Size:
89.61 ha (221.43 acres)
Grid reference:
SH656389
Map reference:
Explorer 18
OS Landranger 124
Coed Felenrhyd & Llennyrch is a rare, Atlantic oak woodland and one of our largest woods in Wales. It sits above the Vale of Ffestiniog and is fringed by the dramatic waterfalls of the Afon Prysor gorge in the Snowdonia National Park.
Explore its atmospheric pools and take in dramatic views of Snowdon to the north and the rugged uplands of the Rhinog mountains to the south.
Visitor announcement: Following further tree fall, Llwybr Gwyndaf (part of the red waymarked loop) at Coed Felenrhyd & Llennyrch has been temporarily closed for repairs. The other waymarked routes and rights of way remain open for you to enjoy.
Yn dilyn cwymp pellach o goed, mae Llwybr Gwyndaf (rhan o'r ddolen goch ag arwyddbyst) yng Nghoed Felenrhyd a Llennyrch wedi'i gau dros dro ar gyfer gwaith atgyweirio. Mae'r llwybrau eraill sydd ag arwyddbyst a'r hawliau tramwy yn parhau i fod ar agor i chi eu mwynhau.
Features
- Parking nearby
- Public access
- Autumn colour
- Waymarked walk
How to get to Coed Felenrhyd & Llennyrch
Coed Felenrhyd & Llennyrch covers 310-hectares (765-acres) in the Snowdonia National Park, and stretches from Llyn Trawsfynydd in the east and almost to the meeting of the Prysor and tidal Dwyryd rivers in the west.
From Maentwrog, take the A496 road to Harlech. After you pass the Maentwrog power station entrance on your left, look for the main woodland entrance on the same side of the road just after crossing a bridge. Alternatively, approach Llennyrch from the dam at Trawsfynydd.
The nearest train station is Llandecwyn, which is a 3km (2-mile) walk from the wood, along the Wales Coast Path.
Visit National Rail for more information.
The nearest bus stop is at the power station, not far from the wood, with services to Blaenau Ffestiniog and Bangor via Oakeley Arms.
Visit Traveline for more information.
Facilities and access
Coed Felenrhyd & Llennyrch has informal public access through two public rights of way and many permissive paths.
A network of paths and tracks cross the site and include a waymarked trail and other interpretation material which was installed as part of the Gwefr y Coed/Wild About Woods project in 2000.
The main entrance is at the lower end of the woodland where a double gate is located. From here, a footpath loop follows the valley of the Ceunant Llennyrch, starting fairly wide and level but becoming steeper as it rises towards the waterfall at the eastern end of the wood.
Alternatively, the route of the Wales Coast Path ascends from here along a bridleway, winding steeply upward following a rough sunken trackway to the west of the wood.
A further public footpath crosses the site diagonally, linking with the wider footpath network at Cae'n y Coed Uchaf. At the southern/upper end of Coed Felenrhyd, where the footpath crosses on to farmland, there is a ladder stile over the boundary wall.
The public and permissive footpaths here are steep and may include steps or loose ground.
There is no parking at Coed Felenrhyd & Llennyrch, but you can park in a small lay-by on the A496 which is 200 metres east of the main entrance. Alternatively, use the facilities at the Llyn Trawsfynydd café and walk to the wood using the Llyn Traws cycleway.
The nearest public toilets can be found by a bus shelter next to the Oakley Arms. It is at the junction of the A487 and B4410 and is 4km (2.5 miles) away. It is open all year round and has disabled facilities.
Wildlife and habitats
Animals
Coed Felenrhyd & Llennyrch is great for birdwatching. Ravens nest on the gorge’s cliffs and you can see dippers in the river’s fast-flowing waters. Woodland species such as jay are joined in summer by migrant birds, including redstart and pied flycatcher.
Otters hunt along the river and badgers and foxes are active in the wood, as are a number of bat species. The oakwoods of Meirionnydd are important for the rare lesser horseshoe bat, providing good conditions for foraging and breeding and cool, safe places to hibernate.
Look out for:
Trees, plants and fungi
Lichens, mosses and liverworts thrive in the humid air along the wood’s streams and rocky gullies. The gorge is home to 25 species of nationally-scarce mosses and liverworts and at least 42 nationally-scarce species of lichens. A recent survey showed the wood is among the best lichen sites in Wales.
