Home > Days out > Places to visit > North East Wales

Clocaenog Forest - Bod Petryal, near Ruthin

Peaceful lakeside picnic site with a short walk and a cycle trail

What's here

Mountain biking

Parking

Picnic area

Walking trail

Welcome

Bod Petryal is one of several car park and picnic sites in Clocaenog Forest.

It makes an ideal starting point to get a taste of this huge area of woodland, open moorland and rivers.

This area was once part of the Pool Park Estate and Bod Petryal (which means "rectangular dwelling" in Welsh) is named after the old gamekeeper’s cottage.

The Keeper’s Stroll walking trail goes through the oldest conifer trees in the forest and passes by the gamekeeper’s cottage.

The many miles of quiet forest roads make Clocaenog Forest an ideal location for family cycling and a short cycle trail is waymarked from Bod Petryal.

Clocaenog Forest is also home to red squirrels. These secretive animals range over large areas so you will need to keep your eyes peeled and your fingers crossed to spot one!

The picnic site has benches set around a large lake.

Walking trails and other routes

The trails are waymarked and start from the car park.

Keeper’s Stroll

½ mile/1 kilometre, easy

Gamekeeper's Cottage This short walk goes past huge trees, the old gamekeeper’s cottage and the beautiful lake.

Bod Petryal Trot

2 miles/3.5 kilometres, easy

This route follows forest roads through the peaceful woodland.

It may be used by cyclists and horseriders as well as walkers.

Closures and diversions

Please note:

Sometimes we need to close or divert trails for your safety whilst we undertake maintenance work or forest operations
Occasionally we may have to close a site in extreme weather, such as high winds or snow and ice due to the risk of injury to visitors or staff
Please always follow any instructions onsite and make sure you follow any temporary diversion signs in place

How to get here

Bod Petryal is 7 miles south west of Ruthin.

Parking is free of charge at this car park.

Directions

Take the B5105 from Ruthin to Cerrigydrudion. Go through the village of Clawddnewydd and, shortly after passing the Boncyn Foel Bach car park, the Bod Petryal car park is on the left.