Beddgelert Forest, near Beddgelert
Huge forest in the heart of Eryri (Snowdonia)...
Due to impact from Storm Darragh over the weekend, all our woodlands, reserves, visitor centres and car parks remain closed today (Monday 9 December) for staff and visitor safety. We will provide further updates when safety checks have been carried out.
There are diversions on the Postman’s Trot and Woodland Trot horse riding trails and on the Corsica Bike Trail due to tree felling.
The dunes, coastal marshes, sandy and rocky shores at Newborough have been shaped over thousands of years by the wind and sea and are home to a dazzling array of plants and animals.
Newborough Warren is one of the largest and finest dune systems in Britain, and together with Ynys Llanddwyn island it was declared the first coastal National Nature Reserve in Wales in 1955.
The Corsican pine trees that make up Newborough Forest were planted between 1947 and 1965 to provide timber and to stabilise the shifting sand dunes.
Llyn Parc Mawr is one of the best places in Newborough to catch sight of one of our rarest mammals, the red squirrel - find out more about them from our information panels along the walking trail here.
The Cefni Estuary and the pools behind the Pen Cob embankment are a sanctuary for birds and other wildlife and there are views across the estuary over an expanse of coastal marsh, open sand and sea.
You can walk anywhere on the beaches and on the network of footpaths or you can follow one of our waymarked walking trails.
There are also cycle trails, a trim trail and two waymarked running trails.
Walking trails start from several of our car parks at Newborough.
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.
Please note:
This trail offers a family adventure taking in the forest, dunes and island.
The Saint, Sand and Sea Trail gives an insight into Newborough’s unique geological and cultural features, as well as its history and the legend of Saint Dwynwen.
You can make your way over to the island of Ynys Llanddwyn at low tide.
Audio trail
Learn more about local history and the legend of Saint Dwynwen on our Saint, Sand and Sea audio trail.
The audio trail is divided into sections which correspond to numbered posts along the Saint, Sand and Sea walking trail.
Go to the bottom of this page to download the Saint, Sand and Sea audio trail.
Pick up a leaflet and let the children take the lead as you search for the animals and clues along the trail.
Or find the ‘disappearing signs’ along the trail, which tell you some fascinating facts about the local wildlife.
Enjoy this circular walk through forest, dune and farmland.
Follow the trail across the picnic site to the viewpoint over the hidden forest lake.
There you'll find information on the birds which live here, or stop at one of the picnic tables and look out for the red squirrels in the trees.
Llyn Parc Mawr is one of the best places in Newborough to catch sight of one of our rarest mammals, the red squirrel.
Find out more about their life in the forest from our information panels along the trail.
On the way you’ll see some great views of the wildlife lake and the pine forest.
Walk through the forest and alongside the Cefni estuary with its great variety of wildlife.
From our two viewing points see if you can spot the elusive osprey hunting for fish in the summer, or take a look alongside the saltmarsh for its variety of plants such as the common reed, Britain’s tallest native grass which was used for thatching.
Enjoy the views from the Warren across to the mountains and along the coastline and the amazing display of wildflowers.
Learn more about local history and the legend of Saint Dwynwen on our Saint, Sand and Sea audio trail.
The audio trail is divided into sections which correspond to numbered posts along the Saint, Sand and Sea walking trail.
Go to the bottom of this page to download the Saint, Sand and Sea audio trail.
Our two cycle trails are ideal for all the family.
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.
Pick up a family activities pack from the dispenser in the car park.
Then follow the waymarkers and search for the information panels to answer the nature challenge questions.
Accessibility information
This trail is suitable for people using adaptive equipment.
Adaptive equipment includes adaptive cycles, adaptive wheelchairs and mobility scooters.
We have produced a film about this trail to help you work out how suitable it may be for you before you visit.
To watch the film, go to Trails for users of adaptive equipment
This waymarked circular route is mainly on forest roads and has views of the estuary.
It goes through areas of mixed forest from mature pine trees to wet willow woods, and passes by ponds, unusual rocks and wildflowers.
Accessibility information
This trail is suitable for people using adaptive equipment.
Adaptive equipment includes adaptive cycles, adaptive wheelchairs and mobility scooters.
We have produced a film about this trail to help you work out how suitable it may be for you before you visit.
