Bwlch Nant yr Arian Ridgetop Trail
Ceredigion
Bwlch Nant yr Arian is a Natural Resources Wales forest centre on the A44, nine miles east of Aberystwyth, set high above the Melindwr Valley, where dogs can range under close control through the conifers before the heather ridge opens out. It is best known for the red kite feeding held by the lake every afternoon, when leads go back on for the crowds. The hills around it were once worked for lead, and remnants of the mines and the leats that fed them can still be picked out along the trails. The Ridgetop Trail is the longest of the three waymarked walks: a 4.1km circuit from the top car park that climbs onto a heather clad ridge with views west to Cardigan Bay and east to the Cambrian Mountains. NRW grades it moderate, with around 80 metres of climbing but several long climbs and some steep descents on forest tracks and paths.
This is a dog friendly forest walk, and NRW asks only that dogs are kept on a lead or under close control on all of its trails. Through the conifers and along the ridge a dog with good recall can have some freedom, as there is little livestock inside the forest, though the ridge is open and exposed with little shade. Keep your dog on a lead around the lake, where visitors and wildfowl gather and the kites come down to feed. The car park is pay and display, with portable toilets and a seasonal hot drinks unit, and there is no cafe on site at present.
At a Glance
- Distance
- 4.1 km (2.5 miles)
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Duration
- 1 hr 30 min
- Walk Type
- Forest, Moorland, Lake
- Route Type
- Circular
- Off Lead Potential
- Moderate
- Livestock Risk
- Low
- Facilities
- Portable toilets and a seasonal hot drinks and food unit at the car park; no cafe currently open.
- Parking
- Bwlch Nant yr Arian visitor centre car park, Natural Resources Wales, pay and display (RingGo), charges apply daily.
Dog Friendly Stays Nearby
Make a weekend of it. These are the closest dog friendly places to stay to Bwlch Nant yr Arian Ridgetop Trail, each one checked for its dog policy before we listed it.
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All dog friendly stays in CeredigionFrequently Asked Questions
Is Bwlch Nant yr Arian Ridgetop Trail dog friendly?
Yes, Bwlch Nant yr Arian scores 8 out of 10 for dog friendliness. Natural Resources Wales welcomes dogs on all of its waymarked trails, asking only for a lead or close control, and the forest and ridge give a good mix of shade and open views. The caveats are the busy lake area around red kite feeding time and the lack of a proper cafe at the moment.
Can dogs be off lead at Bwlch Nant yr Arian Ridgetop Trail?
Dogs can be off lead if they are under close control, which is what Natural Resources Wales asks for on its trails. The forest sections and the heather ridge are the best places for a dog with reliable recall, as livestock is rarely met inside the forest. Put your dog on a lead around the lake and visitor area, especially at feeding time when the kites and visitors gather.
What should I know before visiting Bwlch Nant yr Arian Ridgetop Trail with my dog?
The Ridgetop Trail starts from the top car park and has long climbs and some steep descents, so allow about an hour and a half with a dog. The car park is pay and display, run for NRW, and toilets are portable units. There is no cafe open at present, only a seasonal hot drinks unit, so bring water for your dog. Aberystwyth is the nearest town for food.
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Bwlch Nant yr Arian Visitor Centre Car Park, A44, Ponterwyd, Aberystwyth SY23 3AB
52.4153, -3.8868
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