Beddgelert Forest, near Beddgelert
Huge forest in the heart of Eryri (Snowdonia)...
Coed y Brenin Forest Park - Glasdir, near Dolgellau
What's here
Welcome
Glasdir car park is the starting point for a walk through an old copper mine.
There is a picnic site with barbecue by the side of the river.
There is a shorter accessible walking trail to a viewpoint over the mine from the Pont Llam yr Ewig car park.
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.
Glasdir Copper Trail
- Grade: moderate
- Distance: 1¼ miles, 2 kilometres
- Trail description: The trail is often less than 1m wide in places, on an unmade, uneven surface, where you can expect mud, rocks and tree roots. There are several flights of steps on the steep ascents and descents through the old workings. Please stay on the waymarked trail as the old mine workings and buildings may be unsafe and there are unprotected drops into the river gorges.
Follow the red waymarkers from the Glasdir car park through the picnic site down to the river Babi.
The trail takes in a circuit of the old copper mine set into the hillside in a series of high stone terraces.
You can download an audio trail and listen to the history of the Glasdir copper mine.
Audio trail
Learn about the history of the Glasdir Copper Mine on our mp3 audio trail.
It starts from the Glasdir car park and there are numbered posts on the walking trail which tell you when to play each section of the audio trail.
As mobile phone network coverage can be limited in rural areas, we recommend that you download the audio trail before your visit.
You can also download a PDF file of the script.
To download the audio trail go to Audio trails and folk tales.
Exploring Coed y Brenin Forest Park
Glasdir is in Coed y Brenin Forest Park.
Coed y Brenin Forest Park offers visitors the total woodland experience within Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park.
There are a range of waymarked trails to cater for all tastes and fitness levels in the forest park. These include world-class mountain bike trails, family walks, running trails, geocaching and orienteering routes.
As well as the walking trail that start here at Glasdir, the main car parks with facilities for visitors within Coed y Brenin Forest Park are:
- Coed y Brenin Forest Park 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
- Pont Cae’n-y-coed – start of the rugged Volcano Trail
- Tyddyn Gwladys – 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
- Pont Ty'n-y-groes – riverside picnic area and gateway to an accessible riverside walk and a rugged mountain trail with great views over Eryri
- Pont Llam yr Ewig - car park for disabled visitors only with accessible trail to viewpoint over old copper mine
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.
Visiting safely
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:
- Keep to the trail as mine workings are dangerous places with sheer drops.
For advice and tips to help you plan your visit here go to Visiting our places safely.
Accessibility information
There is a shorter accessible walking trail to a viewpoint over the mine from the car park for disabled visitors at Pont Llam yr Ewig.
Changes to visitor facilities
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.
Organising an event on our land
You may need permission from us to organise an event or to carry out some activities on our land.
Check if you are allowed to use our land.
How to get here
Glasdir is 6 miles north of Dolgellau.
Postcode
The postcode is LL40 2NL.
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.
Directions
Take the A470 north from Dolgellau.
About 200 metres after passing the Tyn y Groes Hotel, turn right following the brown tourist signs to Ty'n y Groes.
Follow the tarmac road past the Ty’n y Groes picnic site for just over one kilometre.
The Glasdir car park is on the right with a picnic site a short walk away across the road.
What3Words
View this place on the What3Words website.
Ordnance Survey
The Ordnance Survey (OS) grid reference for the car park is SH 737 225 (Explorer Map OL 18).
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 go to the Traveline Cymru website.
Parking
Parking is free of charge.
Overnight parking is not permitted.
Contact details
Coed y Brenin Forest Park Visitor Centre
Tel: 01341 440747
Related document downloads
Glasdir Copper Trails guide
PDF [2.1 MB]
Other places in North West Wales
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