Clocaenog Forest – Pool Park, near Ruthin

Welcome

Pool Park is one of several car parks in Clocaenog Forest, a huge area of woodland, open moorland and rivers.

The small car park is the starting point for a short waymarked walking trail, ideal for breaking a journey to stretch your legs or for a quick stroll with your dog.

There are several public footpaths nearby if you have a map with you and fancy a longer walk.

It is named after the former huge Pool Park Estate, which was owned by the Bagot family.

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.

Pool Park Walk

• Grade: Easy
• Distance: 0.8 mile/1.2 kilometres
• Time: 30 minutes

This short trail follows a stream then climbs gently as it winds its way through the woodland.

Look out for the huge Douglas fir trees which thrive here and patches of bluebells in spring.

Clocaenog Forest

Clocaenog is a huge conifer forest which is the size of 10,000 rugby pitches (100km²).

It lies at the southern end of Hiraethog Moor and was first planted in the 1930s by the Forestry Commission.

Although still a working forest, it is now a place for people to enjoy and home for a wide variety of wildlife.

Red squirrels live in Clocaenog Forest but you will be very lucky to see one as they move over large areas and are quite secretive.

Rare black grouse, known for their flamboyant courtship display, known as ‘lekking’, live on the forest edge.

In addition to Pool Park, waymarked trails start from several other Natural Resources Wales car parks in Clocaenog Forest:

• Bod Petryal - a peaceful lakeside picnic site with a short walk and a cycle trail
• Boncyn Foel Bach - scenic viewpoint with a picnic area and short woodland stroll
• Coed y Fron Wyllt - ancient woodland with riverside walk and wildlife viewing hide
• Pincyn Llys - short walk uphill to a monument with far-reaching views
• Rhyd y Gaseg - short woodland walk to waterfall

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.

Organising an event on our land

You may need permission from us to organise an event or to carry out some activities on our land.

Check if you are allowed to use our land.

How to get here

We recommend you follow these directions or use the Google map below which has a pin on this place’s location.

Pool Park is 2 miles south west of Ruthin.

Take the B5105 from Ruthin towards Clawddnewydd.

After 1½ miles the car park is on the right.

The Ordnance Survey (OS) grid reference for the car park is SJ 101 560 (Explorer Map 279, 293 or 294).

The postcode is LL15 2AG. Please note that this postcode covers a wide area and will not take you directly to the entrance.

View this place on the What3Words website.

Public transport

The nearest mainline railway station is in Buckley.

For details of public transport go to the Traveline Cymru website.

Parking

Parking is free of charge.

Overnight parking is not permitted.

Contact details

There are no staff at this location.

Contact our customer team for general enquiries during office hours, Monday to Friday.