North Wales Riding

coed y brenin

Snowdon without a doubt.
It's light years better than the other North wales riding.

( excluding uplift if that's your thing)

Dear lord, Snowdon is SO busy this weekend

I'm sure it is, but if it's a tossup between a busy snowdon or degla then ....

Lol, definitely not Snowdon this weekend. If you like Whites Level at Afan, you'll enjoy Coed Y Brenin, Marin or Penmachno (the latter delightfully XC with some ace fast bits towards the end). If you're DH/enduro inclined, I'm sure someone at the Marin will point you in the right direction of the spicy stuff (or see Strava).

Snowdon on Easter weekend last year...

Coed y brenin and Llandegla at Easter...
https://flic.kr/p/ScdQY2

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https://flic.kr/p/2neiXga

And actually it's not even that good as they've dismantled that north shore for being too extreme.

Coed y brenin

Clwydian Range. Epic. Shit loads of climbing, good day out. You'll need to be fit though.

Did the Marin years ago and it started okay before becoming a slog. Then the last few km's were absolutely ace! Don't know if it's changed much?

Marin trail. Really like it. Last few sections into the car park to finish are great fun

XC loop?
Llyn Cowlyd perhaps.
Perhaps Dolwyddelen to Capel Curig and back via Sarn Helen? It's proper old school XC. The byway descent towards Capel Curig is amazing.

Loads of choice on the FlatTyres website.

You were so close to the private road climb to Stwlan Dam when at Antur Stiniog, views are amazing.

Llyn Cowlyd

Nooooo

Marin trail. Really like it. Last few sections into the car park to finish are great fun

Agree on the final sections, it's just the hour or so before that made it less interesting. As much of a chore as the final section at Dalby.

Coed y brenin

Any recommendations?

I did the reds at Antur fine and tend to ride reds when in Wales.

I can see there's a few reds and purples... are they a red to match the bike parks or are they tame and only red due to distance?

Agree on the final sections, it’s just the hour or so before that made it less interesting. As much of a chore as the final section at Dalby

Is this a way to say "it's more up than down"?

Dear lord, Snowdon is SO busy this weekend

I have to say, I will not be putting myself through Snowdon on Easter Sunday!

The Marin Trail is pretty good I reckon.
Not too ‘trail centre’ and proper remote feeling (even though it’s not)

Penmachno is ace too, just pack a snorkel.

Is this a way to say “it’s more up than down”?

Nah, more of a way of saying it passes you by without anything really happening and you're left with no significant memory of it.

You can just repeat the last and pretty epic sections of the Marin in shorter and very enjoyable laps… it’s on the maps too.

I know some don’t, but I also quite like Llandegla, there is enough to keep you entertained, including jump lines that you can repeat and fairly entertaining stuff to gap cleanly. Ace cafe too 🙂

Where exactly in north Wales are you staying?

https://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/coed-y-brenin-which-trails-2/#post-12754522

This thread has good stuff about coed Y Brenin. I remembered it from a few weeks back.

We stopped above Llanwrst last August and I cycled up the hill to the Marin Trail. It wasn't hard to sniff out the good stuff in that area then finish with the last sections.

I had intended to do the trail but never got past the fun stuff. I did wish I'd worn my knee pads but thankfully didn't need em 😎

Did the Marin years ago and it started okay before becoming a slog. Then the last few km’s were absolutely ace! Don’t know if it’s changed much?

Yep sums it up, seem promising, then it's crap until the last 1/4.

Enjoyed the Marin, but my mates are all good climbers. The first fire road just goes on and on, bit like Deggers, but it's wide and feature free - not much to look at. Dargon's back was fun, as through the really dark forest, and the views are great. The last section is fun. We did fill our bottles/camel baks from a stream at one point as we ran out of water (warm day). One of the lads got bit by a horse fly - hospital visit a few days later - I've never seen a horse fly in North Wales, or Northern England.

As for Snowdonia at easter, AVOID. Loads of reports of bad parking again, in and around Snowdon, as traffic will be terrible.

What's the best route up and down Snowdon? I might try it later this year.. also I've just read that there's an unofficial agreement not to bike it between 10 and 5 in the summer months. How strict is this? Ok midweek?

