Cycling around Conwy

ribbo

Hi All,

Managing to escape slight to Conwy in a few weeks time and was hoping to take the road bikes.

Has anyone got any experience of riding around there? Specifically we are staying near Eglwysbach.

Strava has kicked up a couple of decent sized climbs - Eigiau & Drum climbs but both look like they may not be the best road surface in the world. Aside from these I can't really find any other inspiration aside from riding up and down the two roads either side of the River Conwy, the B5101 and Llanwrst Road, neither which look that great or picking our way through some narrow looking lanes.

Has anyone got any decent routes or suggestions?

Many thanks

N0bodyOfTheGoat

Dan Evans, recent ex national hill climb champ lives around there, his rides on Strava might give you some ideas. https://www.strava.com/pros/225425

The climb to the top of Great Orme in Llandudno is testing, the tram wasn't running on Monday. https://www.strava.com/segments/8271356

A good handful of 300-750 foot (cat 4/3) climbs around Prestatyn/Meliden/Dyserth/Rhuallt.

Cracking ~1200 foot cat 2 climb on the B4501 out of Denbigh heading south west to Llyn Brenig, called Road To Hell. https://www.strava.com/segments/6671093

ribbo

Brilliant that - I'll take a look. Thanks!

ugo.santalucia

Great Orme is lovely.

You have to go up Llanberis pass, but avoid weekends, it will be busy with Snowdon punters,then descend into Betws Y Coed and back to Conwy via Llanwrst and a relatively flat B road. Outside busy times you can even go up the A5 to the pass, it's really a beautiful place up there.

ribbo

Thanks Ugo, appreciate it!

thistle_

ribbo said:

Strava has kicked up a couple of decent sized climbs - Eigiau & Drum climbs but both look like they may not be the best road surface in the world.

I've not been up to Eigiau but the road up to Cowlyd from Trefriw used to be OK although you can only go as far as the dam on a road bike (the climb is something ridiculously steep too).
Drum is all off road. The Roman Road along the top is off road, might be OK on a CX bike.

N0bodyOfTheGoat said:

Dan Evans, recent ex national hill climb champ lives around there, his rides on Strava might give you some ideas. https://www.strava.com/pros/225425

He even did a "ride around Conwy" a couple of weeks ago, although not much use to the OP as he's staying slap bang in the centre

N0bodyOfTheGoat said:

The climb to the top of Great Orme in Llandudno is testing, the tram wasn't running on Monday. https://www.strava.com/segments/8271356

The ride around it is quite nice too, and if you're feeling in the mood half way along you can turn up the zig-zag climb: https://goo.gl/maps/CrBcqE8guPPsY2hB7

The A470 is a bit of a nightmare for cycling during the day, especially the bit between Eglwysbach and Glan Conwy. The best route up and down is the B road on the west side of the valley.
If you get to Conwy, there's a cycle path along the sea front to Llanfairfechan and you can continue on back roads to Bangor and Anglesey.

ugo.santalucia said:

Great Orme is lovely.
You have to go up Llanberis pass, but avoid weekends, it will be busy with Snowdon punters,then descend into Betws Y Coed and back to Conwy via Llanwrst and a relatively flat B road. Outside busy times you can even go up the A5 to the pass, it's really a beautiful place up there.

The loop around Snowdon is a nice route - from Betws y Coed go up the Llanberis Pass and drop down the Llanberis, optional childish photo at Penisa'rwaun, cut across to Waunfawr then follow the road down Beddgelert then back up Nant Gwynant then home.

When it's quiet, it's lovely around there even on the main roads.