Coed Maen Arthur Woodland, near Aberystwyth

What's here

Walking trail

Welcome

Coed Maen Arthur is a woodland in the Ystwyth valley near the village of Pont-rhyd-y-groes.

The waymarked walk goes through the woodland to Castell Grogwynion, one of the largest hill forts in Wales, and passes near an impressive waterfall.

This area was once home to a busy lead-mining industry.

The walk is reached via a wooden bridge high over a deep river gorge - this bridge replaced the one used by mineworkers which is thought to have collapsed.

Coed Maen Arthur is especially beautiful in autumn when the trees are ablaze with seasonal colours of yellow and red.

Walking trail

The walking trail is waymarked from start to finish.

Look out for the information panel at the start of the trail.

Find out about walking trail grades.

Maen Arthur Trail

Grade: Moderate
Distance: 3 miles/4.7 kilometres
Time: 2 hours
Trail information: To reach the start of the trail you need to go through the footpath gate opposite the water wheel in the village of Pont-rhyd-y-groes. Follow the steps down to the bridge high over the gorge. The trail is circular and has numerous long climbs and steep descents. The surface will be rough and possibly wet in places. Keep to the path on the return leg of the walk – there are steep drops down cliffs and the gorge. The river can be very fast flowing after heavy rain and can rise very quickly – please keep away.

The Maen Arthur Trail climbs the wooded hillside of the Iron Age hill fort and emerges into a clearing with views over the trees and down into the valley.

The route goes past a spectacular waterfall and then follows the fast-flowing river.

It returns via a path along the bottom of the gorge.

National Forest for Wales

Coed Maen Arthur forms part of the National Forest for Wales.

The National Forest will:

create areas of new woodland
enhance existing woodlands
restore Wales’ irreplaceable ancient woodlands

It will form a connected ecological network running throughout Wales, bringing social, economic and environmental benefits.

Parts of the network will eventually form a trail running the length and breadth of Wales, so anyone can access it wherever they live.

For more information go to the National Forest for Wales website.

Visiting safely

We want you to return home safely after your visit here.

You are responsible for your own safety as well as the safety of any children and animals with you during your visit.

For advice and tips to help you plan your visit here go to Visiting our places safely.

Changes to visitor facilities

See the top of this webpage for details of any planned closures or other changes to visitor facilities here.

For your safety, always follow instructions from staff and signs including those for trail diversions or closures.

We may divert or close trails whilst we undertake maintenance work or other operations and we may need to close other visitor facilities temporarily.

In extreme weather, we may close facilities at short notice due to the risk of injury to visitors and staff.

How to get here

Location

Coed Maen Arthur is 14 miles south east of Aberystwyth.

It is in the county of Ceredigion.

Ordnance Survey map

Coed Maen Arthur is on Ordnance Survey (OS) Explorer map 213.

The OS grid reference is SN 738 722.

Directions

Take the B4340 from Aberystwyth to Trawsgoed.

Follow this road through Trawsgoed until it crosses the River Ystwyth and then turn immediately left.

Follow the river to the village of Pont-rhyd-y-groes where there is a large water wheel on the right hand side of the road.

To reach the start of the trail you need to go through the footpath gate opposite the water wheel. Follow the steps down and cross the bridge over the gorge - look out for the information panel on the rock on the other side of the bridge.