Visitor centres at Bwlch Nant yr Arian and Coed y Brenin should be open in time for the 2027 season, bosses at Natural Resources Wales have said.

An information page on the two sites originally had a closing date for a 'marketing exercise' of 17 July, but this week that was extended to 31 December.

NRW says however that this is a glitch on the website and that it is making good progress in finding long-term operators for the two sites near Aberystwyth and Dolgellau.

NRW added: "We are making good progress in finding long-term operators for the visitor centres.

"The initial review of proposals from earlier this year (2026) is complete.

"Shortlisted bidders have moved to the competitive dialogue phase. This stage allows us to have structured discussions so bidders can develop strong, realistic plans to meet the long-term needs of each site.

"The visitor centres will re-open once final agreements are in place and new operators are ready. Our aim is for the centres to be open in time for the 2027 visitor season."

The doors were closed on the Ponterwyd and Gellilydan sites, along with Ynyslas, in March 2025 as NRW looked to save money.

The Ynyslas site was taken over by a community group last summer, but Nant yr Arian and Coed y Brenin centres remain closed, although paths and parks are open.

The popular centres have remained closed for two summer seasons with temporary toilets and food stands taking their place.

Head of Sustainable Commercial Development Neil Stoddart said when launching the consultation: “This is a unique opportunity to build on the success of two of Wales’ most beautiful and exciting outdoor destinations.

“The aim is to find long-term, sustainable partners who can enhance the sites for the benefit of local communities, local businesses and visitors, whilst protecting nature.”