Coed y Brenin Forest Park — Attraction in Great Britain

We were on a short break near Trawsfynnydd and we spent part of almost everyday up at Coed y Brenin forest park. We did a short riverside walk, attempted mountain biking the next day (my other half had his own bike, and we hired one for me), and the last day he went on a more challenging bike route, while I went for a run on one of their running trail routes. Every day the staff were exceptionally friendly and helpful, making recommendations based on how much time we had available, ability, and what we wanted to achieve.

I'd never done ANY mountain biking (or much of any biking in general) before, so we did the MinorTaur blue route - I'm fairly nervous on a bike so the brakes were on about 95% of the time but once I got a bit more used to it I started to enjoy the beautiful scenery. It was a good introduction for absolute beginners like me, although it was still quite hard work on some of the uphill sections, and I have to admit I had to get off and push a few times. According to my other half they have a good choice of about ten trails ranging from green (easy) to black (most challenging).

On the MinorTaur blue route there were some interesting elements (for beginners at least), like berms and switchbacks, but it was a nice wide forest path with very few stony sections, and skull & crossbone signs warning you of anything coming up which you might find particularly challenging! The route was always clearly marked out, and there were interesting info panels along the way, as well as maps showing you where you were. There was also an "escape route" back to the visitor centre if you needed to get back quickly without having to complete the rest of your chosen route (guess this is probably standard at most mountain bike centres).

The running route I did (Sarn Helen 8km) was also fantastic but hard going as it was pretty much all uphill for the first half. Gorgeous surroundings though, and just stunning views. The woman in the running shop at the beginning was really lovely though and gave me some advance warning on what it would be like. Apparently you can also try out trail running shoes there which would be really helpful if you're in the market for new trainers.

One last point, the cafe is brilliant. We had lunch there twice and really enjoyed sitting out on the balcony overlooking the forest, watching the cheeky birds, and enjoying yummy food. The venison burgers (deer sourced from the forest itself) were fab, and cakes were also delicious.

Overall, an excellent experience and I'm sure we'll be back again before too long - I might even try the biking again with slightly...

If you're looking for a scenic and refreshing walk in the Welsh countryside, you might want to check out the Coed y Brenin Forest Park waterfall walk. It's a circular route that takes you through the forest and past several waterfalls, some of which you can walk behind. The walk is about 5 miles long and takes around 3 hours to complete.

The path is well-marked and easy to follow, but it can be slippery and muddy in places, especially if it has rained recently. I would recommend wearing walking boots and bringing a waterproof jacket. The walk is not suitable for small children, as there are some steep sections and steps along the way. You also need to be careful near the waterfalls, as they can be powerful and dangerous.

The walk starts and ends at the Coed y Brenin Visitor Centre, where you can find a nice cafe, a gift shop, a bike hire shop, and good clean facilities. The cafe serves hot and cold drinks, snacks, and meals, and has a lovely view of the forest. The visitor centre also has information boards and maps about the park and its wildlife.

I really enjoyed this walk and I would definitely do it again. It was a great way to explore the natural beauty of Coed y Brenin Forest Park and to see some stunning waterfalls. It was also a good workout for my legs and lungs. If you're looking for a fun and rewarding walk in Wales, you should give...

Visited for my partner to run the trail marathon Wales. This time we have a toddler (just turning 2yo) and I had roughly 4 hours to pass during the marathon. There is a park with swings climbing frame etc. Which was a great start for my toddler. Then we completed the animal trail walk which is marked easy and includes some riverside walk. The views and scenery is beautiful and the trail is buggy and wheelchair friendly in my opinion. We then headed back to the centre, gift shop and bought food. I was pleased that they had vegan chili which came with a jacket potato and nice side salad. There was a selection of cakes, pastries, sandwiches etc. The toilets were clean and user friendly for baby changing. I can't fault it apart for the annoying midges!! From the moment we opened the car, they were everywhere! Sometimes this happens with the weather conditions (I didn't experience this on my last visit to Coed Y Brenin a few years ago). My Tesco child friendly insect repellent was useless. I was miserable and couldn't fully enjoy my surroundings because of the sensory overload of midges! Even typing this is making me itch arghhhh! I'd definitely love to come back to explore more trails though. Hopefully with...