6. Once you have taken in the views, or stared at the inside of a cloud, drop your saddle and return the same way you
came up. Although the rocky scramble from the top is not ridable the rest of it is. It makes a challenging and enjoyable
descent, well worth the energy expended in reaching the summit.
came up. Although the rocky scramble from the top is not ridable the rest of it is. It makes a challenging and enjoyable
descent, well worth the energy expended in reaching the summit.
This mountain bike route of
10.9miles takes you to the
top of Cadair Idris, an 893m
mountain near Dolgellau on
the southern edge of the
Snowdonia National Park. It
is a big mountain climb with
variety of trails starting with
rocky double track, which
then gives way to grass.
The further you climb the
more the rocks poke
through, until a final 1.5miles
of boulder strewn track to
the top. While there is some
pushing the mountain is
mostly ridable, if you have
the legs for it.
1. Start from the car park
opposite the chapel in
Llanfihangel-y-pennant
(GR672088). Leave the car
park from the exit by the
chapel and turn right on the
10.9miles takes you to the
top of Cadair Idris, an 893m
mountain near Dolgellau on
the southern edge of the
Snowdonia National Park. It
is a big mountain climb with
variety of trails starting with
rocky double track, which
then gives way to grass.
The further you climb the
more the rocks poke
through, until a final 1.5miles
of boulder strewn track to
the top. While there is some
pushing the mountain is
mostly ridable, if you have
the legs for it.
1. Start from the car park
opposite the chapel in
Llanfihangel-y-pennant
(GR672088). Leave the car
park from the exit by the
chapel and turn right on the
lane to follow it through the valley towards the mountains. Bear left across the bridge to go over the Afon Cadair then
immediately right on the other side. Continue along the lane as it bears left to a gate (GR676099).
2. Go through the gate and climb the steep gravel double track to the next gate at a junction with a track on the left
(GR675105). Go straight on through the gate then take the grassy singletrack on the right immediately after that drops
to a fence. Follow the line of the fence and descend into the trees to a stream crossing. Cross the stream using either
the ford or the small stone bridge. On the opposite side push up the loose, rocky singletrack. After a while follow the
track right to exit the trees to climb a grassy trail in the bottom of a ditch. This steep climb ends at a drystone wall.
Remount your bike and turn left to climb the grassy singletrack along the line of the wall on the right. Follow this track
to a crest. From here the track becomes very vague for a short distance and doesn't exactly follow the bridleway on the
OS map. The rest of this paragraph describes the only ridable route I found, which didn't involve going straight through
high marsh grass. Descend from the crest still keeping by the wall. Turn 90deg left at a vague junction by a small tree
on the left, 30-40m before the reaching the bottom corner of the field. Climb this vague track between the tussocks of
grass to a large rounded boulder protruding from the ground. At the boulder turn right and follow the arrow on the
marker post to meet a wide gravel track on a bend (GR678114).
immediately right on the other side. Continue along the lane as it bears left to a gate (GR676099).
2. Go through the gate and climb the steep gravel double track to the next gate at a junction with a track on the left
(GR675105). Go straight on through the gate then take the grassy singletrack on the right immediately after that drops
to a fence. Follow the line of the fence and descend into the trees to a stream crossing. Cross the stream using either
the ford or the small stone bridge. On the opposite side push up the loose, rocky singletrack. After a while follow the
track right to exit the trees to climb a grassy trail in the bottom of a ditch. This steep climb ends at a drystone wall.
Remount your bike and turn left to climb the grassy singletrack along the line of the wall on the right. Follow this track
to a crest. From here the track becomes very vague for a short distance and doesn't exactly follow the bridleway on the
OS map. The rest of this paragraph describes the only ridable route I found, which didn't involve going straight through
high marsh grass. Descend from the crest still keeping by the wall. Turn 90deg left at a vague junction by a small tree
on the left, 30-40m before the reaching the bottom corner of the field. Climb this vague track between the tussocks of
grass to a large rounded boulder protruding from the ground. At the boulder turn right and follow the arrow on the
marker post to meet a wide gravel track on a bend (GR678114).
3. Go straight ahead and climb the track
to a gate a short distance later. Go
through the gate and climb the track which
eventually starts bearing to the left. Go
to a gate a short distance later. Go
through the gate and climb the track which
eventually starts bearing to the left. Go
past a track on the right and on to a gated three way junction on a small
plateau (GR677122). Go through the gate on the right and climb the track that
can be seen winding up the mountain side. After climbing through a few bends
the track comes to a junction. Take the right hand track for a grassy climb to a
gate a short distance later. Follow the bridleway arrows to a small gate to the
left of the main gate. Go through this gate then climb the steep, grassy trail off
to the right. The track climbs through a few corners before coming to a
junction with a ditch across the track that heads into the moorland straight on.
plateau (GR677122). Go through the gate on the right and climb the track that
can be seen winding up the mountain side. After climbing through a few bends
the track comes to a junction. Take the right hand track for a grassy climb to a
gate a short distance later. Follow the bridleway arrows to a small gate to the
left of the main gate. Go through this gate then climb the steep, grassy trail off
to the right. The track climbs through a few corners before coming to a
junction with a ditch across the track that heads into the moorland straight on.
Turn right and climb the grassy track just to the right of
the ditch. Follow the trail, and ditch, as it bears left
around the hill and comes to a gate with a style on the
left (GR682126).
the ditch. Follow the trail, and ditch, as it bears left
around the hill and comes to a gate with a style on the
left (GR682126).
4. Go through the gate and climb the singletrack straight ahead that goes up the left
hand side of the valley. This is the Pony Path, which is an interesting climb of grass, ruts
and rocks. It becomes more tricky as you climb, though as the gradient never becomes
too steep it is possible to ride it all the way to the top. That’s not to say some won’t have
to push. At the top the track bears left over a crest then descends right to a gated
junction (GR691135).
5. Go through the gate ahead, past the footpath on the left and bear right on the wide
gravel track that marks the start of 1.5miles of rocky riding to the top. The track soon
comes to a steep set of rocky steps. This is the first of quite a few bits of hike’a’biking.
In between the steps are ridable sections, some of which are very difficult. After about
1/2mile the sections of steep steps are replaced by loose, bouldery scree. This goes on
for another 1/2mile before reaching the ridge above Llyn y Gadair. This part of the trail
is flatter and ridable but still challenging with large boulder fields to negotiate. The last
100m or so kicks up for a precarious, rocky scramble to the summit (GR711130).
hand side of the valley. This is the Pony Path, which is an interesting climb of grass, ruts
and rocks. It becomes more tricky as you climb, though as the gradient never becomes
too steep it is possible to ride it all the way to the top. That’s not to say some won’t have
to push. At the top the track bears left over a crest then descends right to a gated
junction (GR691135).
5. Go through the gate ahead, past the footpath on the left and bear right on the wide
gravel track that marks the start of 1.5miles of rocky riding to the top. The track soon
comes to a steep set of rocky steps. This is the first of quite a few bits of hike’a’biking.
In between the steps are ridable sections, some of which are very difficult. After about
1/2mile the sections of steep steps are replaced by loose, bouldery scree. This goes on
for another 1/2mile before reaching the ridge above Llyn y Gadair. This part of the trail
is flatter and ridable but still challenging with large boulder fields to negotiate. The last
100m or so kicks up for a precarious, rocky scramble to the summit (GR711130).
Please remember this is a big exposed
mountain. Make sure you are up to the
challenge and pack accordingly.
mountain. Make sure you are up to the
challenge and pack accordingly.
| www.flattyresmtbroutes.com |
|