These include rainforest specialists like the barnacle lichen (Thelotrema petractoides), and acid-bark specialists like Parmelinopsis horrescens. Rare rainforest mosses like the prostrate signal-moss (Sematophyllum demissum) cling to rocks in the ravine. In the British Isles, this species is only found in North Wales and parts of south west Ireland.
You will also see swathes of bluebells during the spring, especially in Llennyrch, as well as opposite-leaved golden saxifrage and ramsons alongside wet flushes.
Look out for:
Habitats
From rare ancient woodland to magical upland woods, boggy wet woodland and open grassland, this is a great place to explore a variety of habitats.
Explore:
Video
Inside Britain's rainforests
00:03:47
Take a glimpse into Britain's beautiful and fragile temperate rainforests and discover more about the rare and globally important species that live there.
Watch the film
We acquired Felenrhyd in 1991 and have been restoring it ever since.
We extended the site with Llennyrch with help from the public in 2015.
About Coed Felenrhyd & Llennyrch
History
Coed Felenrhyd & Llennyrch, and other woodlands nearby, are some of the best remaining examples of Atlantic oak woodland in Europe. They are remnants of vast woodlands that once extended from northern Scotland to Portugal.
Early times
During the Iron Age, valleys in the Meirionnydd region were covered in open oak woodlands which slowly changed into scattered birch woodland and heathland. The area was famed for its cattle. Drovers moved livestock eastwards through mountain passes to markets in England using trackways that are still traceable today.
Deep gorges, such as Ceunant Llennyrch, which marks the western boundary of Coed Felenrhyd, were relatively untouched by human activity. They remain ancient woodland where rare species can still be found.
Snowdonia hall-house
While the exact date is uncertain, it is thought that the Snowdonia hall-house that nestles in the heart of the Llennyrch farmland may date back to as early as the 1500s. The property, which was a grand residence in its day, sat in the heart of a mixed farming landscape and acted as a hub of activity. It is likely to have remained in more or less permanent occupation until 2009 when the last residents passed away. Look out for the old, great ash trees surrounding the farm house, some with a girth of 4-5 metres in diameter.
Industry at Coed Felenrhyd
The local timber trade in the area dates back to 1739. At the time, timber was the most important local industry, but by 1760 it was joined by quarrying for slate. Shafts and sink holes in the wood are clues to its industrial past.
The scale of the timber business is reflected in a report from 1763 that sounded a note of concern about deforestation in the Vale of Ffestiniog. It said that Meirionnydd ‘has been much drained of her timber’.
Some 25 years later, the stock of oaks in
Meirionnydd and three neighbouring counties were said to be decreased by two-thirds. Advertisements selling timber worth up to £900 appeared in local newspapers.
Farmsteads
As well as Llennyrch itself, a number of small farmsteads, the remains of which are still visible today, were established on pockets of open land. A further farm or small holding is recorded at Ty Newydd, now a ruin standing in a prominent location just south of Llennyrch farm.
Today, old oaks stand where farmsteads once stood, and remains of stone walls mark old field boundaries. Many stone barns, once used for hay or cattle, can still be seen today across the site.
Woodland management
Timber was still in demand during the First World War and it is likely that the early 20th century saw the felling and replanting or coppicing of large areas of oak in the woodland at Llennyrch as there are few ancient trees surviving.
In the late 1960s, huge areas of Coed Felenrhyd were clear-felled and then replanted with fast-growing, non-native conifers. Over time, those conifers came to dominate those areas, blocking sunlight from the forest floor.
Meanwhile, the woodland at Llennyrch was grazed as part of the farm by a 'hefted' flock of sheep. Fortunately, the livestock helped to maintain the open light conditions needed by the rarest lichens and bryophytes in the wood.
Folklore
Coed Felenrhyd is mentioned by name (Melenrhyd, Y Felen Rhyd) in the famous collection of Welsh legends, the Mabinogion, as the last resting place of Pryderi, King of Dyfed, who was killed in single combat with Gwydion the trickster. These tales were written in the 12th century, but the oral tradition is much older.
Walks through Coed Felenrhyd trace some of the adventures of the famous Welsh mercenary and magician – Huw Llwyd. At the height of his fame, people who were plagued with demons would be publicly exorcised by Huw at his famous pulpit – a massive rock in the middle of the River Cynfal – which is still there today.
Video
Keeping Llennyrch wild
00:02:19
Hard graft. Passionate people. Expertise and skill. There's more to our woods than just trees. See for yourself what makes Llennyrch so special, and what it takes to keep it that way.
