North Wales, where to go?

JohnnR
JohnnR Posts: 5
edited October 2010 in Routes
Hey,

Myself and a mate are heading over to Wales from Ireland for two days riding in a couple of weeks time. We will be staying in Betws-y-Coed probably. We are planning on doing two rides each day so where wondering a) what are the best trail centers nearby and b) which particular trails in those centers would be the best ones to do. Basically the top 4 trails within a reasonable distance to Betws-y-Coed, we will have a car so can travel around a bit. We don't want to do short, easy routes. We're looking for longer fast, fun, technical trails.

Any help would be great as we haven't been before and there seems to be alot of trail centers around, cheers.

Comments

  • Neily03
    Neily03 Posts: 295
    Penmachno :D Not a trail centre, just a trail and a really good one at that!
    Transition Covert.
  • JohnnR
    JohnnR Posts: 5
    Yea, I've heard it's good. Is it easy to find and follow?
  • ma9mwah
    ma9mwah Posts: 53
    Penmachno and the Marin trail are within 10mins of ByC and can be done on a single day (niether have a cafe or anything but its all well signposted), and then you have Coed-y-Brenin which is around 30mins away and has a great selection of routes (I like the Beast) and a has a nice trail centre/cafe
  • Neily03
    Neily03 Posts: 295
    I wouldn't bother with the Marin, it's 90% fire road and dull.
    Transition Covert.
  • slowslowslow
    slowslowslow Posts: 488
    'I wouldn't bother with the Marin, it's 90% fire road and dull'

    totally agre. Pennmachno is miles better. a cracking little ride.

    Its easy to find. On the way into Betsy on the A5. There is a cafe called 'swallow falls' and its signposted to the left just before. Drive through the village and there is a car park on the right. no payment but an honesty box. bit of a climb to get up but after that its great fun. You can get food/drink/spares in the town.

    I would do Penmachno then head for Brennin......

    Look them up on the web, you can get details and simple maps.
  • JohnnR
    JohnnR Posts: 5
    Cheers guys, Penmacho and Brennin are on the list so. Was also looking at Machynlleth, is it worth heading down there.
  • ma9mwah
    ma9mwah Posts: 53
    Machynlleth has some decent routes, Mach3 and the Cli-machx are good routes.
  • JGS
    JGS Posts: 180
    Neily03 wrote:
    Penmachno :D Not a trail centre, just a trail and a really good one at that!

    I totally agree, I thought the place was so good that I'm longing to go again soon. Llandegla isn't all that far away either and is fun but you have to do a few laps.
  • welshkev
    welshkev Posts: 9,690
    what's penmachno like in the winter guys? does it hold up well to the elements?

    i'm dying to get up there for a blast :D
  • LlangollenHostel
    LlangollenHostel Posts: 2
    JGS wrote:
    Llandegla isn't all that far away either and is fun but you have to do a few laps.

    Another vote for Llandegla here. It's not too far from Betws and is well-worth a visit.
    Llangollen Hostel - 4 star dorms and private rooms near Llandegla mountain bike trails
  • Neily03
    Neily03 Posts: 295
    welshkev wrote:
    what's penmachno like in the winter guys? does it hold up well to the elements?

    i'm dying to get up there for a blast :D

    It's fine just pretty exposed so if the weather is rough you'll know about it! :lol::lol:
    Transition Covert.
  • JGS
    JGS Posts: 180
    Neily03 wrote:
    welshkev wrote:
    what's penmachno like in the winter guys? does it hold up well to the elements?

    i'm dying to get up there for a blast :D

    It's fine just pretty exposed so if the weather is rough you'll know about it! :lol::lol:

    It was pretty soaked when I rode it and I still think it's one of the best proper XC / singletrack trails I've ever ridden. Take a good waterproof though because as Neily03 says it's pretty open.
  • coolboarder
    coolboarder Posts: 149
    Another vote for Llandegla here although perhaps two laps would be called for. I would suggest you get there early though.

    I also enjoyed climax at Machynleth. This has an awesome downhill finish and can be repeated by means of a short cut :wink:


    Rob

    PS, if ever you`re over the Midlands, come check out Cannock. You mught be rather surprised :D
    http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2325/209 ... d0bf_o.jpg
  • bones3027
    bones3027 Posts: 152
    Did a weekend at Brenin in Sept and must say its fantastic, MBR is now my favourite trail. You must head to Brenin.
    My Bikes
  • Bestwuzbest
    Bestwuzbest Posts: 61
    Me & a couple o pals did a trip to N.Wales this time last year and we had a ball...The Marin's pretty dull...very XC. The Cli-machx is superb...esp the final descent. The MBR at CyB is brilliant...and the cherry on the cake is up & down Snowdon (the summertime ban is over)...have heard gr8 things about Llandegla but not yet been.
    "KEEP 'ER LIT N FILL YER BOOTS!"
  • Tom BB
    Tom BB Posts: 1,001
    welshkev wrote:
    what's penmachno like in the winter guys? does it hold up well to the elements?

    i'm dying to get up there for a blast :D

    Wet....very wet! Its wetter in the summer than most places are in the winter! I did it over this past winter-was very scary in the ice!

    OP: Penmachno and Marin Trail in a single day is a great day out-the fireroad aint that bad!

    Coed-y-Brenin is also ace and within easy reach...only ever been the once, but I'm going again this weekend :D
  • PresumingEd
    PresumingEd Posts: 82
    I've just come back from Betws Y Coed; I rode both the Marin and Penmachno and can now see totally why the earlier posters were a bit critical about the Marin trail.It really was a bit underwhelming, with loads of fire track and only short bursts of singletrack.

    Penmachno, on the other hand, was absolutely fantastic, with lots of long, flowing sections of singletrack and a great mixture of terrain. The good weather probably aided the enjoyment as well
  • pdid
    pdid Posts: 1,065
    Do Llandegla and Penmachno on day 1, Penmachno is only 10 mins from Betws y Coed and Coed y Brenin on day 2. Wouldn`t bother with the Marin.

    If you are eating out the Chinese in Betws is amazing!
    Commie Meta 5
    Rock Lobster
  • Northwind
    Northwind Posts: 14,675
    Penmachno's really nice- most of it is quite old-school, traversy/pedally, the climbs and descents are very gradual. The quality of the build's fantastic considering it's all volunteer built, but the drainage is a bit s**t in places to be fair, there's quite a lot of weird bits where it's like they've built the trails to capture puddles. But it's still lovely. The second loop is an absolute must, it's better by far than the first and really taps into that kirroughtree red feel. And then the final descents are good too. WEll worth the trip.

    Beast at CYB was my favourite trail in Wales. Scyfylmymfymlm or whatever it's called at Nant y Arian was ace too, yes it's got loads of fireroad but some of it's really good fireroad. Tarw at CYB is worth the ride but it's a bit shorter, we used it for a recovery day ride. Same goes for Climachx which I really liked, that final descent's mint.
    Uncompromising extremist
  • JohnnR
    JohnnR Posts: 5
    Cheers for all the responses guys.

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