Forest Walks
There is a network of public footpaths through the forest between Penrhyndeudraeth and Maentwrog. Most tracks are fairly easy walking even after a lot of rain. Up towards Rhyd, you might find the going more muddy, but heading towards Tan-y-Bwlch we’ve found it generally OK. You can take the steam train to Tan-Y-Bwlch and walk back (takes approx. 1½ – 2 hours depending on your route) or try one of these…
To Rhiw Goch
- If you only do one short walk while you’re here, you should go as far as Rhiw Goch – it’s easy tarmac road all the way and quite lovely!
- Turn right out of the front door and after you go over the railway crossing in Penrhyn and pass an old cottage on the right, turn right up a narrow paved road.
- Continue on up the lane with the railway line on your right. You’ll pass a private driveway on your left and then two more on your right, before you reach a fork in the road. Continue straight on through the gate marked “Rhiw Goch” with a bench on the right.
- After about half a mile you’ll come to the Rhiw Goch farm buildings, where there is a choice of 3 signposted paths.
- For just a short walk, take the left of these paths (marked as a bridle path), so you’ll pass the farm buildings on your right, then go through a gate and straight on up a gentle slope. Just before you reach the edge of the forest, there’s a perfectly situated bench to sit and soak up the view before you head onwards, or come back home the same way you came.
Forest Walk to Rhyd
Follow the directions above to Rhiw Goch and continue over the stile into the forest to join a footpath that takes you through the forest up to the beautiful hamlet of Rhyd with its panoramic views across Snowdonia.
- Take the OL18 map and the Maentwrog footpath map (several copies in the footstool along with the other local brochures) but bear in mind that not all of the footpaths and markers are shown on the map!
- We suggest you keep bearing left until you see mile marker 36, as there are several paths not on the map before you reach it. Then keep going straight ahead up to Rhyd.
- When you get to the main road at Rhyd, turn right, and pass some houses on your left, before you turn back down into the forest via a signposted footpath on the right, just after a small farm building on the right. In our experience this path is more prone to being muddy and is narrow and a bit overgrown for some of the way.
- Again, there are a number of paths and markers that are not shown on the map. If in doubt, bear right, but provided you get to marker 35 and don’t cross the railway, you can’t go far wrong!
