Whatever your level of fitness, we’ve got the walk for you. You can follow your nose or stick to one of our signposted routes.
There are four distinct areas of the park to enjoy: woodland; grasslands; Japanese Garden; and wetlands.
Walk among mature sweet chestnuts, ancient oaks and towering beeches as you explore Bryngarw’s bewitching woods. Carpeted with bluebells in spring, our woods are home to a diverse range of wildlife including foxes, squirrels and woodpeckers. Alongside the river is an ecologically important wet woodland site.
Feel the wind in your hair as you stride up the grassy hillside above the park; our native wildflower meadows are beautiful areas bordered by ancient, species-rich hedgerows. This a perfect place to pause and enjoy spectacular views across the valley to the mountains beyond.
Take a leisurely stroll through our picturesque Japanese Garden, which was created between 1910 and 1920. It’s beautiful all year round: spring and summer bring the blossoms of specimen rhododendrons, magnolia and azaleas while in autumn you can enjoy the fiery reds, golds and oranges of Japanese acers. The ornamental bridge and pagoda provide lovely viewpoints from which to take in the exquisite display of trees, shrubs, flowers, decorative stones and lanterns.
Wander along the banks of the River Garw and keep your eyes peeled for wildlife – you might glimpse a kingfisher diving for fish. The river’s pebble banks and secluded
meanders provide delightful places to rest and enjoy the sounds of the river. The ornamental lake close to the house – a favourite haunt of herons and waterfowl – is another perfect spot for a stroll.
A great way to discover the flora and fauna of Bryngarw Country Park is to follow one of our nature walks. We have four waymarked routes, each of which takes you through a different habitat. Look for the coloured arrows and follow orange for the Meadow Meander, red for the Woodland Walk, brown for the Wetlands Wander and purple for the Riverside Ramble.
You can also collect your trail map from the Visitors Centre and head off along one of our many set trails, with options for people of all ages and abilities.
Take a gentle stroll up through Bryngarw’s charming wildflower meadows. While spring and summer are an ideal time to see a variety of wildflowers and insects, there is still plenty to see throughout the year, with flocks of goldfinches and thrushes visiting in autumn and winter.
Walk length: ½ mile (0.8km)
Passing under mighty oaks and ancient beeches, the woodland walk is a delight at any time of year. Listen out for the great spotted woodpecker in late winter, pass through carpets of bluebells in the spring, and see the wonderful colour changes in autumn.
Walk length: ½ mile (0.8km)
Ramble along the banks of the River Garw and listen to the soothing sound of the water as it tumbles downstream. Look out for some of Bryngarw’s river wildlife such as the dipper and kingfisher.
Walk length: 0.8 miles (1.3km)
Why not take a detour and wander round this more secluded area of the park? An ecologically important habitat, the wet woodland is a wonderfully calm space to spend some time reconnecting with nature.
Walk length: 1 miles (1.6km)
Get paper and crayons from the cafe and collect the 5 designs from our rubbing trail - a great fun way to explore the park.
Walk length: 0.5 miles (0.8km)
