Beddgelert Forest, near Beddgelert
Huge forest in the heart of Eryri National Park
Coed y Brenin Forest Park - Pont Ty'n-y-groes, near Dolgellau
What's here
The Mynydd Penrhos Trail is closed.
We may close our car parks and other visitor facilities at short notice whilst we undertake recovery operations due to recent storm damage. You should always follow any instructions given by signs or local staff including any trail diversions or closures, and beware of the danger of falling trees or branches.
Welcome
Pont Ty'n-y-groes is in Coed y Brenin Forest Park.
The car park is the starting point for two forest walks.
The King’s Guards Trail is an accessible trail along the river and past the tallest trees in Coed y Brenin Forest Park.
The Mynydd Penrhos Trail is a rugged mountain route with some great views over Eryri.
There is a riverside picnic area and a level grassy area next to the car park where children can play.
The toilets are in the car park.
Walking trails
The walking trails are waymarked from start to finish.
Look out for the information panel at the start of the trail.
Find out about walking trail grades.
The King’s Guards Trail (blue waymarkers)
- Distance: ½ mile/800 metres
- Grade: accessible
- Highlights: See the magnificent Douglas firs, the biggest trees in Coed y Brenin, on this walk accessible to all.
- Trail description: The blue waymarked accessible trail is a short loop path which leads to the ‘King’ and then returns to the car park.
It is a well surfaced 2m wide route and is suitable for wheelchairs. There are resting points at least every 100m.
There are no steps or stiles.
You can download an audio trail and listen to the history of Coed y Brenin and an interview with a forester about how the forest was created.
The King’s Champion Trail (yellow waymarkers)
- Highlights: Enjoy this flat family riverside walk to the biggest trees in the forest. You walk to the 'King', the tree with the widest trunk, and the 'King's Champion', the tallest tree, and visit the commemorative stone.
- Distance: ½ mile/900 metres
- Grade: easy
- Trail description: The route follows the accessible trail to the ‘King’ on a well surfaced 2m wide route, suitable for wheelchairs.
It then goes on to the ‘Champion’ on a slightly steeper gradient and descends back to the car park on a tarmac road with a slope of 20%/1 in 5. This section is suitable for pushchairs.
There are no steps or stiles along the whole trail.
You can download an audio trail and listen to the history of Coed y Brenin and an interview with a forester about how the forest was created.
Mynydd Penrhos Trail
- Distance: 3¼ miles/5.2 kilometres
- Grade: strenuous
- Highlights: Like the name suggests, the Mynydd Penrhos Trail gives you a real feel of mountain walking and you will be rewarded at the top with outstanding views of Y Garn, Cader Idris and Rhobell Fawr.
- Trail description: The trail has steep and narrow paths, often less than 50cm wide in places, on an unmade, uneven surface, where you can expect mud, rocks and tree roots.
The trail also has several flights of steps. Once you reach the summit viewpoint there is a bench where you can rest and take in the magnificent views.
Audio trail
Find out about the history of Coed y Brenin and listen to an interview with a forester about how the forest was created.
Our mp3 audio trail has been designed for use on the King’s Guards Trail or the King’s Champion Trail from the Tyn y Groes car park.
There are numbered posts on the walking trail which tell you when to play each section.
As mobile phone network coverage can be limited in rural areas, we recommend that you download the audio trail before your visit.
You can also download a PDF file of the script.
To download the audio trail go to Audio trails and folk tales.
Coed y Brenin Forest Park
The main car parks with facilities for visitors within Coed y Brenin Forest Park are:
- Coed y Brenin Visitor Centre - famous mountain biking centre with walking and running trails
- Forest Garden – accessible trail through trees from all over the world
- Glasdir - walking trail through an old copper mine
- Pandy - forest garden with trees from all over the world
- Pont Cae’n-y-coed - challenging walk to highest point of the forest park
- Pont Llam yr Ewig - accessible trail to viewpoint over old copper mine
- Pont Ty'n-y-groes - riverside picnic area with accessible walk and mountain trail
- Tyddyn Gwladys – riverside picnic site and gateway to the Waterfalls and Goldmines Trail
Eryri National Park
Coed y Brenin Forest Park is set in Eryri National Park.
Eryri is the largest National Park in Wales and is home to picturesque towns and villages and the highest mountain in Wales.
It is looked after by the Eryri National Park Authority.
For more information about visiting Eryri go to the Eryri National Park Authority website.
National Forest for Wales
Coed y Brenin Forest Park 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.
Accessibility information
The first part of the King’s Guards Trail is on almost flat ground and is suitable for wheelchairs.
Facilities in Pont Ty'n-y-groes car park include:
- parking for Blue Badge holders
- accessible toilets
Opening times
Please check the top of this webpage for any changes to these opening times.
The toilets are open 9am to 5pm, and are locked overnight.
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
Pont Ty'n-y-groes car park is 5 miles north of Dolgellau.
Postcode
The postcode is LL40 2NW.
Please note that this postcode may not take you to the car park if you use a sat nav or navigation app.
We suggest you follow the directions below or use the Google map on this page which has a pin on the car park’s location.
Directions
Take the A470 north from Dolgellau.
About 200 metres after passing the Tyn y Groes Hotel, turn right following the brown tourist signs to Ty'n y Groes.
The car park is 300 metres down the hill by the side of the river Mawddach.
What3Words
View this place on the What3Words website.
Ordnance Survey
The Ordnance Survey (OS) grid reference for the car park is SH 730 233 (Explorer Map OL 18).
Public transport
The nearest mainline railway stations are Barmouth (Cambrian Coast line) and Blaenau Ffestiniog (Blaenau Ffestiniog-Llandudno line).
For details of public transport go to the Traveline Cymru website.
Parking
Parking is free of charge.
Overnight parking is not permitted.
Contact details
Coed y Brenin Visitor Centre
Tel: 01341 440747
Related document downloads
The King’s Guards Trails guide
PDF [1.9 MB]
Penrhos Mountain Trail guide
PDF [819.2 KB]
Other places in North West Wales
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