Bwlch Nant yr Arian Forest Visitor Centre at Bwlch Nant yr Arian Visitor Centre

The Bwlch Nant yr Arian Visitor Centre is the starting point for a range of waymarked trails for walkers, mountain bikers, runners and horse riders. It is well-known for its long established tradition of daily feeding of red kites, Wales’ National Bird of Prey.

WALKING TRAILS
Three waymarked walking trails of different lengths which all offer great views. The Barcud Trail takes you around the lake along an accessible path where you can see the Red Kites being fed. The Miners' Trail winds along the head of the valley, followed by a short sharp climb taking you up to the Giant's Chair, for a stunning view of the valley. The Ridgetop Trail offers a great viewpoint of Cardigan Bay and the Cambrian Mountains.

SKILLS PARK
A skills park with purpose-built track for mountain bikers to practise their technique. It includes rollers, step ups, berms, tabletops, hips and bowls. The site was carefully selected so that the track doesn’t affect other trails or the view of the lake.

MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAILS
Four of the finest mountain bike trails in Wales. The most recent addition is the Melindwr Trail which is a moderate track to test your skills before progressing to the more difficult trails of Pendam and Summit. The Syfydrin Trail is the ultimate extreme trail at this site, famous for long singletrack runs and superb views.

HORSE RIDING
A waymarked trail named after a local hill (Mynydd March or Horse Mountain). It follows a circular route using forest roads, public roads and trails which includes a few short steeper sections and a variety of surfaces.

RUNNING TRAILS
Two running trails with flat sections, climbs and a variety of surfaces. Y Llo Trail and Ar Fuwch Trail are named after an imposing pair of Bronze Age local standing stones, Buwch a’r Llo (Cow and Calf).

ORIENTEERING
Four orienteering courses ranging from beginner level to a more challenging option for experienced orienteers.

CAFE & SHOP
The café serves fresh, locally sourced produce daily and the menu includes succulent pork sausages and tasty venison or beef burgers, homemade soups and a delicious choice of cakes.

CHILDREN'S PLAY AREAS
There are two play areas, one for toddlers and one for older children:

The toddlers’ play area is for children aged between three and six years. It has a safety-surfaced play zone and easy access for parents, pushchairs and young children. The equipment includes two toddler swings and a purpose built unit with a slide, climbing wall, climbing net and ladder.

The Dizzy Heights Play Area is for children aged six years and older. It has a wood chip surface, two giant basket swings, an orangutan climbing frame and a purpose-built section with slide, climbing wall, rope ladder, fireman's pole and climbing net.

All of the play equipment is of robust timber construction which blends in with the forest surroundings.

DISCOVERY BACKPACKS
You can borrow a free discovery backpack at the visitor centre and discover more of the great outdoors. Each backpack contains useful goodies like binoculars, a magnifying glass, a bug pot and nature identification cards along with a guide explaining how to use them.

PLEASE NOTE:
Sometimes we need to close or divert trails for your safety whilst we undertake maintenance work or forest operations.
Occasionally we may have to close a site in extreme weather, such as high winds or snow and ice due to the risk of injury to visitors or staff. Please always follow any instructions onsite and make sure you follow any temporary diversion signs in place.

Please see the Bwlch Nant yr Arian update on our Bwlch Nant yr Arian web page for the latest information.