Watch the film
A lasting legacy
This wood is just one of many to have been protected by gifts in wills, securing it for generations to come. Your legacy gift could also make a real difference to woods, trees and wildlife.
Learn what your gift could mean
Things to do at Coed Felenrhyd & Llennyrych
Walking
With a waymarked trail and a variety of enjoyable routes, this wood is popular with walkers. Take in the incredible views and look out for rare and beautiful lichens and mosses. Spot the letter ‘R’ carved into one of the trees – it’s said to be the site of a murder 100 years ago.
Be aware that the routes in this area can be strenuous and steep, and are not suitable for wheelchair users or pushchairs.
Support us
Your support matters
Llennyrch was secured for the future thanks to your response to an urgent appeal. Discover how you helped us bring another incredible place safely under our wing, and what the future holds for this wood.
See what we've achieved
FAQs
Who owns Wentwood Forest? ›
The Woodland Trust own and manage a large part of Wentwood. For more information about what you can see in Wentwood go to the Woodland Trust website.
Where is the Celtic rainforest in Wales? ›Celtic Rainforests are extremely rare habitats. These forests are only found in areas close to the sea—making Snowdonia the perfect place for such habitats. The conditions in these areas are perfect for rare plants, lichens and forest fungi to grow.
What is the largest woodland in North Wales? ›Coed Felenrhyd & Llennyrch is a rare, Atlantic oak woodland and one of our largest woods in Wales. It sits above the Vale of Ffestiniog and is fringed by the dramatic waterfalls of the Afon Prysor gorge in the Snowdonia National Park.
What is Wentwood Forest famous for? ›Wentwood Forest is part of the largest block of ancient woodland within Wales with a recorded history spanning over 1000 years. It was once the hunting grounds for Chepstow Castle's gentry, stretching for 3000 hectares and is home to an ancient oak tree, known as the Curly Oak, with a circumference of 6.35m!.
Why is Wentwood Reservoir empty? ›The Wentwood reservoir refurbishment
The eighteenth-century valves installed within the tower had to be removed and replaced to comply with modern standards set out by the water utility companies. But owing to the original design of the structure, to do so meant fully draining the water within the reservoir.
Today, Wales is seen as a Celtic nation. The Welsh Celtic identity is widely accepted and contributes to a wider modern national identity.
Was Wales originally forested? ›Cumulative evidence suggests that primeval Wales was extensively covered by a diverse and wide range of broad leaf forests.
What is the Celtic tribe of Wales? ›Four differing tribes settled in Wales: Demetae and Silures in the south and Deceangli and Ordovices in the north. Each tribe with their own Royal Family, priests and rituals.
What is the oldest forest in England? ›Coed Gwent, Monmouthshire
Coed Gwent (Wentwood Forest) is part of the largest block of ancient woodland within Wales with a recorded history spanning over 1,000 years. It once formed part of the wooded hunting preserve of Chepstow Castle from Norman times, stretching for 3,000 hectares.
The Lonely Tree was a Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) located on top of the 250-metre (820 ft) high Green Hall Hill overlooking the town of Llanfyllin in Powys, Wales and was visible from much of the town.
When was Wales deforested? ›
From 2001 to 2021, Wales lost 2.02kha of tree cover from fires and 54.1kha from all other drivers of loss. The year with the most tree cover loss due to fires during this period was 2004 with 346ha lost to fires — 7.8% of all tree cover loss for that year. In Wales, 0ha of land has burned so far in 2022.
Why is Epping Forest popular? ›Epping Forest is home to 55,000 ancient trees, more than any other single site in the country. Some are centuries old and may have been growing there since Anglo-Saxon times, representing some of the oldest living plants in Europe – irreplaceable and rare.
What is the big forest in Scotland? ›Galloway Forest Park Dumfries & Galloway
Did you know, seven out of the ten largest forests in the UK are in Scotland? The largest is Galloway Forest Park, which covers 770 km2 of countryside in a gorgeous green blanket.
Epping Forest is an 'internationally important' place because of its unique mix of habitats and species. It's one of very few large, ancient forests in this part of Britain, and it has lots of rare or important habitats like ancient semi-natural woodland, wood-pasture, old grassland plains, heathlands, and wetlands.
Why is there no swimming in the reservoir? ›Additionally, even though the surface seems calm, depending on the reservoir's use, there may be hazardous machinery and pumps churning under the water. This can cause strong currents similar to riptides. These can trap you under the waves or cause serious injury.
