Pont Scethin    Back to: Pont Scethin Feature      Home

Pont Scethin bridge lies in the mountains between Coed y Brenin and the sea. Yet this ten mile wide stretch of land could hardly be less like those trails we know so well if it were in another country. This is a tough ride with a  lot of pushing, unless you have the legs of a god. You have been warned.
I fought the law...
this is another ride we found virtually cruising across Wales on digital OS maps. I just couldn't resist the tight contours sliced by long red 'MTB's welcome' dashes. There was a really interesting looking start to the ride from here, but how were we supposed to get to it? Often when a bridleway ends in a so called 'white' or unclassified road this can be used as access. However here this is not the case and in fact the short zigzag up to the hill to the bridleway is on a private farm with no legal access. We determined to walk along one of the footpaths here in a kind of right of way protest but this turned out to be almost completely overgrown.
And the law won
There are two more footpaths leading to the start of the section but both are longer and so we decided most riders would prefer to give up on it altogether. Once we had forced our way through the undergrowth (we don't give up easily!) We did find the start of the Bridleway and it's a right little stormer. It begins at the head of a small valley between two cols and in late August the purple heather was everywhere and really stunning. Passing between (and sometimes over) heather trimmed boulders this is like riding in someone's giant rock garden. At the same time on a clear day the views of the estuary and across to Cadair Idris are surely amongst the most beautiful in the region. This is a tricky little descent with unusually slippery rocks if it's wet, and a wonderfully lumpy, uneven grassy single through low bracken.
Feel that real mountain?
After passing through a gate and some mad line choices (over the rock or around to the left, slippery grass or sandy rut?) you ford a small stream then a much bigger one. Don't be a wimp, it's not too slippery, get your feet wet and you'll make it! Unfortunately the following climb is a bit too steep and rocky to manage easily but it's short and leads to another off-piste grass drop and rock slab step up. All too soon you reach the road and we were begging for more of the same. The main loop of this ride is of a different character but you still have the magnificent descent to Pont Scethin bridge awaiting. First however there is a steep road climb unless you park here. There is only room for around six to eight cars, so if it is full (not when we were there) you will need to beat a retreat to here and ride back up. At this point it's worth mentioning that this ride will split riders opinions right down the middle. Those who like a big, tough climb and the real deal mountain feel, will love it. Those who like to 'keep a good quick pace up all round' will hate it and curse you for taking them on this unending grassy climb.
Green and spongy
Once you go through the old iron gate you will probably need to push a little as the first section is a tough little singletrack, much more fun on the way back! Again if it's damp this part can be treacherous: but we're not paying your insurance - heh! At the top of here, keep right of a standing stone and you will go up through a heavy, single-wide iron gate. Congratulations, you are now at the bottom of one of the longest grassy climbs in Wales! If it has been raining the grass will be sponge-like and we wouldn't fancy it. After a dry spell the going is firm and so it was when we rode it. I'm not sure if it was the time of year or a dose of laxatives in the sheep feed but there really was a copious covering of sheep droppings along this next mile. We weaved in and out of this brown mine field in fear of getting our tyres completely covered and suffering 'projectile poo' on the way down again. Just when you're completely pooped (ha ha, sorry) the path bears left and then goes through a gate to continue up the hill on the left side of the dry stone wall. Only it gets much steeper here, great. After a few hundred yards of pushing straight up and one false left turn (which just comes straight back to the wall again) the traverse left appears amid some serious celebrations.
Fool on a hill
Hilary and Tensing did a similar dance on Everest I'm certain. This spectacular path has amazing views clouds permitting, over the Barmouth Estuary. Unfortunately after traversing the path climbs once more to the saddle and finally you reach the top: plant a flag and take a picture you've earned it. Now's the time to laugh at all the wimps who wouldn't join you on such an ambitious and possibly foolhardy route. The descent to Pont Scethin bridge is definitely something to write home about.
Steve's peat
From the off the view is fantastic, looking North out to sea over Dyffryn Ardudwy towards the Lleyn Peninsula and the nearby mound of Moelfre. Deceptively the down hill begins smooth and fast on sheep shorn grass with a centre rut soon developing. The real fun begins with natural buried boulder ramps and little drop off's that invite speed jumps and lane changes. Don't get too cocky with the Steve Peat impersonations or you'll come a cropper in the rock filled centre ravine that develops in to a real challenge and sent us flying up on to the grassy bank. A useful speed maintaining maneuver that ends after a few dozen yards with a right hand bend where the bank disappears and you're heading down to the final turn and it seems like the descent is all over.
Giant's causeway
But it's not, a short wet, rocky section leads on to the valley bottom and a real treat as the path is laid with giant stones forming a gentle slope down to the famous Pont Scethin bridge. Wet or dry these blocks are a challenge and they keep the adrenaline flowing as you cross two ditches each bridged by a single stone. On the route of an old drovers road these monoliths must have taken some hauling and their presence in such a seemingly remote location is quite startling. Once over the bridge itself there is a technical and very wet climb to the track here. We tried in vain to find a route along this bridleway but suffice it to say there is no path existing on the ground. Instead we back tracked to the bridge, discovered what a great descent this was and decided it was worth the little out and back.
The final cut
If you can ride back up the drovers stones without dabbing you're one up on us although we did put in a valiant effort! As the grass climb flattens a post on your right shows the beginning of a tasty singletrack along the side of Llyn Erddyn. Although it's not really a downhill it repays a healthy XC effort with some great nips and tucks, thoroughly enjoyable. Bearing right the single becomes a double and turns in to another jump-fest of mounds and launch pads which speed you all the way down to here. Don't miss this trail which doubles back just before a gate near the first of the trees, with a steep beginning this will probably hurt a bit but grin and bear it. Unfortunately the grassy theme continues on a long haul across the plain towards the obvious cut in the hillside.
Spicey and dicey
Once reached you'll probably run out of puff as we did on the way to the gate and even the fittest will probably push from here to the (happily) much lower high point than before. OK, so it's a bit of a plod up here but at the top is yet another world class view and a dicey grass trail leads down the other side. A banked left hand bend propels you towards a land slip which narrows the trail alarmingly, once past this a second tight turn and you're on to the final drop which used to be a quagmire but has now had a covering of hardcore. Through a gate and the view looks less promising for at least a minute until you drop down on to a cute stone slab bridge with superb views, bliss. Don't miss this ride in late August when the heather is totally amazing. Up through two gates and you find yourself back at the start of the loop with only that short sweet drop to retrace back to the road. So did you love it or hate it? Let us know as soon as you've ridden it.