Van Miles

If you’re looking for walks near Dolgellau, Coed y Brenin Forest Park is a great place to spend a few hours, with easy forest walks, family-friendly trails, mountain bike routes, running trails and accessible routes all starting from the main visitor centre area.

We visited Coed y Brenin while staying in Arthog, around a 20-minute drive away. The weather was absolutely torrential, so a forest walk seemed like a good option in the hope that the trees might give us a little bit of shelter.

There is a large car park at Coed y Brenin with plenty of spaces. Parking is paid and you can pay by contactless at the machine or using RingGo. Toilets are available on site, although the visitor centre itself is now unstaffed and the café and shop are no longer operating.

There are several walks to choose from, from short family-friendly routes to the more strenuous Gain Waterfall Trail. We have previously walked the waterfall route and it was amazing, but with our older dog we wanted something a little easier this time.

We chose the Bloomeries Trail, a 2.8-mile out-and-back forest walk which takes around 1½–2 hours and is also designed for off-road mobility scooters.

Coed y Brenin Parking

There is a large car park at the main Coed y Brenin Visitor Centre and we had no problem finding a space when we visited.

Current parking charges are:

Up to 30 minutes – free
Up to 1 hour – £1
Up to 2 hours – £3
Up to 4 hours – £7
All day – £12

Parking charges apply from 6am until 11.59pm and overnight parking is not allowed.

You can pay using the contactless machine in the car park or through RingGo. There is no need for cash.

If you’re planning one of the longer walks or getting the bikes out afterwards, it is worth thinking about how long you’ll be staying before paying.

Facilities at Coed y Brenin

Although the visitor centre was closed when we visited, the toilets were still open.

There are also picnic tables and benches, which are useful if you are visiting with children, dogs or anyone who needs regular rests.

The forest has much more than just walking trails. There are mountain bike trails, gravel bike routes, running trails, accessible walking routes and routes designed for off-road mobility scooters.

It would be very easy to spend most of the day here.

Choosing Our Walk

There are quite a few different walks starting around the visitor centre.

Some of the shorter routes take less than an hour and would be a good option for families or if you just want a gentle forest walk.

At the other end is the Gain Waterfall Trail, a strenuous 4.2-mile route which takes around two hours.

We have previously done the waterfall walk and absolutely loved it. If you are able to manage a more strenuous route, it is definitely one I would look at.

Today, however, wasn’t the day for it.

We had torrential rain and our older dog isn’t able to manage the longer, harder walks anymore, so we chose the Bloomeries Trail instead.

Bloomeries Trail at Coed y Brenin

Distance: 2.8 miles / 4.5 km

Time: 1½–2 hours

Route: Out and back

Grade: Moderate

The Bloomeries Trail is one of the routes designed for off-road mobility scooters, but it also makes a really nice forest walk.

Don’t be fooled into thinking completely flat just because it is suitable for an off-road mobility scooter. There is still a gradual climb as you head into the forest.

The first part took us gradually uphill through beautiful green trees. Even in the pouring rain the forest looked lovely, and we did get a little bit of protection from the worst of the weather.

The route then continues along a wide forest track.

It was easy to follow and the wide paths made it a good choice for us with the dogs.

Further along, the route takes you off to the right into a much greener area where there is a picnic bench.

There are several benches along the full route, so there are plenty of opportunities to stop and have a rest.

The official route eventually reaches the site of old ironworks hidden within the forest before returning the same way.

Because it is an out-and-back walk rather than a circular route, you can also turn around earlier if the weather changes, you’re walking with children or your dog has had enough.

That is something we always find useful when walking with our older dog.

Is the Bloomeries Trail Flat?

I wouldn’t describe the Bloomeries Trail as completely flat.

There is a gradual climb through the forest, but much of the route is along wide forest roads and tracks.

For us it was a much better option than tackling one of the strenuous trails, particularly in the weather we had.

The route has been designed to accommodate off-road mobility scooters, although that doesn’t necessarily mean it will be suitable for every mobility scooter.

Other Easy Walks at Coed y Brenin

If 2.8 miles is too far, there are shorter options from the visitor centre.

The accessible Afon Eden Trail is around one mile there and back and takes approximately 45 minutes.

There is also an easy Afon Eden riverside loop and the Cefndeuddwr Trail, both around 0.8 miles and taking approximately 45 minutes.

This makes Coed y Brenin a good place to visit if you have a group with different walking abilities.

Walking Coed y Brenin With Dogs

We found Coed y Brenin a really good option with our dogs.

The wide forest tracks on the Bloomeries Trail were easy to walk and choosing an out-and-back route meant we weren’t committed to completing a long circular walk if our older dog had had enough.

There were also plenty of places to stop for a rest.

As always in a working forest, keep an eye out for signs and other trail users, particularly bikes.

Cycling at Coed y Brenin

Coed y Brenin is probably even better known for cycling than walking.

It was Britain’s first purpose-built mountain biking centre and there are trails ranging from easier routes for beginners through to technical mountain bike trails.

There are also gravel bike trails if you don’t fancy the technical mountain bike routes.

Our original plan was to walk first and then get our bikes out afterwards.

Unfortunately, the Welsh weather had other ideas.

By the time we’d finished walking it was still pouring down, so the bikes stayed where they were.

On a dry day I would definitely plan to spend longer here and combine a walk with a bike ride.

Would We Visit Coed y Brenin Again?

Definitely.

This wasn’t our first visit and hopefully won’t be our last.

The previous waterfall walk was one of our favourite walks here, while today’s Bloomeries Trail showed us a completely different side of the forest.

It is somewhere that works whether you want a short family walk, a gentler forest route, a longer waterfall walk, a run or a full day mountain biking.

Even in torrential rain, there is something lovely about walking through a forest surrounded by so much green.

Next time, though, I’m hoping for enough dry weather to finally get the bikes out.

More Walks Near Dolgellau

If you’re looking for more walks near Dolgellau, we also loved the Torrent Walk, a beautiful woodland walk with waterfalls along the route.

Torrent Walk Link

For something a little easier, Cregennan Lakes is another lovely option. We did a 1.5-mile walk around the lake with amazing mountain and coastal views.

Cregennan Lakes Link