Hafod low level circular walk
Apart from a small hill at the beginning of the route this is a level walk around the base of the hill. The walk takes you past the Great Crested Newt breeding ponds, wildflower meadows and through woodland. The directions below assume that you are starting from the car park. If you wish to do the trail from the Gwalia Road entrance, start reading at point 4 and then continue the instructions from point 1.
1. Leave the far end of the car park and follow the path up the hill, before taking the first turning on the right.
2. The path goes through oak woodland before dropping down and eventually emerging onto a stone surfaced track. Follow the track alongside ponds and ditch which are breeding sites for the Great Crested Newt. The railway line to the right carries the Shrewsbury to Chester line.
3. Veer left before the large gate and follow the path past the pond on your right, and straight across the main path.
4. On reaching the concrete road turn left. Look out for the railway tracks in the road, which use to carry coal from the mine. The concrete road soon turns into a path, follow the path back to the car park.
The heritage and nature trail
The route includes a series interpretation panels and carved oak posts, themed on the parks mining heritage and natural history. Following surfaced footpaths the trail leads you to the summit, with a large stone sun dial sculpture of a miner, and wonderful countryside views.
The directions start from the car park. If you wish to do the trail from the Gwalia Road entrance walk past the pond and up the wide track to the second turning on your left. Follow the directions below from point 3 onwards.
1. Leave the far end of the car park and follow the path up the hill, taking the second turning on the left.
2. Follow this wide flat track past the first path which goes up the hill on the right, until you reach the second path on the right.
3. Turn off the wide track onto this path and go up the hill and take the second turning on the right.
4. This path will take you up the hill until you reach the summit of Bonc yr Hafod.
5. Once you have seen the views and the sculpture, continue past the summit and take the path straight ahead which zig –zags down a steep bank turning right onto the path at the bottom of the bank.
6. If you wish to return to the Gwalia entrance of the park follow this path down the hill and take the second turning on the right. Follow this wide track until you reach the entrance, otherwise just follow the path down to the car park.
