Coed Rhoswen, Gwynnedd

Description:  Coed Rhoswen is a beautiful regenerating broadleaf woodland on the side of the Cynfal valley, a short distance from where the river merges with the Dwyryd and flows into the tidal estuary just the other side of Maentwrog.  The woodland is sloping, steeply in parts, but levelling off significantly towards the northern upper end of the wood. Tracks, partly stoned, provide access to all parts of the wood.

Coed Rhoswen is part of a large wood known variously as Nurse Dol-Rhiw or Nurse Gelli-dywylI. It is not designated as ancient woodland, although the woodland to the north-eastern side is designated as a Plantation on an Ancient Woodland site; Coed Rhoswen has acquired the feel and some of the species that would be found in ancient woodland.

Trees:The wood was previously planted withNorway spruce with some larch and corsican pine and mixed broadleaves, but the majority of the conifer was clearfelled in 2008, and 60% replanted with native broadleaves and 40% left to regenerate with sweet chestnut.  There is a wide range of broadleaved trees, including oak, hazel, rowan, crab apple, cherry and some beech and scots pine/  Around 40% of the wood is sweet chestnut, both younger trees and magnificent mature specimens, particularly along the southern boundary of the wood.

Boundaries: The western boundary is the public road. The south-eastern boundary is mostly separated from adjoining farmland by a dry stone wall, and partly by fences.  The northern and north-eastern boundaries are stone walls.

Wildlife: The wood is undoubtedly home to a variety of wildlife, including a variety of butterflies, and it is alive with the sound of bird-song. As well as the usual suspects….blackbird, robin, sparrow….Dunnock, Great Tit, Song Thrush, Blackcap and Chiffchaff have been heard and seen.

Access: There are two points of access to the wood off the adjoining road. The northern entrance is via double metal gates, shared with the adjoining wood to the north-east. A track runs adjacent to, but separated from, the road up to the south-western tip of the wood, where there is a second gate onto the main track.

Two good paths originating from this main track run along the side of the hill, rising gently, and providing access to most parts of the wood.

Old maps from the end of the nineteenth or start of the twentieth century show a grid of paths through the wood, and further exploration may reveal these.

Sporting rights: Included

Mineral rights: Included, except as excluded by statute.

Public footpaths: There are no public footpaths or public access of any kind within the land.

National Park: Coed Rhoswen is within the Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park.

Local area: The woodland is in the Vale of Ffestiniog, and overlooks the well known Ffestiniog steam railway that runs along the opposite side of the valley.  The village of Llan Ffestiniog (not as well known as Blaenau Ffestiniog) is only a mile away, and is accessible by public footpath from Pont Tal-y-bont, the bridge on the A496 just a few hundred yards from the wood.

The road that runs past the wood is on the route of Sarn Helen, an old Roman road that ran from Aberconwy to Carmarthen.

The town of Penrhyndeudraeth is only five miles away, and the world famous Portmeirion baroque/Italianate village, which has served as the location for numerous films and television shows, most famously as "the Village" in the 1960s television show The Prisoner, is just seven miles away.

Photographs: were taken in May 2025

VIEWING: You are welcome to visit this wood by yourself.  Please ensure that you have a copy of these sales details with you: we recommend either printing the details or downloading them to your phone/tablet/laptop before you go. Please take care when viewing as the great outdoors can contain unexpected hazards and woodlands are no exception.  Make sure you take a copy of the sales particulars with you, as there may be no mobile signal at the woodland.

Interested in this woodland? Get in touch with us:

Contact Sandra Colley on 07769654392 or email us at [email protected] with your details.