What Welsh village was flooded to make a reservoir? ›Capel Celyn was a rural community to the northwest of Bala in Gwynedd, Wales, in the Afon Tryweryn valley. The village and other parts of the valley were flooded in the Tryweryn flooding of 1965 to create a reservoir, Llyn Celyn, in order to supply Liverpool and Wirral with water for industry.
Why is Bosley reservoir empty? ›In some instances, the maintenance requires water levels to be temporarily 'held down' meaning there will be less water than normal available for boating. At present Bosley Reservoir, which feeds the Macclesfield Canal, is being drawn down to 10% of its maximum holding ahead of works in mid-August.
Is Celtic more Irish or Scottish? ›Celtic hold the distinction of being the first British club to win the European Cup and they are among Britain's best supported teams. However, while they are undoubtedly Scottish and British, the Glasgow outfit have a strong connection to Ireland and a unique affinity with Irish supporters.
Are Celts Scottish or Irish? ›The ancient Celts weren't Irish. They weren't Scottish, either. In fact, they were a collection of people/clans from Europe that are identified by their language and cultural similarities.
Is Scotland Celtic or Germanic? ›While Highland Scots are of Celtic (Gaelic) descent, Lowland Scots are descended from people of Germanic stock. During the seventh century C.E., settlers of Germanic tribes of Angles moved from Northumbria in present-day northern England and southeastern Scotland to the area around Edinburgh.
What is the oldest thing in Wales? ›
The Llangernyw Yew is an ancient tree, growing in Conwy, Wales. The tree is estimated to be between 4,000 and 5,000 years old, although dating yew trees is notoriously difficult thanks to the tree's core having been lost to the ages.
Who inhabited Wales first? ›The earliest known human remains discovered in modern-day Wales is a Neanderthal jawbone, found at the Bontnewydd Palaeolithic site in the valley of the River Elwy in North Wales, whose owner lived about 230,000 years ago in the Lower Palaeolithic period.
What is Wales oldest town? ›Some say that Carmarthen is the oldest town in Wales, and It has a rich and colourful history. Today Carmarthen remains the County Town and County Hall stands proudly above the River Tywi alongside Carmarthen Castle. A visit to the town is something all visitors to the county should experience.
What did Celtic people look like? ›The Celtic peoples have historically lived across mainland Europe stretching from Swizerland and Turkey in the east to Britain and Ireland In the west. They can be defined by multiple physical characteristics such as red hair, blue and green eyes, tartan clothing, and prominent statures.
Who lived in Ireland before the Celts? ›They are the Sidhe (pronounced “shee”) – mystical fairy-like people who supposedly inhabited Ireland prior to the arrival of the Celts (the Milesians). The Tuatha de Dannan are credited with naming Ireland.
Who inhabited Wales before the Celts? ›It's reckoned that Neanderthals, an extinct species of humans, settled in Wales around 230,000 years ago. Excavations at Pontnewydd Cave near St Asaph have revealed simple stone tools and human teeth (discovered by National Museum Wales and now part of its collection) from this period.
Where is the oldest living forest in the world? ›The Gilboa site was first dubbed the “world's oldest forest” in the 1920s, courtesy of the New York State Museum's Winifred Goldring. The ancient forest in Cairo is slightly older than the one in Gilboa, at 387 million years, Stein said.
What is the oldest forest in North America? ›Tongass National Forest in southeast Alaska is the world's largest remaining intact coastal temperate rain forest. At almost 17 million acres, this unique area houses some of the oldest trees in the nation—many over 800 years old—and provides essential habitat for the largest population of Bald Eagles in the world.
What is the oldest tree in the world? ›The Great Basin Bristlecone Pine (Pinus longaeva) has been deemed the oldest tree in existence, reaching an age of over 5,000 years old. The bristlecone pine's success in living a long life can be attributed to the harsh conditions it lives in.
What is the most photographed tree in Wales? ›The Lone Tree is an atmospheric, solitary tree that grows on the shores of Llyn Padarn near Llanberis. It sits over the pebbles in amongst clear water, which allows it to create a perfect reflection of itself and is framed by the peaks of the mountain range in the background.
What is the most famous tree in Wales? ›
Llangernyw Yew
The Yew was planted sometime in the prehistoric Bronze Age and is around 4,000 years old – it's still growing! Locals believe that Llangernyw is home to a spirit known as Angelystor, the 'Recording Angel' and has been for thousands of years. But it's up to you to believe it or not…
The Menai whitebeam, a rare tree species found only in North Wales, is among those listed in a landmark report State of the World's Trees report, published this week.
