|
Recommended accomodation less than 3 miles from Coed y
Brenin: www.cadairviewlodge.co.uk
(0 miles) A long ride of just
over 20 miles this is one for the scenery lovers. The route begins
the same as the Red Bull on the steep switchbacks leading straight
up from the visitor centre car park. Crossing the small tarmac road
on to a rock forest road (straight ahead) then this levels out
before a short rocky pitch and narrows to single track leading up to
a junction with the corner of a forest road. Turn right on here for
a moderately steep climb.
| Click on the picture for a
better view & more info. |
 |
| This road is currently being improved
(which is not a bad thing, the loose rocks used to suck the life out
of you) Ignore the first left turning, take the second left which is
just after a slight dip then short climb. This final doubletrack
stage of the climb is about 500 yards to the corner of a small
section of forest with a post pointing you left in to the
singletrack. This relatively new section has a couple of short
climbs and some of Daffyd's trade mark tight turns as well as
embedded rocks (there to help water run off the trail) which are
best ridden straight over for the fastest line. The tricky climb
with a sharp left turn is best ridden by picking your front wheel up
on to the rock as you turn (you'll need a low gear for this). The
singletrack exits on to the same forest road further down so turn
left and large it down the bumpy turns then after a rise turn left
for a fast run for 100 yards.
(3
miles) Bear left and be prepared to jump as you enter this
narrower section, stay to the right of the trail then brake
after 50 yards for the 90 degree left on to Snap Crackle and
Pop. Snap begins with a 10 foot climb which is difficult to
carry your momentum on to (due to the sharp turn and pot hole)
then hike your front wheel over the water dip and bounce down
this first boulder trail. A good enough excuse on their own
for a full sus. bike Daffyd is in the process of smoothing
over some of the worst of it. Broken in to 3 sections by
forest roads (hence the names) Crackle is the shortest ending
with a steep drop on to the road. Pop is a lot smoother than
before now, but still watch out for a deceptive tree in the
middle of your line!
|
|
Pop
drop's you on to a shale forest road. Turn left down this and after
a short climb and descent on a swoopy section hang a right at the T
junction. An earth surfaced road leads down over rain bars and a
cattle grid before turning to tarmac and dropping steeply to a death
defying hairpin left bend.
I overshoot this everytime and end up in
the wood. The tarmac s-bendsdown the hill tempting more over-shoots
then ends abruptly at a gate leading on to the main road.
| Click on the picture for a
better view & more info. |
 |
| (4.4
miles) Turn right on to the road and go to a tarmac left turn
at
(4.9 miles) go over the
cattle grid leading in to Ty'n-y-groes picnic area (don't ask
me how to say that). Turn immediately right, up the steep
tarmac road and follow the road for 0.25 miles to a
singletrack climb on the left. This is a classic piece of
trail which proves that singletrack can impress even when
there's a lot of climbing. Carry as much speed as you can from
the road on to the first pitch, fly up the routes and wheelie
over the smooth rock step. A short, wet bumpy section follows
with a 'not as slippery as it looks' solid rock hairpin. We've
never seen anyone fall off this and have no desire to. Granny
up the next 20 metre climb then directly right round the tree
for a short drop on narrow trail. several short climb's and
drops with more roots and rocks than some would like are
followed by a nasty short pitch with rock and root which is
the main technical challenge. It ends in a burst of speed with
a small stream to jump.
next page
Click on the icon for a
print ony version of the route
Llys
Ednowain Hostel Coed y Brenin
Accomodation close to Coed y Brenin.
Sleeps 18 people in 4 centrally heated rooms, en suite with showers, with
linen and duvets provided. The accommodation offers a
private car park, fully equiped kitchen, computers, washing machine and
dryer.
e-mail : llysednowain@btconnect.com
|
|
