Beddgelert Forest, near Beddgelert
Huge forest in the heart of Eryri (Snowdonia)...
Coed Nant Gwernol is a woodland on the edge of Abergynolwyn village.
The woodland takes its name from a rocky river gorge with cascading waterfalls.
On the plateau above the river gorge lie the remains of Bryn-Eglwys Slate Quarry which is now part of the Slate Landscape of Northwest Wales World Heritage Site.
The waymarked walking trails follow the river and explore the remains of Bryn-Eglwys Slate Quarry.
You can discover what life was like for the quarry workers and their families by listening to our audio trail which has been designed for use along the Quarryman’s Trail.
The Talyllyn narrow-gauge railway runs through Coed Nant Gwernol and the walking trails can be started from two of the stations along the line.
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.
The Stations Link is a linear route between Nant Gwernol station and Abergynolwyn station which are both on the Talyllyn railway.
There are views of the surrounding mountains, steam trains on the Talyllyn railway and the historic Allt Wyllt incline, part of the former quarry.
Starting points for the Stations Link Trail
The Cascade Trail climbs uphill, closely following the cascading river.
It then crosses a wooden bridge onto the old tramway and descends steeply alongside part of the old Allt Wyllt incline back to Nant Gwernol station.
Look for the remains of the drumhouses for the winding gear, or winch, at the top.
Starting points for the Cascades Trail
Highlights of this trail include the wide views, waterfalls and quarry remains.
Look out for the panels and wind-up listening posts that tell the story of the Bryn-Eglwys quarrymen and their families.
Starting points for the Quarryman’s Trail
Discover what life was like for the Bryn Eglwys Quarry workers and their families by listening to our audio trail.
The audio trail has been designed to be used along the Quarryman’s Trail, a waymarked walking route through Coed Nant Gwernol.
We recommend that you download the audio trail to your smartphone before your visit as mobile network coverage can be limited in rural areas.
You can also download a PDF file of the audio trail’s script from the downloads section at the bottom of this page.
Coed Nant Gwernol is part of Dyfi Forest.
Situated between the towns of Machynlleth and Dolgellau Dyfi Forest lies in the shadow of Cadair Idris.
The woodlands cling to the steep hillsides of the Tarren and Dyfi mountain ranges cut through by the Dysynni, Dulas and Dyfi rivers heading west to the nearby sea.
The whole area was once filled with thriving slate mines, employing hundreds of people.
The finished slate was moved to the coast via a system of tramways and steam trains for export.
The remaining trains now carry holidaymakers through the countryside.
In addition to Coed Nant Gwernol, there are walking trails in these other Natural Resources Wales woodlands within Dyfi Forest:
The remains of Bryn-Eglwys Slate Quarry within Nant Gwernol wood are part of the Slate Landscape of Northwest Wales World Heritage Site.
For more information go to the Slate Landscape of Northwest Wales World Heritage Site website.
Most of Dyfi Forest is in Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park.
Snowdonia 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.
Dyfi Forest 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.
The Talyllyn Railway runs through Dyfi Forest on its route between Tywyn on the coast to Nant Gwernol station near the village of Abergynolwyn.
The line was originally opened to carry slate from the quarries at Bryn-Eglwys to Tywyn and it is now a heritage railway.
Our walking trails can be started from the stations at Abergynolwyn village or Nant Gwernol on the Tallyllyn Railway.
For more information go to the Talyllyn Railway website.
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.
Coed Nant Gwernol is 12 miles south of Dolgellau.
The postcode is LL36 9UU.
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 A487 from Machynlleth towards Dolgellau.
Turn left onto the B4405 just after Corris for Abergynolwyn.
Follow this road and the car park for Abergynolwyn village hall (Y Canolfan Gymunedol) is on the left.
See the map in the car park and follow the short but steep link route to Nant Gwernol station which is the start of the walking trails.
View this place on the What3Words website.
The Ordnance Survey (OS) grid reference for the start of the walking trails at Nant Gwernol station is SH 681 067 (Explorer Map OL 23).
The nearest mainline railway station is in Tywyn.
For details of public transport go to the Traveline Cymru website.
There is a car park at Abergynolwyn village hall (Y Canolfan Gymunedol).
See the map in the car park and follow the short but steep link route to Nant Gwernol station which is the start of the walking trails.
There is no parking at Nant Gwernol station itself.
There are no staff at this location.
Contact our customer team for general enquiries during office hours, Monday to Friday.