To watch the film, go to Trails for users of adaptive equipment
Two running trails are waymarked from the Beach car park in Newborough.
The 5km running trail, which is based on the route of the popular weekly Parkrun event, provides a great introduction to running.
The Commonwealth Running Trail follows part of the official race route of a championship trail race which took place here in 2011.
An easy introduction to trail running based on the route of the popular weekly Parkrun.
Follow the blue waymarkers through the forest on a mixture of well-surfaced forest roads and narrow paths on loose sand with some exposed tree roots. There are no steps or gates along the route.
Enjoy the woodland scenery at your leisure or practice improving your speed and endurance around the trail.
The Commonwealth Mountain and Ultra Distance Running Championships took place in North Wales in 2011. The 55 kilometre Ultra Distance trail race was held in Newborough and today you can run (or walk!) part of the official race route.
Waymarked from the beach car park, the running trail goes through the peaceful forest, the vast dunes of Newborough Warren and onto the island of Ynys Llanddwyn.
The route includes stoned forest roads, narrow paths on sand with exposed tree roots, loose sand and shingle, uneven grassland and rocky terrain.
Parkruns are free, weekly, community events that take place all around the world.
The Newborough Forest Parkrun takes place every Saturday at 9am.
It is a free event but you need to register before you first come along.
The Newborough Forest Parkrun is organised by volunteers and everyone is welcome, whether you walk, jog, run, volunteer or spectate.
For more information about the Newborough Forest Parkrun, including how to register and how to become a volunteer at the event, go to the Parkrun website.
The Trim Trail is designed to improve your fitness and health while you’re enjoying the beauty of the forest.
There are 11 exercise stations, two of which are accessible with a wheelchair.
Each exercise station has an instruction panel and resting bench nearby.
Test your map-reading skills by navigating between the wooden marker posts (known as "controls" by orienteers) on one of the three permanent orienteering courses in Newborough Forest.
The courses are suitable for beginners who can understand a map and experienced orienteers and it’s up to you how quickly you complete a course.
The courses are graded to British Orienteering Federation standards and were designed by Eryri Orienteers.
All three routes start north east of the main parking area and finish in the clearing south east of the main parking area.
The Orange course is of medium difficulty and is suitable for beginners who can understand a map.
There are 9 controls to visit on the course.
The Green course requires technically difficult navigation and is suitable for experienced orienteers.
There are 12 controls to visit on the course.
The Blue course requires technically difficult navigation and is suitable for experienced orienteers.
There are 18 controls to visit on the course.
You need to apply for a free permit to ride a horse in Newborough forest.
You will need:
Park your horse box in Pen Cob car park. This is where the horse riding trails start.
The two horse riding trails explore the unique and beautiful surroundings of Newborough Forest.
Both trails take you through a mix of young and old pine forest on easy tracks, giving you the opportunity to relax and take in the beauty of the forest and its wildlife.
The trails follow part of the old postal route to the island of Llanddwyn.
Postman's Trot
Woodland Trot
Newborough Warren’s dunes and beach and the island of Ynys Llanddwyn are a National Nature Reserve which also includes large areas of saltmarsh and coastal sand flats.
National Nature Reserves are places with some of the very finest examples of wildlife habitats and geological features.
The landscape and wildlife varies depending on which time of year you visit – here’s what to look out for.
The high dunes and seasonally flooded dune hollows (known as slacks) here are the result of the ever-evolving landscape shaped by thousands of years of storms, tides and nature.
The sand dunes are a rich mix of damp hollows, grassland and developing dune woodland of willow and birch.
The once mobile dunes have in recent years become ‘fixed’ and covered in plants as a result of air pollution, changing weather patterns and fewer rabbits and grazing animals.
This means a huge decrease in the amount of bare sand, a habitat crucial to the survival of some of our rarest plants and insects, such as the petalwort liverwort and the vernal mining bee.
To address this, we have started re-creating areas of bare sand along the coastline using large machines and much of the dunes are grazed with ponies and cattle to keep the dune vegetation short and rich in wildflowers. Rabbits used to do this until myxomatosis caused their numbers to decline.
Ynys Llanddwyn island is rich in heritage, folklore, geology and wildlife.
The rocks on this tidal island are amongst the oldest in Wales – look out for the distinctive outcrops of pillow lava on the beach.
