You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
So it must be 15yrs since I last rode around there - but I’ve got a trip to Betws Y Coed and wondering about bringing the bike if I want a change from climbing and walking. Do these two trails still exist and are they still rideable? Info online about both seems rather outdated and I wondered what the current state is?
Im sure there’s probably loads of amazing natural riding but I do love a waymarked trail for a few hours sometimes!
Thanks
Yup, both open, and both nice routes. I really enjoyed Gwydir (TTFKA The Marin Trail)
'machno will be wet though.
Can anyone confirm whether Penmachno managed to dry out for a day or two this spring, given the exceptional weather? 🙂
Can anyone confirm whether Penmachno managed to dry out for a day or two this spring, given the exceptional weather? 🙂
I haven't been for about a year, but I'd confidently say no. Yes, it's been dry, verging on water shortage in some places, but be realistic. It's Penmachno. If the entire world was burning in and 80 degree support wasteland, there would be salmon heading up the final descent to spawn.
I've ridden the Marin trail a couple of times recently, officially I think it's closed but in realty it's very much open!
There is a red plastic fence over the entrance but many people are simply going around it. This section is only closed because of a fallen tree but it's easy to go around it.
About 3/4's of the way around there's a section where you go over a small bridge and you've got to walk up big rocks, shortly after this there is logging activity with huge trucks. On a weekend I've always been fine but on a weekday you may see a few annoyed loggers if you ignore the notices!
Haven't been to Penmachno for a couple of years, last time I went it was looking very tired with broken bridges and ton's of water flooding the trails.
Only ridden Penmachno once. It was a about 37 degrees in a July heatwave, but a wet summer overall. Place was bone dry except one short descent in a gully. I feel like I've missed out on the full experience.
bitmuddytoday Free Member
Report
Only ridden Penmachno once. It was a about 37 degrees in a July heatwave, but a wet summer overall. Place was bone dry except one short descent in a gully. I feel like I've missed out on the full experience.
User name doesn't check out
I would say 80% of loop two of Penmanchno is closed and diverted to the fire roads. I haven't been for years but went a week ago and the bits that are closed look like they have been closed for years now.
Gwydir is well worth a ride out from ByC - and if you have Trailforks then you can easily locate some of the great off-piste.
I'd recommend the short tracks at the top of the main climb as being less severe and easy to loop.
Thanks. Gwydir it is then. IIRC I can join the route part way round a short ride from ByC?
We were due to be heading out that way next week. I presume last winter's fallen wood is still waiting for NRW to clear stuff before repairs can be carried out.
We were due to be heading out that way next week. I presume last winter's fallen wood is still waiting for NRW to clear stuff before repairs can be carried out.
Went to CYB on Sunday, speaking with someone who had been to Marin the day before. Only fallen tree is on the very first bit out of the car park. The rest has been cleared, give or take.
I rode Penmachno not long back in April and it was still a series of sheep sold at the very top, everything else was bone dry.
Been riding CyB since it first opened but never been to Pench until recently. Much preferred Pench to CyB
There is at least one closed section due to very heavy storm damage, it’s not remotely passable but a fire track diversion is in place. A board walk section was also ‘closed’ when I did it as they are/were replacing rotten wood. It was still possible to ride though
If at CyB have you considered the Climach x trail too?
I rode both in April. As FunkyDunc says, there's a diversion due to fallen trees which means the whole of the middle descent is now on a fireroad.
The Marin Trail was ace though, really loved it. Better than I remember and some new stuff added since I went last about 10 years ago. As others have said, ignore the closure signs at the beginning, there's one big tree that is easily passable.
Rode The Marin trail on 1/07/25, barriers at start now off to one side, semi-permanent diversion around big tree on first section, elsewhere there's been some strimming and trail restoration. Rest is all open, great riding as usual.
I can’t believe penmacho is ever dry! Though we did a couple of years ago, we just rode the closed sections, had to push past a couple of rotting boardwalks, but it didn’t stop us having a great (if damp) time
I reckon I haven't ridden TTFKA the Marin trail in about two decades. Is it all still quite roll-able? Tempted to take my son with me who is only a very occasional MTBer and wouldn't appreciate being suddenly confronted with a big drop.
Only time I did the Marin Trail it seemed to start well before turning in to a Dalby style slog but then finishing with a superb last mile or so. Was a while ago though.
I love the Marin tbh, it's a classic "low value trail", it's a lot of effort for the amount of good stuff and a bunch of the descents and fun bits need constant investment of energy and effort. But, the good stuff is really good. And it's in a lovely place, has a museum to visit halfway round, and is generally charming and lovely. Rated by gnars per calorie it's bad but put that aside and it's ace, you just need the right mindset.
Yeah, having heard all about Wales riding and gotting bored of Dalby loops it was pretty underwhelming for a first Wales trip but the good bits were certainly fun.