Fancy a 15 miler, two tough climbs, a demonic downhill and views made in heaven? 3 hours or so to spare? You could do a lot worse than this classic circuit of Happy Valley.
The start is at the tiny hamlet of Cwrt, 5miles west of Machynlleth and not a million miles from Coed y Brenin. Cwrt has a sign if you are coming from the west but appears to be called Penmaendyfi from the east.Strange. Anyway there is a small car park in Cwrt adjacent to the main A493.You have chosen a clear day with not too much wind. Cross the road out of the car park and follow the minor road signed Happy valley or Cwm Maethlon (in Welsh!) After about 2km you will see a house on the right, just as the road bears steeply left. Take the stony doubletrack that goes past the front of the house, go through the gate and climb up steep slope. I walked here-my excuse is that I wasn't warmed up.
The track levels out and contours for the next 3 km through rocky bluffs gaining height slowly up to the col. This is a dastardly and nadgery bit of classic MTB terrain. Rocks of every shape and angle, water splashes- some quite deep and silty which gave me another excuse to get off and look at the lake on the south side of the valley called Bearded lake. You will need concentration and commitment to do these 3km without dabbing.
If in doubt bear right but the track is pretty obvious. You pass through a couple of gates on the flat bit at the top and then you start the technical stony 4km downhill. This is great fun, watch out for a monster puddle which looks like Humphrey Bogart might pull the African Queen out of it. There is a narrow wooden plank on the left. Is it ridable???
The track now improves so you can go faster and eventually turns into rough tarmac. Watch out here a recent rockfall onto the road caused a few wobbles. Go over railway bridge. Turn left and then left again onto the A493 and head towards Towyn (plenty of cafes etc. in Towyn for a break) At first lane on the left follow National Cycle Route 8 sign, this joins onto the A493 again and then take first road on left signed Happy valley.
Go along this pleasant minor road until you reach a chapel and telephone box on your left. A few hundred meters after this take the first lane on the right which goes through a gate into the farm. The farmer had left a disinfectant spray here which I used on my shoes and tyres. This seems a far more useful action than closing down the countryside for everyone. (All this route is legal and not closed by F and M restrictions). Go across the stream by the ford and take a sharp right into the trees and climb steeply and then very steeply by the side of the wood. If you haven't dismounted here you must be a professional!
The track takes a big swing to the left at the top of the wood and climbs more gently! up to a hidden and improbable minor road on the ridge. Once you have gained your breath back, and wiped the sweat off your brow the views of the sea and the mountains are toptastic. Turn left and cruise along the road until you reach a farm. To the right of the farm is a stony doubletrack going right uphill. The gate sign says road closed. Fear not carry on. You will now encounter a long gradual scenic downhill, interrupted by many gates unfortunately. By a boggy diffuse bit the track bends to the left and then right. You enter a slithery bit of wood ,yet another gate and then tarmac. Turn right and follow the minor road to the main A493 and then turn left and in a few hundred metres you will be back at the Cwrt car park.
There are plenty of good cafes in Machynlleth, good bike shop -Greenstiles- by the clock tower and even hire bikes. There are also three tasty MTB routes that have been developed in the town. A free leaflet, with colour and OS map extracts is available from the bike shop or the Tourist Information Centre. These routes were recommended by the bike mag mbr. For more info log onto www.mach-off-road.org.uk