COED Y BRENIN
Walking and mountain bike trails plus more
Located just north of Dolgellau, the stunning Coed y Brenin Forest Park provides a wonderful wilderness for exploration. Covering an impressive 9,000 acres of forest, heathland, valleys and mountains, the park offers a world of opportunity for both walkers and mountain bikers. It was Britain’s first purpose-built mountain bike centre and includes 8 marked trails which vary in difficulty. There’s much to enjoy for everyone because there are also 3 orienteering trails, 4 running trails and 9 walking trails to enjoy.
Walks for all
From a short riverside stroll to the challenging 11km Volcano Trail, there’s a great trail to experience regardless of your fitness level. Coed y Brenin is managed by Natural Resources Wales. The attractive visitor centre features a cafe, a gift shop, toilets, a running shop and the Beics Brenin Bike Shop where you can hire mountain bikes to ride on the trails. Bike hire starts from £30 per day. Finally, outside the centre you will discover a children’s adventure playground and animal puzzle trail if you have youngsters who need entertaining.
Which Coed y Brenin car park?
There are seven car parks at Coed y Brenin, some of which are free of charge. If you are intending to walk one of the trails, it is important to check which of the car parks the route starts from. This is because they are at some distance from each other. Below you will find a list of the trails and at the foot of the page, directions to each car park. The car park at the visitor centre can get very busy. But it is generally easy to find a space at the other parking areas, except during the peak summer weeks. If you are interested in tackling the mountain bike trails, click the link above for the information you need.
So, Coed y Brenin Forest Park is well worth visiting throughout the year. The diverse terrain, stunning scenery and exciting trails make for fabulous days out for the whole family.
A WORLD OF EXPLORATION AND ADVENTURE
Walking Trails
If you enjoy walking, you really are spoilt for choice at Coed y Brenin. It is therefore a destination which should be on your radar. Whether you fancy a short stroll and a picnic or a challenging walk which will take you most of the day, there’s a wonderful trail to enjoy.
- Cefndeuddwr Trail – easy 1.5km walk from the visitor centre through woodland
- Afon Eden Trail – easy 1.6km walk through woodland to the river Eden which begins at the visitor centre
- Gain Waterfall Trail – strenuous 7km circular walk featuring woodland and waterfalls starting at the visitor centre
- Waterfalls and Goldmines Trail – moderate 4km walk along the banks of the Mawddach from the Tyddyn Gwladdys car park
- The Kings Guard’s Trail – easy 850m riverside walk from the Ty’n y Groes car park which features the tallest trees at Coed y Brenin
- Penrhos Mountain trail – strenuous 4.5km circular hike starting at the Ty’n y Groes car park taking you to the summit of Penrhos and back
- Glasdir Copper Trail – moderate 1.2km circular route starting at the Glasdir car park featuring an old copper mine
- Forest Garden Trail – easy 1.2km forest walk from the Forest Garden car park
- Volcano Trail – strenuous 11km circular walk from the Pont Cae’n y Coed car park through a variety of terrain to Moel Hafod Owen and back
Directions
For the Visitor Centre
From the Woollen Mill, head for the A487 and travel south towards Porthmadog. After passing Porthmadog, you will drive under a metal bridge and then arrive at a roundabout. Turn left at the roundabout towards Penryhndeudraeth (A487). Keep on this road which becomes the A470. You will eventually see the sign for the Coed y Brenin visitor centre which is on your left. The Cefndeuddwr, Afon Eden and Gain Waterfall trails all begin at the visitor centre.
For the other parking areas and trails
For the Volcano Trail, continue to the village of Ganllwyd. Just before the village, turn sharp left immediately after the 30mph speed limit sign. Follow the road over the bridge and up into the forest. Park in the Pont Cae’n y Coed car park. There is no charge for parking.
For the Waterfalls and Goldmine Trail continue to the village of Ganllwyd. Just before the village, turn sharp left immediately after the 30mph speed limit sign. Follow the road over the bridge and up into the forest. Drive past the Pont Cae’n y Coed car park and continue to the Tyddyn Gwladdys car park. There is no charge for parking.
For the Forest Garden Trail, continue on the A470, after Ganllwyd village, turn left following the brown tourist signs to Ty’n y Groes. Follow the tarmac road past the Ty’n y Groes picnic site for just over one kilometre. At a crossroads just after the Glasdir car park turn left uphill. Turn right at the next cross roads and cross a small bridge (Pont Llam yr Ewig). Go past the Forest Garden car park for disabled visitors on the left and the Pandy car park is another 150 metres up the hill on the left.
For the Kings Guard’s Trail and Penrhos Mountain Trail, continue on the A470, after Ganllwyd village. Turn left following the brown tourist signs to Ty’n y Groes. Follow the tarmac road to the Ty’n y Groes car park and picnic site.
For the Gladir Copper Trail, continue on the A470, after passing through Ganllwyd village, turn left following the brown tourist signs to Ty’n y Groes. Follow the tarmac road past the Ty’n y Groes picnic site for just over one kilometre. The Glasdir car park is on the right with a picnic site a short walk away across the road.
Dogs
Coed y Brenin is definitely doggy heaven! Dogs are permitted on all of the trails and there is no livestock to worry about. With forest, heath, streams and more to explore, the park offers a variety wonderful days out for pooches. The only downside is the mountain bike trails as cyclists can appear without warning and may be travelling at speed. We haven’t met any cyclists who have been upset to encounter dogs and there are there are lengthy portions of the longer trails where you rarely see any bikes.
