Water-Break-its-Neck Waterfall and Warren Wood

Paul Shorrock

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The old county of Radnorshire, now part of Powys, is one of the quiet, forgotten corners of Mid-Wales. This was not always the case and the area has had a turbulent history, being fought over for centuries by the native Welsh and the Norman-English invaders. Small villages nestling below high moorland now provide a warmer welcome for visitors and the uplands give good walking country.

The most obvious point of interest on this walk is the strangely named waterfall, Water-break-its-neck. A visit there makes a satisfying short stroll for those who don't fancy a longer walk. The continuation around the top of Warren Wood is not without interest either and the whole route makes a good, short day out.

Warren Wood is so called because of its rabbits being a source of food in the past, though the wood was once part of Radnor Forest, an ancient hunting forest. Despite being called a forest, this was mainly an area of moorland, but the Victorian owners of the estate planted picturesque woodland for the benefit of tourists visiting the waterfall. The trees they planted now make an interesting mature woodland area.

Beyond the Victorian wood, the Forestry Commission has planted a large area of commercial forestry, which is occasionally disfigured by harvesting, but otherwise is not without charm. The long-distance views are also worthwhile, especially on the higher part of the route, where on a good day you can see the hills of the Elan Valley to the west and the Brecon Beacons and Black Mountains to the south.

It's worth pointing out that beyond Waymark 8 there is a multitude of paths heading off all over the place and this can lead to some confusion. What the route does is to take the most interesting way all the way round Warren Wood. The outward leg ascends with Warren Wood over on your right, following an obvious deep, narrow valley (dingle) on the left on the latter part of the ascent. To return, the route descends with Warren Wood still over on the right, but this time with another dingle (Davy Morgan's Dingle) on the right of the descent route.

If you go expecting a confusion of paths you will not be disappointed! If it all falls apart there are always safe paths heading back towards the start point, but if you stick with the most obvious paths and use the photos with the written description, you won't go far wrong.

Wales - Mid Wales - Powys - Countryside

5/8/2024 - Robert Murphy

An update following our walk on 04/05/2024. The Waterfall at Waymark 3 is currently closed due to what looks like a landslide of the access path. There is a barrier across the path and the signs to the Waterfall have been taken down. Despite this the walk was fantastic with wonderful views all round and worth doing even without a visit to the Waterfall.

5/4/2013 - EMMS TURNER

Completed on 27/04/13 fantastic falls and area, perfect for photo's. Had two spaniel dogs with me. One of the galvanised gates just after waymark 6, we had to climb over and lift the dogs over it, as it was chained up. Yes the waymark 8 paths are numerous and confusing, however for the wonderful view it's well worth it, we retraced walk back to starting point at this stage.