Wales

Furnace Wood and Meadow trail, Bodnant Garden

The Furnace Meadow at Bodnant Garden, Conwy. — The Furnace Meadow at Bodnant Garden, Conwy | © National Trust Images/John Miller

Nestled in Bodnant Garden's 80 acres, this hillside trail through Furnace Wood and Meadow will take you to new heights and reward you with panoramic views.

Near to

Bodnant Garden

Start point

Old Mill in The Dell. Grid ref: SH800723

Trail information

View route

Print trail

Difficulty

Accessibility*

Full trail

DistanceMiles: 2 (km: 3.2)

Duration1 hour to 2 hours

Dog friendly**

*Bodnant Garden spans a hillside of the Conwy Valley and terrain varies across the 80 acres with varying accessibility. For further information visit the section marked Access.
**Dogs are welcome all day every day from October to end of March and on special dogs welcome days from 1 April. For more information visit the section marked 'Facilities'.

Address
Bodnant Garden, Tal-y-Cafn, Colwyn Bay, Conwy, LL28 5RE
Directions via Google Maps
By train
Train to Llandudno Junction, 4.5 miles from Bodnant Garden, from where there is a regular bus service.
By bus
The number 25 bus from Llandudno stops outside the gate. Please see the Arriva Wales website for bus times.
https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/wales
By road
From Betws-y-Coed take the A470 north, passing Llanrwst, following directions for the village of Eglwysbach and Bodnant Garden National Trust. Or from the A55, junction 19, take the A470 south, passing Glan Conwy, following directions to Eglwysbach and Bodnant Garden National Trust.
Dogs
Dogs are welcome all day every day October to March and on Wednesday evenings April to September. See Bodnant Garden homepage for full details. Assistance dogs are welcome at all times.
Car park
There is a large car park opposite the garden entrance at Bodnant.
Toilet
Toilets are situated in the car park and garden centre of the upper garden and near the Old Mill in the Dell.
Café
You'll find indoor seating and hot and cold meals at the Pavilion and Magnolia tea-rooms, snacks and outdoor seating at the Dell and Far End kiosks at certain times.
Picnic area
There are many picnic areas around the informal garden.
Shop
Visit the National Trust shop near the garden exit.
Accessible toilet
A disabled access toilet is available in the Pavilion tea-room
Steps/uneven terrain
Longer walks to outlying areas, such as the Furnace Wood and Meadow Walk, include sections of steeper woodland paths not suitable for those with limited mobility.
Accessible route and/or map
Parts of the formal upper garden closest to the garden entrance are level with gravel and grass paths and are accessible to all including wheelchair users and pushchairs.
Total stages: 6
Total stages: 6
Start point
Old Mill in The Dell. Grid ref: SH800723
Stage 1
Starting from the Old Mill, follow the path leading past the refreshment kiosk towards the Dell garden. Take the first right-hand path uphill over a small wooden bridge which takes you up the long Douglas Path, which is lined with mature Douglas firs. Continue to a clearing at the top.
Stage 2
This route brings you to a clearing where you'll see Furnace Meadow. Looking across the river you can also spot The Poem mausoleum perched on a rocky outcrop. From here take the path which follows the boundary of the meadow steeply uphill through many more towering conifers. As you continue uphill, views across the garden begin to emerge through the trees.
Stage 3
Reaching the brow, the path flattens and you approach the Penjerrick Walk. On either side you’ll see young Penjerrick rhododendrons and other newly planted rhododendrons – come back and see them mature in years to come. A parallel path above here runs along the very top of Furnace Hill where, if you take a short detour, you'll see the River Conwy running through the valley towards the sea.
Stage 4
At the next junction your path loops and winds back down the hillside alongside Lady’s Seat. Feel free to stop and sit down here to take in the glorious vista across the garden. From here you'll get a bird's eye view of the famous Italianate Terraces on the opposite side of the valley, built between 1904 and 1914.
A view of the house from Furnace Hill at Bodnant Garden, Conwy | © National Trust Images/John Miller
Stage 5
Continue on the path past the Lady's Seat.
Stage 6
Back at the junction of Meadow Path you may decide to continue southwards alongside the meadow down to the Far End skating pond area, making your own way back through the Yew Dell and Glades (see map). Or you can return the way you came, down the Douglas Path to the Old Mill.
End point
Old Mill in The Dell. Grid ref: SH800723
Trail map
Trail map for Furnace Wood and Meadow walk at Bodnant Garden | © National Trust Images
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Bodnant Garden, Tal-y-Cafn, near Colwyn Bay, Conwy, LL28 5RE

01492650460

bodnantgarden@nationaltrust.org.uk

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Near to

Start point

Trail information

Difficulty

Accessibility*

Full trail

Getting here

Facilities

Accessibility

Terrain and elevation

Trail route

Total stages: 6

Total stages: 6

Start point

Stage 1

Point of interest

Stage 2

Point of interest

Stage 3

Point of interest

Stage 4

Point of interest

Stage 5

Point of interest

Stage 6

Point of interest

End point

Trail map

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