[1] From Betws-y-Coed Youth Hostel at the Swallow Falls Hotel complex, cross the A5 trunk road carefully to the layby and turn right. Follow the pavement down the road for about 600 metres to the end of the field on your left hand side and the start of the forest. (The track down to the left is the end of the alternative route back from the Miners Bridge). Just past here on the other side of the road you will see the track going into the forest with a sign "Maesnewyddion". Cross the A5 carefully and go up this track for about 30 metres.
[2] Just before the track starts swinging right, take the narrow path crossing the ditch on the left hand side of the track up into the forest. This lovely path will be followed for over a kilometre winding through the trees above and away from the A5 below on the left. Initially the path goes uphill then passes above a compound below on the left. A little later on the path follows a wire fence around an old quarry before dropping down nearly to the road. An old wooden footbridge over a small stream is crossed here - beware of the rotten planks! About 100 metres after the bridge you will see a memorial stone to the right of the path (A) commemorating the planting of Gwydyr Forest starting in 1921. Continue following the winding path, still parallel with the road, until it passes a large white house on the left. The path, still fairly distinct, continues and eventually moves away from the road and reaches a forest track. Turn left and in 100 metres there is a small car parking space at the beginning of a narrow surfaced road which leads downhill between houses to the A5.
[3] Cross the A5 carefully to a gate across a track which you follow downhill. The first path on the left beyond the gate is an alternative shorter route back to the Youth Hostel. Follow it with the river on the right, taking care not to trip over over tree routes. On reaching a ruined building turn left up a track back to the A5 and right back to the start. (But do take a look at the miners bridge before returning this way!) The track leads down to some steep steps with the Miners Bridge going over the Afon Llugwy (B). This bridge gives wonderful vistas of the river both up and down stream. The river and woods above here are known as Artists' Wood, a very fashionable place for artists in Victorian times.
[4] Once over the bridge continue straight ahead, climbing steeply uphill through the forest, initially following some wooden posts. Meet a minor road and turn left. From this road you will catch glimpses of the foaming Afon Llugwy down below. Along this road there used to be the initial tree nurseries when the Gwydyr Forest was first planted in the 1920s. After one kilometre take the forest track with a footpath sign going ahead below the road.
[5] Only 40 metres along this track there is a clearing below with views down to the river. On the opposite bank are some old ruined lead mine buildings (C). In another 50 metres take the track forking left downhill. At the bottom you cross a stream, go up again and where it forks turn left following the yellow footpath sign. Continue over a footbridge and the path turns into an uphill rocky section eventually meeting a track coming in from the right and a wire fence on the left. Go straight ahead and the delightful path now follows the fence with the river cascading down below you and cliffs above you on the right. After a few hundred metres a fenced path on the left leads to a bench at a spectacular viewing point. This is Swallow Falls (D) The Youth Hostel is hidden in the trees opposite
[6] Tearing yourself away from the falls, resume on the path alongside the wire fence. The fence then goes downhill (you can follow this down to another viewpoint of Swallow Falls) but the path continues and then turns into a forest track. Shortly you will see a yellow waymarker number 17 by a path on the left. Take this down over a wet stream crossing. The path now follows the river. Much of this path crosses tree roots which can be slippy and are easily tripped over, so take care. A ladder stile leads into a field, and shortly another ladder stile on the left leads back to the river bank. Continue upstream, over tree roots where the river has flooded many times and washed the soil away. The path leads to the fine stone bridge, Pont Ty Hyll, built by Telford in 1815, which takes the A5 over the Afon Llugwy. A stile and steps take you up to the road. Ahead of you is The Ugly House (Ty Hyll in Welsh) - stop here for tea and cakes or a look round the gardens, woodlands and the honey bee exhibition (E).
[7] Turn left over the bridge - there is no footway over the bridge but there is on the far side. Follow this pavement alongside the road for just over a kilometre back to the Youth Hostel.