Easy hikes and walks around Tywi Forest

THE TALE OF THE WELSH “ROBIN HOOD” Known as Twm Siôn Cati Twm Siôn Cati is a historically known figure in Welsh folklore. A tale recounted by Meyrick recalls how Twm was asked by a poor man to steal a pitcher for him. They went together to a merchant where Twm started belittling the man's wares. Having told his friend secretly to take the pitcher of his choice, Twm distracted the merchant by telling him there was a hole in one of the pitchers, which the man denied. Twm desired him to put his hand in the pitcher to test it and the man still denied there was a hole. Twm then asked him how, if there was no hole, could he have put his hand inside? By this time his friend had disappeared with his pitcher, undetected. A tale from Prichard's book involves an occasion when Twm is staying in an inn overnight and realises other people are planning to rob him the following day after he sets off. He has a large sum of money with him. The following morning he behaves as though his money is in the pack-saddle of his horse. When the highwayman catches up, Twm drops the saddle in the middle of a pool. The highwayman wades into the pool to fetch it, Twm takes the opportunity to make off with the highwayman's horse. A complication arises because the horse responds to the voice of the highwayman crying "Stop!" Luckily Twm, in terror, happens to shout a word which makes the horse gallop on again, and he is conveyed to safety. Another tale recounts how Twm waylaid a rich squire, who was accompanied by his daughter, Twm was so smitten with her that he returned her jewellery to her and attempted to woo her, against her father's opposition and, initially, her own. One full moon shortly after the robbery, he crept to her window, roused her from sleep, caught her hand at the window and kissed it, refusing to let her go until she promised to marry him. She wouldn't promise so Twm drew his dagger, drew blood on her wrist and threatened to sever her hand unless she assented to marriage forthwith. She agreed to marry him and she kept her hand. Their marriage followed soon after, despite her father's views and the directness of Twm's courtship methods. The girl was supposedly the widow of the sheriff of Carmarthen. Through this marriage Twm is supposed to have gained respectability, eventually becoming a justice of the peace, sitting in judgement on others, a position he held until his death aged 79.

This attractive RSPB site has a circular footpath adjacent to a river with beautiful rock cascades and old mossy trees. It is also home to the Twm Sion Cati's cave. All worth a look off of the bike.

Tales about him vary on details, but he is usually said to have been born in or very near to Tregaron, in or around 1530, his mother being one Cati Jones of Tregaron. His father was supposed to be Siôn ap Dafydd ap Madog ap Hywel Moetheu of Porth-y-ffin, also near Tregaron. He was an illegitimate son whose mother named him Thomas. The Welsh-language equivalent of Tom is Twm. It was also common practice in rural Wales for children with common names to be nicknamed after their mothers. Thus he became known as Twm Siôn Cati.

Strata Florida (Latin for ‘Vale of Flowers’) – is a ruined medieval monastery where generations of Welsh princes are buried. The abbey was founded in 1164 by white-robed Cistercian monks and it soon became the most famous church in Wales, after St Davids. Small coffee shop on-site, opening hours vary!

Cors Caron National Nature Reserve is a vast area of wetland filling the broad valley of the River Teifi. It offers great gravel paths off the main road if you have the bike for it. Or lock your bike up and go for a walk along the boardwalks to look for wildlife.

Great cycle path running through the reserve. Nice for watching the bird life.

Lock your bike up and go for a walk along the boardwalks to look for wildlife.

This is a 4km circular walk, no facilities at this location just a small car park that has a Donation Box to park at. Twm Sion Cati is from folklore, and it said that he hid in this cave. Twm Sion Cati earned a reputation as a sort of Welsh Robin Hood!! Roaming the rugged west and mid part of Wales, robbing from the rich, but somehow forgetting the bit about giving to the poor. It is thought that Twm had some formal education from the tales told, he appears to have developed from a common thief and highway man into quite a crafty and clever conman. Thomas Jones, otherwise known as Twm Sion Cati was born around 1530 at Tregaron. His mother was Catherine known as Cati Jones. Although some stories claim that he was the illegitimate son of the local squire, it is more likely that his father was actually John (Welsh form Sion) son of David ap Madog ap Howel Motheu.