The Land
Let us show you around the land at Cwm Doethïe.
The 1,195 acres of land is in the Doethïe valley, in Ceredigion’s glorious Elenydd (Cambrian Mountains) in mid-Wales. It can be found between Tregaron (9 miles) and Rhandirmywn (13 miles).​​
Image: Map of land at Cwm Doethïe, in the Elenydd (Cambrian Mountains) (Katherine Jones Artist)
Our work here will be led by nature, supported by a carefully selected mix of cattle, ponies - and pigs, when the time is right.
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We’ve identified key areas, including peatbogs and river corridors, where early interventions will help kickstart rewilding. We will also support the recovery of heathland, and encourage new plant life to grow and insects to thrive.​
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Find out more about the different areas and features of the land: ​
Upper Doethïe Fach and Peatlands (northwestern block): 580 acres
Today
​A thousand-year-old peat bog blankets the plateau, stretching to the edge of the forestry.
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Much of it is cloaked in dense purple moor-grass (Molinia), its thick thatch suppressing a broader diversity of plant life.
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Below, a mosaic of acid grassland and bracken slopes down to the valley floor, where water rushes through streams and flushes.
350 years ago, the foundations of Nant Ieuan farmstead were laid - and the old field boundaries are still visible.
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A few isolated ancient trees remain, marking the old trackways, while small pockets of new growth - willow thickets and shrub - line the river’s edge. This recovery of the river’s edge is thanks to a planting initiative in 2018 led by local volunteers.
In 5 - 10 years...
With simple rewetting and the return of natural grazers, a rich mosaic of habitats will begin to emerge.
The peatbog will come to life - a wetter, more vibrant landscape filled with red and olive cushions of moss. In spring, cotton grasses will sway, sundews will trap insects, and snipe will feed and nest safely in shallow pools.
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Heather and bilberries will add splashes of purple as plant and grass diversity increases.
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Birds like reed buntings and willow warblers will flit between shrubs that now fill the valley bottom with song.
Oaks and alders will rise, forming patches of Celtic rainforest, while water voles, otters, dippers, and pied wagtails move between riverbanks and restored wetlands.
Camddwr (northeastern block): 367 acres
Today
Stretching from the River Camddwr up to the forestry edge, the northeast block is a broad expanse of grasslands.
A series of shallow valleys run west to east, with three prominent former farmsteads still accessible on foot.
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Much of the area is dominated by purple moor-grass, interspersed with patches of bracken, gorse, and acid grassland.
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Northward, the riverbanks are almost treeless - but as the river curves, wildlife thrives.
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A small population of water voles lives here, along with otters, grey wagtails, and damselflies. Hawkers and emperor dragonflies patrol the banks.
In 5-10 years...
Small herds of cattle and ponies will shape the landscape through their roaming and grazing.
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Heathers will return along the valley edges, while a patchy mosaic of grassland and heathland forms, lizards will bask feeding on beetles and a wide variety of insects.
Whinchat and Wheatears will find a summer home rich in food preparing them for a long Autumn migration.
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Shrubs and scrub will emerge along the riverbanks, becoming noisy shelters for birds darting and calling boldly for mates and territory, with willow blooming in spring and rowan berries brightening the autumn skyline descended upon by huge flocks of Redwing.
Cwm Doethïe (southwestern block):
252 acres
Today
At Cwm Doethïe, ancient oaks stretch across the valley floor; some draped in lichens - a reminder of the temperate rainforest that once thrived here. Rowan and birch saplings are beginning to spread up the valley sides.
Light grazing in recent years has allowed bracken to take hold, shading out much of the understorey.
On the valley tops, patches of heather remain - drumstick-like remnants of once-extensive heathland.
Nearby, nightjars are known to nest.
Further north, the valley steepens and narrows. On a natural saddle in the landscape sit the remains of a medieval cruck hall and the old Dinas Foel Fraith cottage.
In 5-10 years...
Tree and shrub regeneration will continue along the stream sides, with lime-green leaves unfurling in spring and birdsong filling the air.
Cattle and ponies will have opened up a rich, diverse understorey - creating space for rarer plants to thrive, fritillaries to flutter and a richer chorus of woodland birds.
By late summer, the valley tops will glow with the purples of restored heathland. Heather and bilberry of varying ages and heights will carpet the slopes, pine marten might feast, as birds of prey sweep overhead in search of their next meal.
Why are we rewilding this land?
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This is a perfect place for nature recovery because it:
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Spans 1,195 acres (about 750 football pitches), with two rivers and their tributaries running for a total of 9 kilometres.
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Includes 160 acres of degraded peatland ready for rewetting.
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Lies within the Mynydd Mallaen/ Cwm Doethïe Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), protected for its ancient sessile oak woodlands.
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Provides an unparalleled opportunity to connect ecosystems across landscapes
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Is unsuitable for commercial forestry due to its SSSI status and poor grazing value, dominated by purple-moor grass and bracken monocultures.
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Sits within the Celtic (temperate) rainforest biome and the red squirrel conservation area identified by the Wildlife Trust of South & West Wales.
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Is alive with homes, old farmsteads, and 55 historic landmarks and buildings, each with a story to tell.
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Is a vast, continuous block of land with no roads or internal barriers, making it ideal for wildlife to roam freely and safely.
This land is yearning for a new path for wildlife and for people. This is nature's land. This is Tir Natur.
Access to the land
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We invite you to walk and roam here - the land is mostly ‘open access land’ and it is your right to do so.
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Wales’s most remote chapel, Soar-y-Mynydd, is the best starting point for your first visit.
Please park considerately for our neighbours and chapel visitors.
The best public access is via existing footpaths. These include short and circular walks: 3km - 10km, taking in a section of the Cambrian Way (at stage 9).
Feeling adventurous? Start in the village of Rhandirmwyn, walking the stage through to the secluded Ty'n Cornel Hostel.
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Please:
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Be considerate of our neighbours, the land’s heritage and the wildlife living here.
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Plan your route for the weather and your own abilities.
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Email ahead - members of the Tir Natur team are regularly on the land, it is worth contacting ahead of visiting to know if you can meet us there.
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Check out our programme of guided walks, talks and volunteering opportunities that will be published in spring 2026. ​
Images: Illustrations (Katherine Jones Artist) and Cwm Doethïe photos (David Kilner)