years now. Throughout Cwm Tawel small brick structures can be seen, chambers for accessing the network of channels built to carry spring water to the reservoir when it was supplying Carmarthen with water, under the management of the Carmarthen Corporation Water Works in the late 19th C.

Nearby is the Dan-y-Coed Halt, the end of the line of the 4 mile stretch of the Gwili Railway, one of the last few stretches of functioning steam railway in the UK. The 8 mile round trip takes you through four stations along the picturesque railway line which runs along the Afon Gwili through steeply wooded hillsides.

Covenant: There is a covenant on the wood designed to ensure the quiet and peaceful enjoyment of this and adjoining woodlands, click HERE to read and download.

Click HERE to see free OS maps.