The Mawddach Trail. Photo: John Lucas CC-BY-SA-2.0

Walkers and cyclists are being warned part of a popular trail will be closed for at least two months.

Work to install a new bridge on the Mawddach Trail will mean a section of the route, which runs along the shore of the Mawddach estuary in north Wales, will be out of bounds from later this month.

The bridge will be built between the Coleg Meirion Dwyfor and the Marian in Dolgellau, putting that section of the trail out of use.

The 14km (9-mile) trail, which is open to walkers and cyclists, runs from Dolgellau to the coast at Barmouth in the Snowdonia National Park.

The work, by Gwynedd Council, will improve the route for walkers, cyclists and wheelchair users. The new bridge will also improve the public footpath which runs from Coleg Meirion Dwyfor towards the town of Dolgellau.

The national park authority’s head of warden and access service Mair Huws said: “We apologise for any inconvenience caused by closing this part of the trail.

“At the moment, the bridge and the paths either side of it are not convenient for everybody. But once the new bridge will be installed and the new paths created, it will be easier for walkers, wheelchair users and cyclists of all ages to enjoy the whole of the trail.”

Pete Trumper, the national park’s head of property services added: “This is an exciting project and we are very pleased to be working with Gwynedd Council to ensure that more people can enjoy this part of the trail.

“We are extremely grateful to the council for funding and facilitating this important project.”

The park authority said walkers and cyclists should start or finish their trip at either Bont y Wernddu or Penmaen Pool car parks, rather than the Marian in Dolgellau.

The section of the trail will be closed from 13 February.