Allt y Dinas

Description:  Allt y Dinas (or Allt y Ddinas) is a broadleaf woodland, mainly oak, ash, and holly, but with plenty of other species as well, running along the Dinas valley, with the Nant Bran stream running through the valley just below the wood. 

The whole of the wood is designated as Ancient Semi-Natural Woodland, which means it has been woodland for at least 400 years, and the history can be seen in the variety of species that populate the woodland floor. Bluebells are widespread throughout the wood, the pale-yellow flowers of Common Cow Wheat, and bilberry and ferns are plentiful.  In a few places where there is plenty of light, bramble is well established, but it is not a feature of most of the woodland.

Wildlife: There is evidence of badgers within the wood, and it’s alive with the sounds of birds, including wren, thrush, blackbird and chiffchaff.

Access: Allt y Dinas is only accessible on foot along a choice of several public footpaths.  The footpath coming in from Waungilwen, to the north-east, serves a couple of houses, and is suitable for vehicles, but the owner of the wood has no defined right-of-way along this track.  It may be possible for a new owner to agree access with the owner of the track.

From the western corner, a track runs the full length of the wood, providing easier access to the upper levels.

Boundaries: The north-western boundary is fenced from adjoining farmland. The south-eastern boundary is mostly formed by the track.  The north-eastern boundary is a tree-lined earthbank (see photo 14), that runs up the hill directly behind a gateway (see photo 18) on the path/track coming in from Waungilwen . The western boundary is partly a small stream.  At the western end of the wood, the path runs over a small footbridge (see photo 4), over the small stream, before turning sharply left to a footbridge over the Nant Bran.  The boundary is the middle of the first bridge over the small stream.  From there, the boundary runs up the stream as far as the remains of a well on the spring line, and then runs in a straight line up the hill to the fence line at the top.

Sporting rights: Included

Mineral rights: Included, except as excluded by statute, over both ends of the wood, but excluded in the central half of the wood.

Public footpaths: A public footpath runs outside the south-eastern boundary of the wood for most of its length.  Two paths then run through the western corner of the wood, one heading to the bridge over the Nant Bran, the other heading up hill to the far western corner of the wood.

Local area: The area was once a centre for the woollen industry, and the National Wool Museum is just over a mile away.  In 1900 there were over 50 working woollen mills in the area, the remains of one of which are still visible  (the other side of the Nant Bran) as you walk to the wood.  There are many features along the river that used to manage the water supply to those mills.. Drefach-Velindre, three-quarters of a mile away on foot, also has a village stores and post office, and two excellent pubs (The Tafarn John y Gwas and the Red Lion)

Photographs: were taken in May 2024

VIEWING: You are welcome to visit this wood by yourself.  Please ensure that you have a copy of these sales details with you: we recommend either printing the details or downloading them to your phone/tablet/laptop before you go. Please take care when viewing as the great outdoors can contain unexpected hazards and woodlands are no exception.

Interested in this woodland? Get in touch with us:

Contact Sandra Colley on 07769654392 or email us at [email protected] with your details.