Ynys Llanddwyn island is home to the ruins of an ancient church dedicated to Dwynwen, the patron saint of lovers in Wales. You can learn more about the legend of Dwynwen on our audio trail which you can download to use on the Saint, Sand and Sea walking trail.
During the summer months the dunes are carpeted in thousands of colourful flowers including rare orchids and are buzzing with insect and birdlife.
Listen for skylarks high above the reserve and the chattering of whitethroats, stonechats and linnets in the dunes and open woodland.
During the autumn and early winter migratory wildfowl such as Brent geese, shelduck and wigeon are joined on the saltmarsh and estuary by redshanks and plovers.
The pools behind the Cob embankment are visited by birds such as pintail, wigeon, teal and lapwing which come here to escape the harsher winters of the Arctic.
There are over 70 National Nature Reserves in Wales.
Find out more about National Nature Reserves.
The Wales Coast Path goes through Newborough.
The Wales Coast Path provides a continuous walking route around the coastline of Wales.
Go to the Wales Coast Path website to find out more.
Llyn Parc Mawr forms part of the National Forest for Wales.
The National Forest will:
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.
People using wheelchairs can cross over the sand dunes on a Mobi-Mat to enable them to get better views of the beach and coastline.
The Mobi-Mat is located next to Beach car park, near the information area.
The Mobi-Mat is made from recycled plastic and its surface is permeable which will help to prevent the build-up of sand on top of it. It can be repositioned in future to accommodate any natural changes in the moving sands that make up the dune system at Newborough.
A wheelchair suitable for use on the beach can be hired free of charge from the Beach car park.
The beach wheelchair is provided in partnership with the Isle of Anglesey Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
The wheelchair must be booked in advance by calling the Newborough Wardens on 07816 110188 (Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm).
The Bikequest Nature Challenge and the Corsica Bike Trail are suitable for people using adaptive equipment.
Adaptive equipment includes adaptive cycles, adaptive wheelchairs and mobility scooters.
We have produced a film about each of these trails to help you work out how suitable they may be for you before you visit.
To watch the films, go to Trails for users of adaptive equipment
Parking is free of charge for Blue Badge holders.
Please park in one of the spaces for Blue Badge holders and display your Blue Badge in your vehicle.
To leave the site without charge, scan your Blue Badge bar code at the exit barrier pay station.
There is an intercom at the exit barrier if you encounter problems on departure.
There are lots of trails in the forest and large areas of the beach where dogs are welcome all year round.
Please note the seasonal restrictions below.
There is an information panel and map in Beach car park that shows where these restrictions apply.
We do not organise visits for schools or other educational establishments to Newborough.
If you wish to organise a self-led educational visit, we can allocate a parking bay for your minibus or coach.
You will need to complete a risk assessment form and provide other details before your visit.
Please contact us at least two weeks before your visit by emailing the North West Permissions Team
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.
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.
Please note:
For advice and tips to help you plan your visit here go to Visiting our places safely.
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.
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.
Newborough National Nature Reserve and Forest is on Anglesey.
It is 13 miles by road from Bangor.
It is on Ordnance Survey Explorer Map 263.
The nearest mainline railway stations are in Bangor and Holyhead.
There is an unstaffed request station stop at Bodorgan, which is about four miles from Newborough village.
For details of public transport go to the Traveline Cymru website.
There are several car parks here.
The main car park is called Beach car park.
Park at Beach car park for the beach, the island of Ynys Llanddwyn and Newborough Forest.
There are also two small car parks (Airman’s and Cwningar) along the access road to Beach car park.
There is a parking charge for these three car parks.
The postcode for Beach car park is LL61 6SG.
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.
Take the A55 from Bangor towards Holyhead.
Go over the Britannia Bridge onto Anglesey and take the A5 towards Llanfair Pwllgwyngyll.
After ½ mile, turn left onto the A4080, signposted to Newborough.
Continue along the A4080 until you reach Newborough village.
Turn left onto the minor road, following the brown and white signs for ‘Ynys Llanddwyn.
After ¾ mile the road reaches the car park entrance barrier where the ANPR camera will read your vehicle registration.
Airman’s car park is on your left 450 metres after the entrance barrier and Cwningar car park is a further 500 metres on your right.
