Coed y Brenin Forest Park - Tyddyn Gwladys, near Dolgellau

Welcome

Tyddyn Gwladys is in Coed y Brenin Forest Park.

The car park is the starting point for a walking trail to the famous waterfalls known as Rhaeadr Mawddach and Pistyll Gain. 

This circular trail also goes past the Gwynfynydd goldmine which closed in 1999.

There are picnic tables under large trees beside the rolling Mawddach river next to the car park.

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.

Waterfalls and Goldmines Trail

• Grade: Moderate
• Distance: 2.2 miles/3.6 kilometres
• Time: 1½ hours
• Highlights: The waterfalls alone make this walk worthwhile.
• Trail description: Follow the forest road north along the river Mawddach in a steep-sided valley surrounded by big trees, towards the waterfalls. Follow the waymarkers along the east side of the river and cross the timber bridge back to the car park.

The trail is nearly all on forest road with one section of very rough private track before you get to the waterfalls and one steep but short climb 20%/1 in 5 after leaving them.

There are no steps or stiles and the trail is suitable for pushchairs and mobility scooters.

On this trail there are two benches, one picnic table and two gates with passing places 80cm wide.

Please stay on the waymarked trails as the old mine workings and buildings may be unsafe and there are unprotected drops into the river gorges.

You can also download an audio trail and listen to the history of the Tyddyn Gwladys Gunpowder Works.

Audio trail

Discover the stories of the people who worked at Tyddyn Gwladys Gunpowder Works and learn about the gunpowder works’ history on our mp3 audio trail.

It has been designed for use on the Waterfalls and Goldmines Trail from the Tyddyn Gwladys 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 walking trails and gravel bike 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.

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.

Tyddyn Gwladys car park is 7 miles north of Dolgellau.

Take the A470 from Dolgellau towards Porthmadog.

Just before leaving the village of Ganllwyd turn right onto a minor road and go over a stone bridge.

Follow the signs to Tyddyn Gwladys for 1¼ miles and the car park is on the right (you will pass the small car park for Pont Cae’n y Coed on the way).

The Ordnance Survey (OS) grid reference for the car park is SH 734 263 (Explorer Map OL 18).

The postcode is LL40 2HS. 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 stations are in 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

There are no staff at this location.

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