Coed y Brenin: An Adventure Lover's Paradise Nestled in the heart of Snowdonia National Park
Coed y Brenin meaning 'King's Forest' in Welsh is a stunning spot. Its wooded paths produce a network of incredible walking, running and mountain bike trails, meaning there's something to do for all ages and fitness levels. We regularly visit and recommend adding it to your holiday itinerary. In this blog post we will highlight activities you can do there and key information for your visit.
Start of a walk at Coed y Brenin
1. Mountain Biking
Coed y Brenin is home to some of the best mountain bike trails in the UK, with routes suitable for all skill levels.
The forest features over 100km of waymarked trails, including challenging singletrack, scenic forest roads, and technical downhill sections. The trails are well maintained and offer breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape. There is more information about them here, you can rent bikes at the visitor centre or bring your own. The trails are built to the highest standards and are regularly maintained, making them some of the best mountain bike trails in the UK.
2. Hiking
It’s a lovely place to visit if you are looking for different level hikes. There is a family friendly accessible animal trail where you locale wooden animal cut outs. It has a good picnic area.
The walks marked out from the visitor centre are of different grades and lengths to suit any walker. The strenuous class includes the Gain Waterfall Trail. It takes around 2 hours and climbs over the Cefndeuddwr ridge before dropping into the next valley and descending to the confluence of the Afon Gain and Afon Mawddach rivers with their twin waterfalls. It’s really spectacular, there are lots of up and downs with different terrain but generally it’s fairly manageable.
Family friendly walk at Coed y Brenin
3. Trail Running
The forest also has a network of five running trails that cater to all abilities starting and ending at the visitor centre. You can explore the forest's diverse terrain, from gentle riverside paths to steep mountain climbs. Be prepared for roots, mud and rocks with steep ascents and descents. The trails offer stunning views of the surrounding mountains, forests making it an unforgettable experience for outdoor enthusiasts.
4. Geocach trails
You may be wondering what this means – it’s fun! A walk where you have GPS points (you hire a GPS from the visitor centre) to find wooden boxes. Inside the geocache is a log book to record your visit and also it may contain small items left by other visitors that you can swap for something you have brought. So get creative what would you leave for the next person. There are two trails moderate 3.5 miles and more strenuous 4.75 miles.
5. Orienteering
There are four courses of different ability that start and end at the visitor centre so test your map reading skills! Markers are wooden pegs, maps can be brought from the visitor centre or downloaded in advance.
6. Visitor Centre and Café (and play ground)
After a day of cycling or a long walk, you can visit the Coed y Brenin Visitor Centre to learn more about the forest's history and wildlife. The centre also has a café that serves delicious locally sourced food and drinks, perfect for refueling. Facilities at the visitor centre include showers.
The building itself has picked up awards for sustainability. It was designed by Architype in 2013 architects that specialise in sustainability. The building is a showcase for eco-minimalism and Britain’s first Brettstapel building (constructed without any glue or nails) and using homegrown softwoods.
There is a playground that caters for different level - toddler to older children, it also has some fully accessible options for wheelchair users. It’s a beautiful spot and has lovely views, combine with a picnic for a great family friendly day afternoon out.
Key information for your visit:
20 minute drive away (LL40 2HZ - https://goo.gl/maps/j3itv8HNJ4PQXx4i7).
Carpark on site - £2 for 2 hours, 40p for every additional 20 minutes (maximum £7 per day). Pay the charge at the exit barrier by card or contactless as you drive out.
Average visit time depends on what type of activity you do but if you fancy a good walk we would say schedule 3 hours.
Some fun facts about Coed y Brenin:
1. Coed y Brenin Forest Park was established in 1976 and was one of the first forests in Wales to be developed for recreation and tourism.
2. Coed y Brenin was the UK's first purpose-built mountain bike trail center, opening in 1996.
3. The forest covers an area of 9,000 acres and is one of the largest forests in Wales.
4. Coed y Brenin is famous for its mountain bike trails, which were designed by Rowan Sorrell, a former professional mountain biker.
5. Coed y Brenin is also home to a variety of wildlife, including red squirrels, otters, and over 120 species of birds.
Sustainable visitor centre signage Coed Y Brenin
Playground with a view, on the swings at Coed y Brenin
