Coed y Brenin
Snowdonia (Eryri), North Wales
- Distance
- A forest trail centre with waymarked loops
- Difficulty
- All levels, from family loops to technical blacks
Coed y Brenin, in the hills near Dolgellau, is where purpose-built mountain bike trails in the UK began. The forest now holds a network of waymarked loops from gentle family routes to tough, rocky technical trails, all set in some of the finest scenery in Snowdonia. It remains one of the great British trail centres.
The ride
The trails range from wide, smooth forest roads suitable for families through flowing red-graded singletrack to rough, rocky black routes that will test experienced riders. The rockier trails have a character all of their own, built from and over the local stone.
It's pedal-up riding here rather than uplift, so you earn your descents, but the climbs are mostly well-graded forest roads and the downhills repay the effort. E-MTB hire and charging are available at the visitor centre.
Know before you go
- Check the trail status before you travel, as sections can close for forestry work or after storms. The visitor centre is the best starting point for maps, hire and advice.
- The weather in this part of Wales changes fast, and the forest holds the wet. Pack waterproofs even on promising days.
- Some trails are rocky and demanding. Choose a grade that matches your riding and your bike, and wear a helmet whatever you're riding.
Make a day of it
The visitor centre makes a natural base for the day, with food, facilities and bike hire on site, and the surrounding area is full of options if you're staying longer.
Coed y Brenin links well with the rest of southern Snowdonia's riding and walking, so it slots neatly into a longer trip to the national park.
Riding it responsibly
Share the forest generously. Walkers and runners use some of these trails too, so control your speed where you might meet others.
Respect closures and waymarking, take your litter home, and leave the trails as you found them. The forest is a working landscape as well as a playground.
Ride within your limits and the law. Roads and trails change; check conditions before you travel.
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