So there is a bunch of old OS and historical maps have been made available on-line. There has been loads of talk of old routes on here so thought they might help people retrace where some of these used to be.

http://www.nls.uk/news/press/2014/03/hi ... -and-wales

Totally amazing. I find it very interesting to look at old maps and how the landscape has changed over the years. Thanks for the link. Also have a look at this one which is quite good too.

http://ooc.openstreetmap.org/

Just found the farm on the 1886 map. Nearly all the tracks and stuff are still present or at least visable. I'm confused by the forest though, I believe the forest as it is today was planted 50-60 years ago but the map shows a forest pretty much the same as the current one ... I'd always thought it was rough grazing land prior to the late 40's.

South of Afon Fachdre was partially ancient woodland, and I expect areas surrounding that were what we now call wood pasture. North of Afon Fachdre is shown as grazing, and westwards you can see the extensive area of lead mines, which is interesting. Commercial forestry started in Ceulan in the 1920's, with extensions to or planting up of the wood pasture bits. Most of the conifers action of the lead mine areas was in the early 1960's.

South of Afon Fachdre was partially ancient woodland

That's the bit I was meaning ... does that mean that would have been felled to make way for the commercial forest?

Fascinating stuff. Wouldn't it be amazing if you could go back in time and ride your local trails? Although, i'd imagine with no access laws, it would mainly be a day of tresspassing and i'd be shot by land owners....

s8tannorm wrote:

South of Afon Fachdre was partially ancient woodland

That's the bit I was meaning ... does that mean that would have been felled to make way for the commercial forest?

More than likely. Within the space of only 40 years, forest policy has gone from clearing broadleaves so we can plant conifers and build a strategic reserve of timber in the event of a war, to clearing conifers and replacing them with broadleaves so they can be reduced to worthless scrub by grey squirrels.