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Can anyone offer any experience on the best direction to ride the pont Scethin loop? I've ridden it a couple of time clockwise albeit a while ago. I'll be riding an ebike so hike a bike is out of the question (arthritic hip).
Riding clockwise I think that I recall some big old rock steps leading away from the bog on the further side of Pont Scethin, leading up to the ridge that would be problematic. As a descent though that section might be a hoot. On line route guides seem to suggest either way round works but bearing in mind my leg I'm sort of tempted to ride anticlockwise.
Anyone got any views they'd care to offer?
Cheers, Ambrose
I did it anti-clockwise and don't remember any bogs, this was in October. In that direction, the top of the climb before the first descent was bouldery and required lifting/pulling the bike up, I remember it was a bit awkward in bike shoes even with a normal bike. The final descent was very long doubletrack which I remember thinking might be worth doing as a climb so your earned ascent could be spent on more interesting descending.
If you are on an eBike could you do 2 laps, one in each direction?
Then report back to us?
Anti-clockwise for sure, the bog is below the roman steps, and though I've never climbed the steps, watching m/c's struggle up it convinces me it wouldn't be any fun, that and it's just grass field down the other side! M8 has a caravan off closeby, and did it a couple of weeks ago and said he was having to walk some of the climb up the clockwise direction, he was not impressed and won't be doing it again.
We loop down to the Victoria inn for a pint/lunch after pont scethin, go up the Bwlch y Rhiwgyr saddle then take some <ahem> footpaths to get above Barmouth, down to the last inn, then loop round the estuary to finish in the George by the toll bridge. It's not a ride we take too seriously...but the views are spectacular on nice days.
Not sure I could do two loops, I'm not that big a drinker.
If you are on an eBike could you do 2 laps, one in each direction?
But seriously, it's only a half-day ride on a normal bike if you start around Bontddu (and don't descend to Tal Y Bont the other side).
Do it anti-clockwise to get the long rocky descent, and you can recce the terrain for the reverse lap as you go.
No hike-a-bike as I remember.
From our limited loops (once each way) I would say anti-clockwise is more fun but that did involve a hike-a-bike for us up the first steep rocky climb to the saddle. Eeeb may change that.
but that did involve a hike-a-bike for us up the first steep rocky climb to the saddle
To clarify, we did it last year and we pushed, but didn't carry.
So I may have been misleading. But eebs have a handy walk mode, even if they can't power up steeper climbs, don't they?
Our bikes certainly have a walk assist mode. Widdershins it's going to be.
🚵🏼
We loop down to the Victoria inn for a pint/lunch after pont scethin, go up the Bwlch y Rhiwgyr saddle then take some <ahem> footpaths to get above Barmouth
opps wrong saddle, meant the other one which I can't find a name for..
I did it clockwise several years back, and remember thinking at the time that CW was the correct choice. Can't remember the reason! Think you'd get a big landy track descent the other way (however there would still be good bits)
This debate will go on forever which makes me think it is down to personal preference because it's not obvious.