Over 40 cars removed from the A5 at Ogwen Friday as dickheads parted on the pavement where solid lines were, all the car parks were full at 7.30am with overnighters and early sun worshipers. There was a good loop from Llanfairfeccan (bet I spelt that wrong) call Romans and druids with a run up Drum and back.

Snowdon is like the M1 for walkers. I did a 'sunrise' walk from 1am start (with people that really should not have been trying it) and it was busy in February last year.

I did Snowdon on a freak feb day about 25 years ago on a rigid mtb - did it up rangers, down the Llanberris path at the time.

If going up Llanberris path, there will be lots of hike a bike. I can't believe we got down it on 90's bikes alive at the time, having walked it last year with a dodgy knee. The descent near the windy tunnel was steep on foot, never mind a canti braked MTB.

What’s the best route up and down Snowdon?

Depends how much energy you have and how techie you like it. There are three bridleways to the summit:
Llanberis path is the main one that pretty much follows the railway. Most of the first half is rideable up. It's also the easiest to descend. Only done it once, in the dark in a gale, it was OK.
Then there's the Ranger path. Bottom third or so is rideable up, but most of it is strictly HaB. Makes a brilliant descent for mortals on decent bikes. Just at the level where I think it won't quite go, but just does.
Then Rryd Ddu ( 'scuse spelling ). I've not been up it but imagine it's mostly HaB in ascent. In descent it starts with a narrow intimidating ridge. I imagine people have ridden bits/ most of it, but I think it has serious consequences. We walked it, partly due to low viz and snow. Beyond that it has some excellent hardish bits and at least one very hard section. I really enjoyed it, but my mate didn't rate it. I'm sure some of the STW gods find it a piece of piss, but objectively speaking it's hard. Imho it's not as good as Ranger as it's not consistently doable. Easy, then too hard, then easier etc. Whereas the main bit of Ranger is just beautiful.

In terms of routes:
Up and down Llanberis. Fine to bag the Peak but not that great on a decent bike.
Up llanberis and down Ranger ( plus telegraph valley) the classic shorter day. Really good

Up llanberis, down Rryd Ddu, Up Ranger, down Ranger ( plus telegraph) big long day of tech
Up Llanb, down Rryd Ddu, walk up the ridge, down Ranger ( plus telegraph) . We attempted this, but bailed due to snow. Still on the list.
Cingles - also still on the list

I might try it later this year.. also I’ve just read that there’s an unofficial agreement not to bike it between 10 and 5 in the summer months. How strict is this? Ok midweek?

I imagine people will get agitated if you cycle during the ban. People get agitated at the mention of pushing up during the ban, so I doubt you'll win friends by riding, even midweek.

I imagine people will get agitated if you cycle during the ban. People get agitated at the mention of pushing up during the ban, so I doubt you’ll win friends by riding.

Is that just the llanberis path tho or any route?

Is that just the llanberis path tho or any route?

Any of the 3 bridleways

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Up and down Llanberis. Fine to bag the Peak but not that great on a decent bike.

Sorry should qualify this. I'm not into riding fast, more into riding tech gnadgery stuff. I'm sure that people who like riding fast would have a ball descending the Llanberis path on a decent bike.

Thanks. Also your whole description of the different routes didn't show at first but I've just seen it and that's really helpful. Looks like it'll be an early one if I go in the summer then... Cheers

Unfortunately the best riding in North Wales is a bit secret squirrel on a need to know basis!

Thanks all for suggestions. Ended up at Coed Y Brenin - great trail centre with plenty for all abilities from my limited experience today.

Ended up doing the Beast. First half (pre split from MBR route) was my preferred. Very tired legs after 1 day uplift and another day walking and climbing so I wasn't the biggest fan of the longest up on the second half... did seem to go on forever and was just fire road so difficult to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Downs that side were also very good but much smoother/less techy.

Good day all round!

Unfortunately the best riding in North Wales is a bit secret squirrel on a need to know basis!

Gotcha... May have to invest in a guide/tour with a local next time!

This route out of Llandegla/ One Planet looks like a nice diversion out from the main trails.

https://www.strava.com/activities/8214870368

For future ref, North Wales path is a good ride. Helps if it is sunny and clear because the views are ace. Some very nice single track and if you finish with a descent down Conwy mountain probably one of my top Welsh ride.