Coed y Brenin Visitor Centre and trails network all set to open

The greatly anticipated new Forestry Commission Wales Coed y Brenin Visitor Centre at Dolgellau is now open to the public, promising world class facilities to all visitors whatever their leisure preferences. A 12-month project in the making, FC Wales has striven to broaden the centre’s appeal, resulting in the ultimate outdoor recreation complex for Mid Wales. A network of trails have been developed with something for all abilities, from leisurely family walks, cycling trails and an all-ability trail along the river banks to challenging orienteering trails, demanding running trails and exhilarating mountain bike trails for family groups or the most experienced rider. Coed y Brenin has a long established reputation as a mountain biker's Mecca and the centre’s growing popularity - attracting in excess of 80,000 visitors annually and contributing some £5 million to the local economy - meant the original centre at Maesgwm could no longer provide the level of service expected. Thanks to a £1.6million cash injection (jointly funded by Objective 1, WEFO, WDA, WTB, FCW), Coed y Brenin looks set to retake the mantle of Wales's leading mountain biking and outdoor recreation centre. At the heart of these exciting developments lies the stunning new visitor centre, (situated on the east side of the Afon Eden across the A470 from the original centre). Purpose-built to meet everyone’s needs, visitors enter the centre via a footbridge from the ample parking areas into a smart and spacious café with access to a balcony that provides stunning panoramic views down the valley towards Cader Idris. On the lower floor, showers and toilets for all, and a bike shop and workshop facility will be available, and on the top floor, an education classroom and meeting room. This impressive circular building has been designed to sit comfortably in its surroundings and is sustainably built using local materials and sawn timber from Coed y Brenin site itself. The centre boasts ecological features such as a shingle roof, natural insulation and a biomass/woodfuel heating system. The funding has also enabled the re-development of the mountain biking trails, re-furbishing worn sections of track and creating new loops and links – work which will be on-going throughout the coming years. With an emphasis on ensuring no one gets left out, the project has also included the development of a children’s play area directly adjacent to the centre and a children’s animal puzzle trail that leads down to the Afon Eden picnic site, which is accessible to all. The money has also allowed improvements to be made to the Tyn y Groes picnic site and Forest Garden with the building of an all ability trail and new interpretation of the trees within the Garden. It is anticipated that the new and improved Coed y Brenin Visitor Centre and surrounding facilities will not only meet, but exceed the expectations of visitors and attract a growing clientele to Mid Wales which will in turn increase local tourism and boost the wider economy. Forestry Commission Wales Visitor Services Manager Andy Fryers said, "FCW would like to thank all of the people who have helped to make the old Visitor Centre at Maesgwm a fantastic venue for the public. We hope that all of the public who have enjoyed visiting, continue to enjoy the new facilities." For more information visit: www.forestry.gov.uk