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What are the good, natural rides around Dolgellau?
Myself and Mrs Shan are off there in a couple of weeks and we'll be taking the bikes, but I'm struggling to tell what's the good stuff.
Mrs Shan has been ill and not riding a lot this year so I'm particularly looking for:
- about 20km max
- Interesting singletrack but not committing tech
- Avoiding massive climbs, particularly anything involving hike-a-bike
I know Coed y Brenin is just round the corner, and we might take that in, but we're after a hit of natural riding while we're there.
Oh, and if anyone has tips about good places to eat in town, I'm all ears as well.
Pont scethin loop might be worth considering. I've not done it but it looks to tick your boxes.
Pont scethin loop might be worth considering. I’ve not done it but it looks to tick your boxes.
I have, it should fit the bill. Look it up on YouTube for an idea of the tech level.
Had a very filling Cowboy Hash in Popty'r Dref in Dolgellau on Monday. There were some impressive cakes on display too.
The Mawddach estuary cycle path is worth considering with mussels and chips for lunch in Barmouth. Also nice pizza at the Isis Cafe - no affiliation to the terrorists.
No tech but the view are ace.
You could incorporate some of the trails to the south of it too and make it into a loop.
Ahhhh love the Mawddach Estuary.
Avoiding massive climbs
Pont scethin loop might be worth considering
Pretty brutal climb out of Barmouth if I recall. (If you go that way. Not sure if the classic route goes through there)
Pont scethin loop might be worth considering. I’ve not done it but it looks to tick your boxes.
I have, it should fit the bill. Look it up on YouTube for an idea of the tech level.
me too & I would not recommend it to someone who doesn’t want a massive climbs or too technical a ride (going down the Roman rd, my preferred direction, is pretty technical). C-Y-B has some great trails, & would be my suggestion, & even that has some tricky opening sections. I keep looking for stuff locally, if anyone has any suggestions, as even the local bits of the Traws Eryri look like uninspiring gravel tracks.
Black road above King’s Youth Hostel.
yeah seen mention of this by green laner’s but is there any sort of loop to include it?
Lots of great places to eat in Dolgellau, not had a bad meal there
Another -1 for Pont Scetin. It's a great ride but you'll be carrying/pushing for a chunk of it which ever way you go.
Pub grub at the Torrent is great.Tafarn y Gader for really good Tapas. Breakfast at Yr Hen Y Fail is top notch.
There is lots to find in Coed Y Brenin aside from the way marked stuff. Worth riding NCN to CYB from Dolgellau too.
Can’t help with routes beyond the obvious CyB, but just to add that the George III pub on the south side of the estuary is great, eat there several times this summer, very nice place to enjoy a pint and soak up the views too. Pizza from the downstairs bar looked good although I didn’t try it. Right on the cycle way too.
Thanks to everyone for replying. For a bit of context, Mrs Shan is managing ~20km in the local woods in the South Downs. A sea of loose, steep rocks has a good chance of causing confidence issues. We're looking to help her get her mojo back.
Apologies for not being able to quote properly. Not sure what I'm doing wrong.
The Mawddach estuary cycle path is worth considering with mussels and chips for lunch in Barmouth. Also nice pizza at the Isis Cafe – no affiliation to the terrorists.
No tech but the view are ace.
Thanks @mrchrist, that one's definitely on our list. Mussel and chips? That's definitely pertinent to my interests.
Black road above King’s Youth Hostel.
@ambrose I wonder if that might work to make the Mawddach estuary into a bit of a loop (though dropping onto the trail from Kings might be a wee bit tricky without taking some access liberties.
On Pont Scethin, is it possible to stitch something together that stays on the Mawddach side of the ridge without going right up to the ridge line?
Worth riding NCN to CYB from Dolgellau too.
Given that I work for Sustrans, it would be remiss of me not to ride a chunk of NCN while I'm there.
Thanks for all the food recommendations, they really help.
Another request: beyond the obvious "in the sea" answer, are there any good swimming spots in the area? Bonus points if they're accessible by bike.
This route is normally always mentioned ...
Dolgellau and Rhydcriw - Snowdonia MTB Route Guide (flattyres-mtb.co.uk)
But looking at the map makes it look to be road or fireroad (the one exception maybe the Black Rd Ambrose mentions)
Dolgellau and Rhydcriw - MapMyRide
On Pont Scethin, is it possible to stitch something together that stays on the Mawddach side of the ridge without going right up to the ridge line?
Kinda but it's be mainly gravel tracks, or foot paths. Obviously I couldn't suggest following the footpath from the mobile tower to Barmouth slab, then around the slab to come out above Barmouth in the abandoned settlement & zipping down into the town
are there any good swimming spots in the area
The Blue Lake was always an interesting place to swim but last time I was up there (last year) the entrance tunnel was collapsed/blocked so unsure of status now.
Without sounding like a killjoy, I don't believe swimming in a quarry is a great idea, even one as pretty as the blue lake.
Covid visitors treating the place like a tip/party location, meant the owners blocked access.
Trip advisor suggests it's closed/no access
Llyn Bodlyn is a decent destination to aim for, stringing together obvious tracks off the map and using railway stations on the coast as links. Steady climbs, nothing too difficult for someone in recovery.
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Bear in mind Barmouth bridge is shut till mid Nov.
Good swimming here. https://maps.app.goo.gl/Ft4Td7mWjzXtwsAFA
Bear in mind Barmouth bridge is shut till mid Nov.
Oh arse. I had completely failed to spot that. I'm guessing the ferry doesn't take bikes?
Covid visitors treating the place like a tip/party location, meant the owners blocked access.
That rules that out then. We're thinking of taking Llyn Cau on our way up/down Cader Idris (on foot). Anyone got any experience of it?
https://maps.app.goo.gl/z4mKtXpYpmy4NSjW8
Here is a nice spot for a swim.
Sorry didn't release the Barmouth bridge was closed. Maybe you could ride on to Fairbourne instead?
We went through Dolgellau on Lon Las Cymru about 3 weeks ago. Excellent pizza at the Stag Inn, and a good breakfast at y Sospan. The bridge at Barmouth was closed and we had to cross the toll bridge at Penmaenpool and take the main road into Barmouth. The CYB blue (Minotaur?) would be ideal - it's not natural but it is pretty gentle and the forest is lovely.
Yes the ferry does take bikes. I think it stops at the end of the month but check.
I would do either:
Mawddach trail to Fairbourne and back.
NCN 82 out to Coed y Brenin and have a bash at some of the green/blue trails and ride back...
that's about it, everything else is hilly or gnarly!
There is also a track from Kings Hostel to Dolgellau which looks rideable. West to east would be best I reckon
I can confirm that the ferry does, indeed take bikes, for a princely £2 each way.
Made a fun ride into an adventure. Day off tomorrow before having a poke round some of the ORPAs and byways on the north side of Cader.
Already thinking of a return trip when we're in a better place. 
There is also a track from Kings Hostel to Dolgellau which looks rideable. West to east would be best I reckon
That's a path we're thinking of