Why did people leave Wales? ›In the 19th century, thousands of immigrants left Wales to seek a better life in North America, settling in significant numbers in New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
Did Wales used to be tropical? ›We are of course no longer in the tropics, having drifted north to temperate latitudes. However, 300 millions years ago Wales was positioned right on the equator and was largely covered in lowland tropical swamp-forests. The dominant plants of these ancient swamps were giant club mosses.
When did Welsh decline? ›The recent 2022 census held unexpected news for Wales. It found the number of Welsh speakers in the country had decreased by 1.2% since the previous 2011 census, from 19% to 17.8%. This represents an estimated loss of almost 24,000 Welsh speakers between 2011 (562,000) and 2021 (538,300).
Who owned Woodlands? ›It is part of Bendalls Leisure Ltd which also owns Twinlakes Theme Park and Wheelgate Park. Set in Devon's most beautiful countryside Woodlands has over 90 acres (36 ha) of family attractions including 16 rides, as well as around 500 animals.
How big is the Wentwood Forest? ›Wentwood is around 8km (5 miles) north of the village of Llanfair Discoed, between Newport and Chepstow. The 353-hectare (873-acre) section of Wentwood owned by the Woodland Trust is part of a much larger area of forest, stretching over 1,000 hectares (2,500 acres).
Who owns Forest England? ›Forestry England is an executive agency, sponsored by the Forestry Commission.
Who owns Forest in Wales? ›More than two thirds of conifer woodland in Wales is owned by the Welsh Government, including some plantations on ancient woodland sites, but native woodland and ancient semi-natural woodlands are mostly on private land, with only 19,000 ha of ancient woodland sites within the Welsh Government Woodland Estate.
Who owns the candy house in The Woodlands? ›Kristen Graham, right, is seen beside her sister, Courtney Watson, as new co-owners of The Candy House, Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, in The Woodlands.
How rich is The Woodlands? ›
Yes, The Woodlands is viewed as a rich area. Back in 2004, when looking at the Houston market overall, 30% was priced below $150k. The starting cost to build in The Woodlands was $160k, yet the average home was $270k. There are still affordable housing options today, depending on how you define affordable.
What was woodlands old name? ›During the colonial period, Woodlands was known as Mandai and Sembawang. A swampy flood-prone area, Woodlands began to transform into an agricultural area with plantation estates in the mid-19th century, with the earliest written evidence dating from 1854.
Are there any old growth forests in England? ›Currently, just over 2 percent of England is ancient woodland, though not all of even that small amount is in the semi-natural condition of long-coppiced woods in which the trees occur naturally but their growth is managed.
How big is Parkhurst forest? ›It is 395 hectares in area and the second largest forest on the Isle of Wight after Brighstone Forest. It is open to the public.
How big is Surrey's largest forest? ›The Surrey Hills Forest is 256.3 hectares of freehold land owned and managed by the Forestry Commission and located close to Dorking. The Forest area is made up of a series of woods, the most notable being Effingham Forest, Ranmore and Highridge Wood.
What forest does IKEA own? ›A forest near the Altamaha River Basin in southeast Georgia.
Who owns the most forest land? ›Federal Forests
The federal government owns 238 million acres (31%) of U.S. forests, most of which are managed by the U.S. Forest Service (FS)—as part of the National Forest System (NFS)—and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM); see Figure 3.
The purchase, funded by Apple, was the smaller component in a deal that also included the group buying 32,000 acres of forest in Maine. Apple said the purchase was part of its broader environmental push to assist in maintaining the nation's working forests while managing them in a sustainable way.
Who is the largest landowner in Wales? ›United Utilities Water Limited owns the largest amount of land in England and Wales with over 140 thousand acres. This is almost double the amount owned by the second largest landowner Dwr Cymru Cyfyngedig (Welsh Water) who own nearly 78 thousand acres.
What is the largest forest in England? ›Wyre Forest National Nature Reserve (NNR) extended by almost 900 hectares (60 percent) to now cover over 1,455 hectares. Wyre Forest has today become the largest woodland National Nature Reserve (NNR) in England.
Which is the only privately owned forest in Britain? ›
Savernake Forest, lying between Marlborough and Hungerford, is privately-owned by the Earl of Cardigan, his son Viscount Savernake and his family Trustees. It extends to some 4,500 acres, and is the only-privately owned Forest in Britain.