Gwydir Forest Park - Hafna, near Llanrwst

Welcome

Hafna car park is near the old Hafna lead mine.

It is hard to imagine the hustle and bustle of the mining past in the peace and quiet of the forest today.

Discover the rich mining heritage on the walking trail that winds its way through several mines, each with their own story.

A red-graded mountain bike trail also starts from here.

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.

Hafna Miners’ Trail

• Grade: Moderate
• Distance: 2¼ miles/3.6 kilometres
• Time: 1½ - 2 hours
• Trail information: Most of this trail is on forest roads connected by rough narrow paths less than 70 cm wide in some places, on unmade and uneven surfaces, where you can expect mud, rocks and tree roots. There are several steep flights of steps on the trail, some with handrails, others without, and a single stile to cross at the top of Hafna Mine.

Start in the car park that sits below the ruins of Hafna Mine.

The forest has started to encroach into the mine remains yet if you look around the ruins you can imagine the toil that once went on here.

Thread your way across forest-clad hillsides, past a deep cutting, capped mine shafts and the remains of long abandoned mine buildings.

Listen to the story of the Gwydir miners on our mp3 audio trail.  

Mountain bike trail

All our mountain bike trails are waymarked from start to finish and have been graded for difficulty.

At the start of the trail there is an information panel – please read this before setting off.

• Find out about mountain bike trail grades.
• For a list of our mountain bike trails and information to plan your ride, go to mountain biking.
• For more information about mountain biking in Wales, go to the Mountain Bike Wales website.

Gwydir Mawr

• Grade: Red/Difficult
• Distance: 24.8 kilometres
• Climb: 800 metres
• Time: 2-4 hours

Gwydir Mawr is one of the original mountain bike trails and is a true classic.

Big climbs, big descents, brilliant singletrack and truly awesome scenery make this a trail to remember.

Now including a brand new two kilometre section with a mix of traditional hand dug trail and modern flow trail features.

You can also start Gwydir Mawr from Sawbench car park.

Gwydir Forest Park

Hafna is in Gwydir Forest Park.

Gwydir Forest Park lies in the heart of the Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park and encircles the village of Betws-y-coed.

Lead and zinc mining once dominated the area and the legacy of old engine-houses, waste tips and reservoirs are characteristic features of the forest landscape today.

Several of the most important mines have been partially restored and made safe for visitors.

Waymarked trails start from Betws-y-coed and several other Natural Resources Wales car parks in Gwydir Forest Park:

• Betws-y-coed - peaceful forest walks away from the tourist bustle
• Cae'n y Coed - easy-to-find picnic area and walk with panoramic mountain views
• Cyffty Mine - short trail around abandoned lead mine
• Dolwyddelan - walking trail along Roman road and cycle trail with mountain views
• Llyn Crafnant - walking trails around the lake and accessible riverside trail
• Llyn Geirionydd - picnic site with walking trail around two beautiful lakes
• Llyn Sarnau - picnic spot with a walk to two scenic lakes
• Penmachno - remote mountain bike trails with spectacular views
• Sawbench - two red-graded mountain bike trails and historical walk
• Ty’n Llwyn – walking trail to the famous Swallow Falls waterfall

Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park

Gwydir Forest Park is set in Eryri (Snowdonia) 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

Gwydir 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.

Closures and diversions

• Sometimes we need to close or divert trails for your safety whilst we undertake maintenance work or other operations.
• 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 on site and any temporary diversion signs.

How to get here

Location

Hafna is 1½ miles south west of Llanrwst.

It is in the county of Conwy.

Ordnance Survey map

Hafna is on Ordnance Survey (OS) map OL 17.

The OS grid reference is SH 781 600.

Directions

Take the B5106 from Llanrwst towards Betws-y-coed.

After turning left at the brown and white sign for Gwydir Castle, turn immediately right onto a minor road.

Go past the Sawbench car park, continue for around 1 mile and the Hafna car park is on your right.

Public transport

The nearest mainline railway station is in Llanrwst.

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

Parking

Car 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.