Betws-y-Coed route ...
 

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Betws-y-Coed route recommendations.

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Hi all,

Staying in ByC soon and was wondering if there is a link to join the Marin direct from ByC rather than just cycling up the A470 to Llanwrst ?

Also same question for Penmachno ?

Cheers.


 
Posted : 27/02/2023 3:18 pm
 nbt
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We used to ride up the B5106, but this suggests you could turn left over the bridge and ride up to the forest road for Gwydyr trail
https://www.trailforks.com/trails/map/?activitytype=1&z=14.9&lat=53.09625&lon=-3.81365

Penmachno is a bit more difficult, looking at that


 
Posted : 27/02/2023 3:24 pm
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Cross the river in Betws and then minor (probably steep) roads up to meet the trail about 2/3rds of the way through.


 
Posted : 27/02/2023 3:48 pm
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probably steep

If it's the road I'm thinking of, my lungs exploded on the way up, and I nearly got wiped out by a speeding saab on it's way down. Was fun, would reccommend.

This was years ago for reference.


 
Posted : 27/02/2023 3:50 pm
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an additional question on this thread, if i may, how does the Marin, sorry,Gwydir Bach compare to say, Follow the Dog or the Monkey trail - it terms of the "technical" bits?

(i am not the greatest when comes to such!)

Thanks,


 
Posted : 27/02/2023 3:54 pm
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Don't remember anything which made me pucker up on it, and I'm a total wimp. Have never ridden Cannock though, although word of its lethal braking bumps has travelled as far as Yorkshire.


 
Posted : 27/02/2023 4:24 pm
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Its only worth riding the last trail at Marin, the rest is average to poor at best. Won't make that mistake again.

And no its pretty tame. Barely even a red, bar the last trail.


 
Posted : 27/02/2023 4:39 pm
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I would agree. Unless its being changed the trail is a figure of 8 and the northern (car park end) loop has the best trails in it


 
Posted : 27/02/2023 4:59 pm
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+1 jhinwxm
Some one raved about it to us, we went the next day & couldn’t have been more bored for the first 2/3’s with fire road climbs & very short trails, then it turned brilliant.
Penmachno on the other hand is excellent, a hidden gem. We did the closed sections too, walking around the rotten board walks.


 
Posted : 27/02/2023 6:07 pm
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Regardless of the marmite on whether you like/dislike the trails (mainly down to not being fit enough for welsh fireroad climbs I find) I love 'em all.

You can get to the Marin from Betws. Machno's a bit tougher as you've a couple of big hills between you and the trad. start (although at the top of the second you'd be joining loop 2.) - easier to drive round to the start tbh.

In terms of tech, yeah there's way more interesting stuff than at Cannock. But it's a solid red trail - I like it on my hardtail. Same for 'machno.

Being fit makes them both loads better 🙂


 
Posted : 27/02/2023 8:20 pm

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