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We're off to North Wales for a week this summer and we're not too far from Snowdon so my plan is to get out early one morning and ride it.
I'm not necessarily looking for the dullest bridleway but at the same time not wanting anything overly technical.
What's the best route up and down that would fit the bill?
Up Llanberis and down Rangers/telegraph valley is the classic I think, it was loads of fun when I did it though was a good few years ago now so not sure what it's like these days!
Went with a couple of mates who were less experienced and they struggled on Rangers though so depends on how you are riding rocky stuff. Not sure if I'd cope well on it now!
I've always gone up Llanberis Path and down Rangers/Telegraph (Maesgwm) but as above the last bit has been flattened/ruined.
Other options here:
https://flattyres-mtb.co.uk/route-guides/north-wales-mtb-routes/
As others have said - up Llanberis path because a good chunk of it is rideable. Down Rangers if you like it steep with lots of rocks! Llanberis down will be fast but feels like a cheap way of losing your hard-earned height to me - over too soon, plus there will possibly still be a few walkers around that’ll compromise your speed. Don’t forget the bike curfew that’s in place between May 1 til the end of Sept (IIRC).
Give Snowdon a miss and go for Yr Wyddfa instead mun
...and come home to a real Welsh fire.
As gwaelod said: theres loads of better rides to be had in the area. Snowdon in the summer, no matter how early you do it, will be absolutely heaving with large parties of walkers. We set off at 5am and it was absolutely chocker then by the time we got to the top.
One of the least enjoyable rides I've ever done
Give Snowdon a miss and go for Yr Wyddfa instead mun
As gwaelod said: theres loads of better rides to be had in the area
Not sure if serious.....
I like to go up the first part of the Ranger, then descend Telegraph Valley to Llanberis to start the main climb. Descend via Ranger. This way you get Telegraph and the entire Ranger descent, plus you’re not hitting the big climb with cold legs.
Yep agreed, Yr Wyddfa is a much better hill to ride than Snowdon.
I found that sunrise was always mobbed, but dusk/sunset less so. The ride up Llanberis path takes anything from 40mins to 2hrs depending on fitness/bike, then you can blast back down Llanberis path in 20mins with a few stops to enjoy the view. Take lights obviously. Rangers is the other usual route, as others have said the Telegraph valley is pretty much wheelchair accessible now but tbh it was always a fast blast back towards the village. Allow a about 40-50mins from summit to Llanberis via Rangers/Tele.
The local bike shop in Llanberis does a Wednesday/Thursday evening ride iirc, could be worth dropping them a message and tagging along if you want company and a guided tour of the local lines around the old slate quarries.
I like to go up the first part of the Ranger, then descend Telegraph Valley to Llanberis to start the main climb. Descend via Ranger. This way you get Telegraph and the entire Ranger descent, plus you’re not hitting the big climb with cold legs.
this is the route/order I’ve always done it in. The main DH is the Rangers, so I like this to be where I finish straight to my car. Get the push up to telegraph done first, quick blast down, then the main climb, main descent and at the car.
Sounds bad but .. Having done Snowdon now a few ways the best way to enjoy it is .. to leave the bike at home bike a nice dry day and do Crib Goch reason behind it most of the walkers on Flip flop mountain will just either get in your way or moan . Sorry but there are far far better high peaks to ride off. I can and did see the appeal. but i wont be rushing back with the bike.
Llanberis up, Rangers and Telegraph Valley down.
As said, Llanberis Path is busy as it's the easiest path up and down, Rangers Path is not so busy and there are quite a few tricky/push sections along it (unless you are the Athertons maybe!), Telegraph Valley is now suitable for gravel bikes.
It is a nice one to get ticked off on a nice sunny day, but will involve either a very early morning, or late evening.
However I agree with stevedoc, hiking the snowdon horseshoe is a better experience than riding Snowdon.
Be warned a lot of the YouTube videos remove the actual amount of walking needed on both routes up and down. Even on an ebike I was surprised on the amount of walking which was a shame. Rangers down (not sure whether we missed the turn off point TBH) was so rocky it wasnt rideable.... I would have rather tried another route or just come down the same way we went up... but that would have been a bit boring I guess.
We actually had more fun the day before at Antur Stiniog and then the Marin Trail the day after.