Dyfnant Forest - Pen y Ffordd, near Welshpool

Welcome

​Pen y Ffordd is the starting point for the Rainbow Trails horse riding in Dyfnant Forest.

Facilities at this purpose-built car park include:

• five Rainbow Trails for horse riding
• one-way system to allow drivers of horse boxes to roll in and roll out
• ample parking for horse trailers and cars
• corral for horses

Rainbow Trails

There are nearly 100 miles of tracks and trails with five horse riding trails and three carriage driving trails in Dyfnant Forest.

Known as the Rainbow Trails, they were developed in partnership with the Dyfnant and Vyrnwy Horse Riders and Carriage Drivers Association.

The trails are waymarked and range from an easy trot to challenging 16-mile routes for more experienced riders wanting full-day rides.

For full details and maps go to the Rainbow Trails website.

Dyfnant Forest

Pen y Ffordd is within Dyfnant Forest.

Dyfnant Forest is an upland forest on the edge of the Cambrian mountains just south of Lake Vyrnwy.

The forest is made up of large areas of conifers and pockets of native deciduous trees.

It is well known for its horse riding and carriage driving trails on scenic tracks.

• Hendre - starting point for the Rainbow Trails for carriage driving
• Pen y Ffordd - starting point for the Rainbow Trails for horse riding
• Pont Llogel Wood - easy riverside stroll through woodland

National Forest for Wales

Dyfnant Forest 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.

For advice and tips to help you plan your visit here go to Visiting our places safely.

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.

How to get here

Location

Pen y Ffordd car park is 16½ miles west of Welshpool.

It is in the county of Powys.

Ordnance Survey map

Pen y Ffordd is on Ordnance Survey (OS) Explorer map 239.

The OS grid reference for the car park is SJ 017 135.

Directions

From Welshpool, take the A458 towards Dolgellau.

After 14½ miles, just after the village of Llangadfan, turn right, signposted B4395.

After 2 miles, the Pen y Ffordd car park is on the left.

Public transport

The nearest mainline railway station is in Welshpool.

For details of public transport visit the Traveline Cymru website.

Parking

Parking is free of charge.

Overnight parking is not permitted.

Contact details

There are no staff at this location.

Contact our customer team for general enquiries during office hours, Monday to Friday.