Skip to content

Exploring the countryside at Abergwesyn Commons

View from Pen y Fan to Corn Du in the Brecon Beacons National Park, South Wales.
Find views of the Brecon Beacons from Abergwesyn Commons | © National Trust Images/Paul Harris

Abergwesyn Commons in Powys is a vast wilderness, where you can discover glorious walks and fascinating ancient remains that offer windswept tranquillity across seven wildlife-rich commons.

Valleys and views to enjoy 

Abergwesyn is a place of unspoilt and dramatic landscapes, where steep-sided valleys give way to spectacular open commons with far-reaching views across to the Brecon Beacons, including Pen-y-Fan and Corn Du. 

Irfon Valley  

The Irfon Valley cuts through Abergwesyn, providing wonderful views of the surrounding countryside. The gorge here is a beautiful spot on a sunny day and is the perfect place to sit and rest for a while. 

Cwm Gwesyn 

After a steep climb, Cwm Gwesyn is a welcome sight on a warm day, with stunning waterfalls and plunge pools when in full flow. Dipping your toes into the mountain-fresh water will be just what your feet need after the arduous uphill hike. 

The rooftop of Wales

The commons stretch for 12 miles from east to west and at its highest point sits Drygarn Fawr. 

This huge Bronze Age cairn right on the summit of Abergwesyn, provides an impressive reminder of a long-forgotten past. 

Close-up of red kite in fight over Watlington Hill
Spot a red kite soaring above Abergwesyn | © National Trust Images / Hugh Mothersole

Wildlife to see 

Mid Wales is known for soaring red kites, and the uplands are the perfect habitat for skylarks, meadow pipits, ravens and red grouse. 

Valuable habitat

The heathland smothers the landscape in a rich purple, whilst the blanket bog, which we’re working to restore, is a valuable home to a variety of wildlife and is an important store of carbon. 

With such a combination of wilderness, wildlife and views, a visit to Abergwesyn truly is a tranquil escape. 

A sheep and a lamb grazing on Bignor Hill, Slindon Estate, West Sussex

Discover more at Abergwesyn Commons

Find out how to get to the Abergwesyn Commons, where to park, the things to see and do and more.

You might also be interested in

Using a trowel during a costumed recreation of the 1930s archaeological dig by Basil Brown at Sutton Hoo, Suffolk
Article
Article

History of Abergwesyn Commons 

Discover a wealth of archaeological remains, including 14 Bronze Age cairns, undisturbed for thousands of years in the vast and wild landscape at Abergwesyn Common, Powys.

Project
Project

Welsh Peatland Sustainable Management Scheme Project 

Learn about the importance of peatlands and the work of a Welsh partnership in Powys. From raising awareness to sustainable management, find out about the peatlands project.