Caru Coed y Brenin has been invited to submit a final bid to run Coed y Brenin as a community social enterprise, with a decision expected in December.

Caru Coed y Brenin, the community group set up to fight the closure of the Coed y Brenin visitor centre, has been invited by Natural Resources Wales (NRW) to submit a final proposal to run and develop the site as a community social enterprise. The group announced the news in a press release on 9 October 2026.

How it got here

NRW stopped running the café and shop at Coed y Brenin and Bwlch Nant yr Arian on 31 March 2025 to save money. In November 2025 it went looking for partners to run the visitor centres and surrounding areas, with the option of additional buildings and land, through a competitive process that it said would run until summer 2026.

Caru Coed y Brenin was formed to oppose the closure, so bidding to run the centre itself was a big step. According to the group, it submitted a full proposal in March 2026, with a financial model, a structure for the community enterprise and early plans for developing the site. NRW asked for more detail over the following months, and on 2 September the group presented its plans to a panel of nine NRW staff and a representative of the local community.

What happens next

The final proposal is due by the end of October 2026 and needs an expanded business plan, with more detailed operational and financial planning. The group has added three new members to its team and is talking to Gwynedd Council, Eryri National Park Authority, Visit Wales and the North Wales Economic Ambition Board.

The group expects the outcome around the middle of December 2026. If the bid succeeds, it plans to launch a community share offer, so individuals and organisations can put money into the centre's future.

Rhys Llywelyn, chair of Caru Coed y Brenin, said: "Our vision is for Coed y Brenin to be run by the community, for the benefit of the community. We want to safeguard the trails, improve the visitor experience and ensure that the economic benefits are felt throughout Meirionnydd and the wider Welsh economy."

What it means for riders

Nothing changes on the ground yet. The trails, car park and toilets have stayed open throughout, and the Beics Brenin bike shop and hire centre still trades from the lower floor of the visitor centre. The café and shop remain closed while the process runs.

Coed y Brenin opened in 1996 as the UK's first purpose-built mountain bike trail centre, and its trails and gravel routes are covered on our Coed y Brenin trail page.

To follow the bid and hear about the share offer if it goes ahead, sign up for updates at carucoedybrenin.org or follow the group on Facebook and Instagram.