Beach car is at the end of the road, approximately 1¼ miles from the entrance barrier.
View Beach car park on the What3Words website.
The Ordnance Survey (OS) grid reference for Beach car park is SH 405 634 (Explorer map 263).
The toilets in Beach car park are normally open:
There is an ice cream van and a catering van in Beach car park at these times:
Please note that these times are subject to weather conditions.
There is a parking charge for Beach, Airman’s and Cwningar car parks.
The Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) camera at the entrance barrier for all three car parks reads your vehicle registration number on arrival.
You are charged for the length of time you park:
Pay by card or cash at the exit barrier as you drive out.
Please note:
A season ticket allows you to park in Beach, Airman’s and Cwnhingar car parks.
The season ticket also allows you to park at Coed y Brenin Visitor Centre.
A season ticket costs £70 per year and it covers two vehicles registered at the same address.
Season tickets are valid for 12 months from the date of purchase.
Your vehicle registration number will be added to the system so that the ANPR camera will automatically recognise it – you do not need to display your season ticket when you visit.
There are three ways to buy a season ticket:
Please note:
Braint and Llyn Rhos Ddu car parks both provide access to Newborough Warren.
Parking is free of charge.
Overnight parking is not permitted.
The postcode for both car parks is LL61 6RS.
Please note that the postcode may not take you to the car parks 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 shows the car parks’ location.
Take the A55 from Bangor towards Holyhead.
Go over the Britannia Bridge onto Anglesey and take the A5 towards Llanfair Pwllgwyngyll.
After ½ mile, turn left onto the A4080, signposted to Newborough.
Continue along the A4080 for around 7 miles until you reach the roundabout just before Newborough village.
Continue straight over the roundabout.
For Braint car park turn immediately left onto a minor road and the car park is around 650 metres on the left.
For Llyn Rhos Ddu car park, continue straight ahead after the roundabout along this minor road for around 350 metres and the car park is at the end of the road.
View Braint car park on the What3Words website.
View Llyn Rhos Ddu car park on the What3Words website.
The Ordnance Survey (OS) grid reference for Braint car park is SH 431 643 (Explorer map 263).
The Ordnance Survey (OS) grid reference for Llyn Rhos Ddu car park is SH 426 647 (Explorer map 263).
Pen Cob car park is also known as Malltraeth car park.
Parking is free of charge.
Overnight parking is not permitted.
The postcode for the car park is LL62 5BA.
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.
Take the A55 from Bangor towards Holyhead.
Go over the Britannia Bridge onto Anglesey and take the A5 towards Llanfair Pwllgwyngyll.
After ½ mile, turn left onto the A4080, signposted to Newborough.
Continue through Newborough village, past Llyn Parc Mawr woodland and the Pen Cob car park is after another 250 metres on the left.
View Pen Cob car park on the What3Words website.
The Ordnance Survey (OS) grid reference for the car park is SH 411 671 (Explorer map 263).
Parking is free of charge.
Overnight parking is not permitted.
The postcode for the car park is LL61 6SU.
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.
Take the A55 from Bangor towards Holyhead.
Go over the Britannia Bridge onto Anglesey and take the A5 towards Llanfair Pwllgwyngyll.
After ½ mile, turn left onto the A4080, signposted to Newborough.
Continue through Newborough village and after another mile, the Llyn Parc Mawr car park is on the right.
View Llyn Parc Mawr car park on the What3Words website.
The Ordnance Survey (OS) grid reference for the car park is SH 413 669 (Explorer map 263).
Residents of Newborough, Dwyran, Llangaffo and Malltraeth can apply for a resident pass to get free parking at our Newborough car parks.
Other residents of Anglesey can purchase a season ticket for our Newborough car parks at the discounted rate of £35 (see the season ticket section on this page).
You need to register your vehicle with us to ensure the camera recognises it and allows you to leave the car park without paying.
To register your vehicle:
Resident passes are valid for 12 months from the date of issue.
You must contact us to renew your resident pass every year.
To renew your resident pass:
There are no staff based at Newborough.
The toll booth at the Beach car park barrier is staffed on Wednesdays and on Saturdays only from 9am to 11am. The staff member can issue season tickets and give out leaflets and orienteering maps.
Contact our customer team for general enquiries during office hours, Monday to Friday.