Coed y Brenin Forest Park - Pont Cae’n y Coed, near Dolgellau

What's here

Parking (free)
Walking trail

Welcome

Pont Cae’n y Coed is a small car park in Coed y Brenin Forest Park.

It is the starting point for the Volcano Trail, a long walk past many key features in the forest.

Cae’n y Coed means ‘ﬁeld in the woods’ and is named after a nearby smallholding.

Once a temporary Bailey bridge stood here to take out timber from the other side of the Afon Mawddach.

Nowadays mountain bikers and walkers use the new bridge as a crucial link to the wilder country on the east side of the river.

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.

Volcano Trail

Grade: Strenuous
Distance: 6¾ miles/10.8 kilometres
Climb: 300 metres
Time: 5 hours
Trail description: The trail is on a combination of forest roads and steep narrow paths, often less than 50cm wide in places, on an unmade, uneven surface, where you can expect mud, rocks and tree roots along some of the roughest terrain in the forest. There are steps on the steep ascent up to Moel Hafod Owen where you will find a bench at the top for a well-deserved picnic whilst admiring the view. If you want to experience a real adventure, ensure you go well prepared for a long day in the woods.

On this challenging circular walk, you will visit many key features in the forest, including the copper bog and the highest point of the forest park – Moel Hafod Owen.

Take in the five information panels to help you explore Coed y Brenin’s violent volcanic history and enjoy views of the surrounding Meirionnydd mountains.

Coed y Brenin Forest Park

Explore Coed y Brenin on a waymarked walking trail from one of our other car parks in the forest park:

Coed y Brenin Visitor Centre - the gateway to the forest park and the starting point for a range of walking, running and mountain biking trails. There is also a café and bike shop
Tyddyn Gwladys – a picnic site by the rolling Mawddach river and gateway to the Waterfalls and Goldmines walk
Forest Garden – a choice of routes through trees from all over the world in the forest garden, one of which is suitable for all abilities
Glasdir – an old copper works in a quiet rural setting with an accessible trail to a viewpoint over the mine workings
Ty'n y Groes – riverside picnic area and gateway to an all-ability riverside walk and a rugged mountain trail with great views over Eryri

Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park

Coed y Brenin 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

Coed y Brenin 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.

How to get here

Location

Pont Cae’n y Coed car park is just off the A470, near the village of Ganllwyd.

It is in the county of Gwynedd.

Ordnance Survey (OS) map

Pont Cae'n y Coed is on OS Explorer OL18.

The OS grid reference is SH 733 251.

Directions

Take the A470 north from Dolgellau.

After passing through the village of Ganllwyd, turn right just after the school.

Follow this minor road over a stone bridge and continue following the road on the right with the Afon Mawddach river below.

The car park is on the right after about a quarter of a mile.

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 visit the Traveline Cymru website.

Parking

Car parking is free of charge.

Overnight parking is not permitted.

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.