Walking Pembrokeshire

Cilgerran Wildlife Park Circular Walk

It's good to walk, so why not step out and sample some of the walks your neighbourhood has to offer. This pleasant and interesting walk which starts and finishes at Dolbadau car park in Cilgerran is one of a number of town and country walks which have been produced by Pembrokeshire County Council. 

Enjoy this medium length relatively easy walk from the riverside at Dolbadau car park, Cilgerran through lovely woodland to the Wildlife Centre and back again. The return journey is along an old railway track - use this route both ways for very easy, flat walking. The walk can be combined with the Cilgerran Gorge walk for a longer and more varied route. 

Walking: The walk begins and ends at Dolbadau car park, Cilgerran .
Bus: 430 (Cardigan - Narberth).
Bus Timetables 
Train: Nearest station is at Clynderwen. Arriva Trains Wales (opens in a new tab)
Road Map: Search for "Cilgerran, Pembrokeshire".
Parking: There is a free car park on the riverside at Dolbadau, Cilgerran, where the walk begins and ends.
Toilets: There are public toilets at Dolbadau car park and at the Wildlife Centre.
Refreshments: Served in Cilgerran village and at the Wildlife Centre.

Start/Finish: Dolbadau car park on the riverside at Cilgerran.
Distance: 4.4 miles, 2 hours
Terrain: This is a relatively easy medium length walk - outwards along woodland pathways and returning via a tarmaced cycleway and minor roads.
Stiles: 1
Gates: 4
Steps: 7
Bridges: 1
Views: several
Car Park: 1

• This walk begins alongside the Teifi at Dolbadau car park, Cilgerran from where there are splendid views up and down Cilgerran Gorge (1). The building in the car park has a series of fascinating plaques displaying the natural and social history of the area.
• Walk up the lane towards Cilgerran village, turn right onto High Street, right again into Castle Square and follow the lane up to the church. On the way you will pass the access leading to Cilgerran Castle on the right.You might like to take time out to explore both the castle and church at this point.
• Bear right at the church gates and almost immediately afterwards take a waymarked footpath that takes you to a bridge across a stream. Follow the path between houses up onto a further lane. Almost directly ahead of you is another waymarked path that leads onto a lane through pleasant meadows.
• Where the lane divides, Follow the public footpath to the left and then bear right at the bottom of the hill into lovely old deciduous woodland and continue on the path as it winds through the trees, past rock outcrops on your right and meadowland across the valley on your left. This section can become quite muddy after periods of rain. Keep on this path, bearing right at a fork onto the signposted permissive path, and follow this path (ignore any steeper path links to the left and right) until you see the modern ‘glasshouse' that is the Wildlife Centre on your left.
• Don't go to the centre just yet but continue on the path a short distance until you reach a T-junction.
• To the right is the Cilgerran Gorge path (subject of a separate walk). Turn left and a few metres along is a viewpoint towards the beautiful Teifi river
• Continue past this viewpoint and turn left onto a lane that leads up past some old quarrymen's houses to the new ‘glasshouse' Wildlife Centre. Here you will find an exhibition and refreshments as well as stunning views from the elevated picnic area north across the Teifi Marshes to the ancient port of Cardigan and beyond.
• The Wildlife Centre is at the heart of a number of well-marked short trails that take in the wide diversity of this marvellous habitat which is rich in animal and bird life at all times of the year. Pick up a map at the centre information desk.
• When you are ready, continue south along the lane away from the Wildlife Centre towards the car park and onto an old railway line that is now a cycle track and access road to the centre. This lane eventually brings you out on the western edge of Cilgerran. Turn left and follow the main road until you see the turning on your left for Dolbadau car park.
• Those who prefer a very easy route can walk to and from the Wildlife Centre along the old railway line. It is relatively flat and suitable for a range of abilities. And those who prefer a more challenging walk might like to link this walk with its companion, the Cilgerran Gorge Circular Walk.