Source of the Severn from Hafren Forest
Powys
Hafren Forest was planted by the Forestry Commission in the 1930s on the eastern slopes of Pumlumon, Mid Wales' highest mountain, and its riverside paths give a dog a proper stretch of paddling and running room. It takes its name from Afon Hafren, the Welsh name for the River Severn, and Britain's longest river rises in a peat bog just outside the forest. The Source of the Severn Trail is the longest of Natural Resources Wales' waymarked routes from the Rhyd-y-benwch car park, a 13km loop. It follows gravel paths beside the river to Blaen Hafren Falls, climbs steeply to the forest edge, then runs out and back on stone slabs across boggy moorland to the carved wooden post that marks the source, at around 600 metres. The return is by forest road and a narrow shale riverside path, past a standing stone and old mine remains. Expect about 330 metres of climbing.
This is a rewarding dog friendly walk for fit dogs, with the river alongside for much of the forest section for drinking and paddling, and shade under the conifers. The forest tracks give reasonable off-lead potential for a dog with good recall, but NRW warns there may be sheep on the open moorland to the source, and Pumlumon is open access land where dogs must be on a short lead from 1 March to 31 July. Watch for cyclists on the forest road. The car park is free, with picnic areas and temporary toilets.
At a Glance
- Distance
- 13.0 km (8.1 miles)
- Difficulty
- Challenging
- Duration
- 5 hr
- Walk Type
- Forest, Waterfall, Moorland
- Route Type
- Circular
- Off Lead Potential
- Moderate
- Livestock Risk
- Moderate
- Facilities
- Temporary toilets and picnic areas at Rhyd-y-benwch car park; no cafe. Llanidloes is 6 miles away.
- Parking
- Rhyd-y-benwch car park, Natural Resources Wales, free; very busy at peak times, no overnight parking.
Dog Friendly Stays Nearby
Make a weekend of it. These are the closest dog friendly places to stay to Source of the Severn from Hafren Forest, each one checked for its dog policy before we listed it.
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All dog friendly stays in PowysFrequently Asked Questions
Is Source of the Severn from Hafren Forest dog friendly?
Hafren Forest scores a solid 8/10 for dog friendliness, and it's easy to see why — the River Severn runs alongside much of the forest section, giving dogs plenty of opportunities to paddle and drink, while the conifer canopy provides welcome shade. The 13km Source of the Severn Trail is best suited to fit dogs, as there's around 330 metres of climbing and some rough terrain on the approach to the source across open moorland.
Can dogs be off lead at Source of the Severn from Hafren Forest?
The forest tracks offer reasonable off-lead potential for dogs with reliable recall, but there are a couple of important restrictions to be aware of. Natural Resources Wales warns that sheep may be present on the open moorland section to the source, and as Pumlumon is open access land, dogs must be kept on a short lead from 1 March to 31 July. It's also worth keeping an eye out for cyclists on the forest road.
What should I know before visiting Source of the Severn from Hafren Forest with my dog?
The car park at Rhyd-y-benwch is free and has picnic areas and temporary toilets, but it can get very busy at peak times and there's no overnight parking. There's no café on site, and the nearest town, Llanidloes, is about 6 miles away, so it's worth bringing everything you and your dog need for the day. The boggy moorland near the source can be wet underfoot, and the steep climb out of the forest means this walk is one to save for your more adventurous outings.
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