Marin Trail - Betws y Coed

tofu21
tofu21 Posts: 359
edited January 2011 in Routes
Hi,

It's been years since I last did the Marin Trail.

If anyone has done it recently, what is it currently like?

Thanks
Simon

Comments

  • Stu T
    Stu T Posts: 127
    Brilliant, :lol:
    I wear Lycra because I like the way it feels
  • tofu21
    tofu21 Posts: 359
    Great, the last couple of time I was there they were a few sections closed.

    Just need some reasonable weather to make it worth the drive.
  • welshkev
    welshkev Posts: 9,690
    POO!!!!!

    i rode it in the summer and i thought it was an ok trail but too much climbing for not enough reward. but as to the state of it currently, i don't know :lol:
  • scale20
    scale20 Posts: 1,300
    The marin holds out well all year round, the trail itself drains really well. There have been some trail repairs that have smoothed out some of the better bits.

    A lot of people hate the initial climb but at the end of the day its only 15-20 mins of hard work.
    Niner Air 9 Rigid
    Whyte 129S 29er.
  • tofu21
    tofu21 Posts: 359
    Call me masochistic if you like but I really like a good climb. It makes it feal like you are putting some effort in. Llandegla starts with a killer climb too. It's all good training. My event season starts in 3 months and I need to get some good hard miles in.
  • scale20
    scale20 Posts: 1,300
    Are you local to the marin? I'm not too sure what the trail is like after the recent snow and ice but I will find out for you.

    The marin does have some climbs but some really good ST sections in between, at the end of the day you have to go up a little to come down the good bits!

    Hills are good character building stuff :D
    Niner Air 9 Rigid
    Whyte 129S 29er.
  • tofu21
    tofu21 Posts: 359
    I'm over in Stoke so about 2 hours drive. So don't really want to head over to find that it's an ice rink or mud bath.

    I used to live in Conwy so did it a few times then.
  • welshkev
    welshkev Posts: 9,690
    it's not the first climb i don't like, that's a piece of wee wee compared to cwmcarn :lol:

    it's just you tend to not descend on anything very good and then you turn a corner and there's another fireroad climb!!!!

    i'd go again if i was in the area but i wouldn't make a special trip there
  • darren555
    darren555 Posts: 194
    welshkev wrote:
    it's just you tend to not descend on anything very good and then you turn a corner and there's another fireroad climb!!!!

    +1

    I love climbs but the rewards just aren't there for me.
  • tofu21
    tofu21 Posts: 359
    I'm interested to see what I think to it after not ridding it for a few years.

    I used to really like it but I've put in a lot of miles since then so I wonder if I will hold it in such high regard.
  • BeardedDave
    BeardedDave Posts: 1,977
    Darren555 wrote:
    welshkev wrote:
    it's just you tend to not descend on anything very good and then you turn a corner and there's another fireroad climb!!!!

    +1

    I love climbs but the rewards just aren't there for me.

    +1 for me too.

    Having ridden quite a lot of the Welsh and Scottish trail centres, the Marin Trail just does not compare, for me. To be fair to it, it was one of the first ones built, but trail building and trail riding has moved on since then.
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  • Ronbiker
    Ronbiker Posts: 2
    In september we want to come over to the northern Wales region with our mtb club of Belgium. We made a reservation in a bunkhouse in Betws y Coed.
    I understood that the Marin trail was not that special, does the Penmachno?
    Are there better options in the neighbourhood?
    We want to climb Snowdon one day early in the morning (before 10am back in Llanberis! !).
    Is there any trail to do the way back to Betws y Coed or do we have to take the road?
    We also want to go to Coed y Brenin one day, which trails can you propose over there.

    We all are not that technical, but like heavy climbs and ridable trails and single tracks.

    Thanks for helping me out of this. :P
    www.greenbikers.be
  • welshkev
    welshkev Posts: 9,690
    Ronbiker wrote:
    In september we want to come over to the northern Wales region with our mtb club of Belgium. We made a reservation in a bunkhouse in Betws y Coed.
    I understood that the Marin trail was not that special, does the Penmachno?
    Are there better options in the neighbourhood?
    We want to climb Snowdon one day early in the morning (before 10am back in Llanberis! !).
    Is there any trail to do the way back to Betws y Coed or do we have to take the road?
    We also want to go to Coed y Brenin one day, which trails can you propose over there.

    We all are not that technical, but like heavy climbs and ridable trails and single tracks.

    Thanks for helping me out of this. :P
    www.greenbikers.be

    if yo like climbs and are not that technical then you'll proabably like the marin trail. it's a nice ride, it's just that there are better trails around.

    i've not ridden penmachno myself but everyone i speak to says that it's amazing :D

    snowdon will be good aswell, that's another one for my 'to do'list this year :D
  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,700
    The Marin will be fine, we do it quite a bit in the crappy weather as it drains so well!

    There is a lot of fireroad, most of which is climbing so it feels even longer but I still enjoy it every time i do it!
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • popstar
    popstar Posts: 1,392
    Marin trail is a very good starter's trail. Scenic, not too hard and mellow.

    Coed Y Brenin to start with Dragons Back, next day Tarw and MBR for techy challenges.
    Penmachno isn't very different compared to Marin but is slightly better, still pedally though.
    What could have been (Video)

    I'll choose not put too much stake into someone's opinion who is admittingly terrible though
  • Dirtydog11
    Dirtydog11 Posts: 1,621
    @ronbiker

    Have a look at this site , scroll down the page to Snowdonia routes.

    http://www.flattyresmtbroutes.com/WalesRoutes.html

    We want to climb Snowdon one day early in the morning (before 10am back in Llanberis! !).
    Is there any trail to do the way back to Betws y Coed or do we have to take the road?

    Not really, you would have to take the road back to Betws.
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