A trip to Hafod Estate, or Hafod Uchtryd, in the Ystwyth Valley offers a fantastic way to explore some of Ceredigion’s most glorious views as it provides one of the best examples of a picturesque landscape in Europe.
Here, you’ll step straight into another world, with winding woodland paths, rocky gorges and magical waterfalls to admire around every corner!
Where is Hafod Estate?
The wooded and landscaped estate of Hafod spans over 200 hectares of the Ystwyth Valley near Devil’s Bridge, Ceredigion. It lies around 12 miles south-east of the popular seaside town of Aberystwyth.
Hafod Estate History
The estate’s history as a place of picturesque beauty and tourism here can be traced back to the late 18th century, when the then-owner, Thomas Johnes, built a new house and laid out the grounds following the fashionable picturesque principles of the time.
In landscaping, the concept of the picturesque involves creating a visually pleasing, idealised scene that focuses on balance, considered composition and a sense of working with the irregularities of nature rather than trying to formalise it. With its painting-like views, these sensibilities can be seen reflected across Hafod Estate today.
In Johnes’ time, the land was used for farming, forestry and gardening, with new ideas and methods being experimented with. He also created various circuit walks around the grounds, which were carefully mapped out to allow visitors to enjoy a pleasing succession of views.
Today, the estate is managed by Natural Resources Wales and the Hafod Trust, who work to maintain and restore the landscape, allowing modern visitors to walk the same paths and marvel at the same views that were enjoyed by tourists in the Georgian period.
Things to Do at Hafod Estate
Unfortunately, the original 18th-century house no longer survives as it was demolished in the mid-20th century.
Despite this, there are plenty of grounds to explore, with five different way-marked paths that take you on a breathtaking journey throughout the landscape.
There are a few other things to see and do, too:
- Mrs Johnes’ Flower Garden: A restored, manicured lawn with flowers and a stone gateway.
- Mariamne’s Garden: An alpine garden amongst the trees.
- Peiran Falls: An enchanting waterfall that can be seen on the Lady’s Walk.
- Alpine Bridge: A restored historic footbridge connecting the north and south sides of the valley and marking the start of the Gentleman’s Walk.
- Hafod Church: The only surviving 18th-century structure on the estate that now displays an exhibition on the history of Hafod Estate.
- Hafod Arch: An iconic stone arch built by Johnes to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of George III. There are three other walking trails that start from around the arch.
- Devil’s Bridge Waterfalls: Just outside the estate itself, you can also see the glorious Devil’s Bridge Falls attraction, a series of tiered waterfalls with five major drops and several brilliant nature trails.
- Rheidol Valley Steam Train: This quaint heritage railway takes you from Aberystwyth to Devil’s Bridge, journeying through the diverse and scenic Welsh landscape.
Hafod Estate Walks
Contained within the estate are five way-marked paths of various lengths and difficulties. Several of these trails are restored from Thomas Johnes’ original 18th-century walks, and all offer spectacular views and a chance to get immersed in nature.
- Lady’s Walk (3.6km): One of the classic circular routes from Johnes’ day that offers a combination of gentle landscape scenes, open parkland, streams and wooded valleys.
- Gentleman’s Walk (6km): Another of the original picturesque walks with some steeper sections and a branch leading off to Cavern Cascade waterfall.
- Bedford Monument Walk (1.6km): A relatively gentle walk with great views from the obelisk monument (commemorating the 5th Duke of Bedford) as well as access to Mariamne’s Garden.
- Coed Hafod Walk (1.2km): A walk through various woodland areas, providing views over vast parkland and rolling hills in the distance.
- Ystwyth Gorge Walk (1.5km): A loop walk that connects with the Lady’s and Gentleman’s Walks, providing views of the River Ystwyth and its gorge.
Is Hafod Estate Dog-Friendly?
Dogs are very welcome to accompany you at the estate. They must be kept on leads when encountering livestock and in the gardens, but they’re free to explore off-lead on the woodland walks, provided they can be kept under control.
Staying Near Hafod Estate
If you’d like to stay in the heart of the Cambrian Mountains when embarking on your West Wales adventure, why not explore our selection of holiday cottages in Devil’s Bridge and the surrounding areas?
From cosy hideaways to luxe stays with hot tubs, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the beautiful Ceredigion countryside.
