Coed y Brenin Walk
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Coed y Brenin Walk
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The Coed y Brenin circular walk is a loop trail in Snowdonia National Park, passing through ancient green forest along the Mawddach River. This relatively flat trail reveals charming waterfalls and lush greenery, providing a peaceful and low-effort escape into nature. The Coed y Brenin trail is well-maintained, making it an easy pick for those with young children.
Getting there
The Coed y Brenin trail begins just across from Ganllwyd Village Hall. From Bronaber, take A470 south for 4.8mi and park at the hall. From Llanelltyd, take A470 north for 3.5mi and park at the hall. You will see a large green sign with the trail name depicted, and this is where you begin.
About
| When to do | Year-round |
| Backcountry Campsites | No |
| Pets allowed | Yes - On Leash |
| Family friendly | Yes |
| Route Signage | Average |
| Crowd Levels | Moderate |
| Route Type | Circuit |
Coed y Brenin Walk
Elevation Graph
Weather
Coed y Brenin Trail Description
This pleasant loop walk ends on a paved road, so spend some extra time enjoying the beginning and middle of the trail.
At the green trailhead sign, you’ll cross A470 and walk along the banks of the river for about 328ft until a crossing takes you over the River Mawddach. Here is where the prettiest section of the walk begins. Following the obvious double-track trail, you’ll walk alongside the River Mawddach, often hearing the flowing water but not quite seeing it. Several waterfalls dot the route, and dense green foliage flanks the trail throughout.
Note that the Mordaith trail intersects with yours at points, so stay left at the junctions. Approximately 2.5mi into the walk, you’ll cross over the River Maddawg on a quaint stone bridge, and then roughly 1.9mi into the walk you’ll cross the River Eden. From here the trail follows A470 back to the trailhead. Some people chose to turn back at this point and retrace their steps for a more scenic walk, but if you prefer the shorter route you’ll simply continue along the road until you reach the trailhead.
Route Highlights
Waterfalls
The highlight of the Coed y Brenin walk is the waterfalls that dot the trail. While they vary in their size, all are a rewarding stop along the trail. There are also several nearby falls you can visit on foot (if you wish to extend your walk) or in the car (if you don’t), like the Rhaeadr Ddu Waterfalls.
Insider Hints
About 328ft from the start of the trail are some picnic tables. This is a nice spot to stop for a packed lunch with the river beside you.
If you don’t fancy following a road for the last half of the trail, turn around at the halfway river crossing and walk this as an out-and-back trail.
Several different trails intersect with Coed y Brenin, so you can enjoy a personalized adventure by following them. We recommend downloading the map if you choose to do this as there is poor reception in the area.
The Rhaeadr Ddu Waterfalls are within easy walking distance of the trailhead. Follow the River Gamian across the street from the village hall, heading away from A470.
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veeb 3 years ago
Walked this route a few days ago. Loved the river, waterfalls, bridges and woods! There were quite a lot of cyclists, but the paths were very wide so this wasn't an issue. A couple of the sections on the route were bike trails, so we just stuck to the shared paths. The waterfalls were really beautiful - would recommend taking a closer look at the Pistyll y Cain Waterfall by taking the small track to the right of the bridge over the Afon Gain. There was free parking available at the start of the route.