Morning folks, heading to North Wales and staying in Bethesda this weekend. I was going to do some trail running around Ogwen Valley but i've been reunited with a knee niggle this morning so I might take the road bike instead. I've never ridden around these parts and wonder if anyone has any routes / recomendations in the area for me? I'm conscious that the roads will probably be hammered with it being a sunny bank holiday weekend so the quieter the roads the better!
Any must do climbs / passes? I'll probably get out for 5 hours or so at a time.
Cheers, James
Ride from bethesda to tregarth then Mynydd llandegai. Theres a good climb up to marchlyn mawr. Its up and down but great views. Could then head back over to the ogwen valley and ride the old A5 up to ogwen cottage.
From penmachno. Head through the village and upto the migneint. Big open moorland with good views.
All linkable just depends how fit youre feeling!
I wouldn't want to do the brailsford way on bank hols. It follows some of the busiest roads in N wales. Lots of people looking at the view while driving. Roads are a nightmare on bank hols.
Anglesey is a good place to go. Lots of country lane style riding away from the main beach roads.
Stwlan Dam climb isn't far away and it's supposed to be an epic, traffic free climb, there's been recent-ish reports of the road being closed for repair/maintenance so check it's open again.
You could have a look at Dan Evans' rides for some routes/climb ideas, given he often rides from near Conwy, which isn't too far from Bethesda https://www.strava.com/pros/225425
Not a 5 hour ride, but one I really enjoy. https://www.strava.com/activities/1391698516
Where you are based, I think there's only the A5 that would take you into the main climbs of Snowdonia. An option would be to drive to Capel Curig and leave the car there then do the above route. Probably be a 3 hour ride, would be some nice challenging climbs plus some great descents. If the weathers good the views will be nice.
No disrespect but Nantlle Valley, Beddgelert and the Llanberis Pass are hardly likely to be quiet on Easter weekend. In fact they are just the places to avoid if out on a bike.
As Tennyson nearly said...
Grockles to the right of him,
Grockles to the left of him,
Into the valley of death rode the unsuspecting cyclist.
Stwlan Dam
There's a locked gate at the foot of the Stwlan Dam climb. It's a private road. Not the sort of thing that worries me, but others may not like to trespass!!!
Thanks folks. Just had a crack at plotting something out on RWGPS - anyone able to let me know if it can be improved at all or if i've plotted 110km of gravel roads accidently...
No. No. A thousand times NO. Not on those roads on a Bank Holiday or any summer weekend, or during the school hols.
The Nant Ffrancon is OK; a bit narrow and quite busy. Traffic eases once past Ogwen and the road widens out. Capel Curig to Tw-hyll is another busy narrow road. The back roads to/from Llanwrst are OK, but then Betws. Are you serious? That is the worst honey pot in all of North Wales. Coaches, cars, trippers, dogs on leads. Everything you just do not want. A place to be avoided like the plague, except perhaps on a wet Wednesday in November.
From Betws south you should be OK. Those roads are quiet.
I presume you are taking the unclassified road to the SE of Beddgelert? But your finish is over Nant Gwynant and Llanberis Pass. You think they are good places to ride a bike? Think again. The roads are narrow, v. narrow and with stone walls on either side. They may be A class roads in name, but you get a couple of Chelsea tractors going in opposite directions, or a caravan or two, or the omni present motor home and there is nowhere left for a cyclist other than into, or over, said walls.
Really there is perhaps more than 50% of your route that really shouldn't be ridden on a bike on a Bank Holiday weekend. Do yourself a favour, and think again.
Sorry for sounding so negative but the big central road network in Snowdonia is not a good place for a bike on busy weekends.
I've had a look at alternatives for you, and from where you are staying you are going to struggle to get a good, enjoyable and safe ride in.
They best bet is to go either down into the Lleyn Peninsula or over into Anglesey. Car it for preference, but once you get into those areas there are plenty of quiet roads for you to ride around on in comfort and safety, and without breathing in exhaust fumes all day.
Stwlan Dam is fine to ride and no worries about trespass. There's a pedestrian gate adjacent to the vehicle gate, and it's well used by both walkers and cyclists with no issues as far as I am aware.
We rode it maybe six weeks back and whilst there were some works going on (looked like there had been some trenches for a cable or something) it was passable on that day and for the most part it just looked like half the width of the road where there had been works needed the final wearing course of tarmac reinstated.
The climb out the back of Penmachno over to Blaneau was good and also the climb to Rhydd. But either side of those you'll have busy roads.
I'm begining to think a limpy trail run might be the better bet after all...
Have to say it wasn't our choice to plump it for the bank holiday weekend. Parents in laws idea!
+1 for Lleyn. We’re here at the moment and the lanes are beautiful and bereft of traffic.
