This mountain bike route of 17.3 miles
travels through the rolling hills on the
south side of the Ceiriog Valley in North
Wales. It takes in parts of the ‘Gryn
Moelfre Long’ and the ‘Ceiriog valley and
the Vale of Llangollen’ routes with a
couple of different sections to link them
together. The ride starts in Glyn Ceiriog,
a good place to start, as there are public
toilets just off the roundabout in the middle
of the village, a Spar and a post ride pint
option in the Glyn Valley Hotel.
1. Start from the car park just up the Glyn
Valley Hotel exit of the roundabout, on the
left hand side after the toilets
(GR202378). If this is full there is another
car park behind the Glyn Valley Hotel,
accessed by the side lane opposite. To
start the ride head away from the
roundabout on the B4500, towards Pandy.
travels through the rolling hills on the
south side of the Ceiriog Valley in North
Wales. It takes in parts of the ‘Gryn
Moelfre Long’ and the ‘Ceiriog valley and
the Vale of Llangollen’ routes with a
couple of different sections to link them
together. The ride starts in Glyn Ceiriog,
a good place to start, as there are public
toilets just off the roundabout in the middle
of the village, a Spar and a post ride pint
option in the Glyn Valley Hotel.
1. Start from the car park just up the Glyn
Valley Hotel exit of the roundabout, on the
left hand side after the toilets
(GR202378). If this is full there is another
car park behind the Glyn Valley Hotel,
accessed by the side lane opposite. To
start the ride head away from the
roundabout on the B4500, towards Pandy.
2. Take the right in the outskirts of Glyn Ceiriog, sign posted 'Nantyr 3', and start climbing (GR201374). A short
distance later follow the road up through a right hand hairpin and continue climbing the road ahead for about 2miles.
At the top of the hill turn left along the signposted Ceiriog Trail BW. The BW is on the left of a T-junction with a road on
the right. A house is also on the junction on the right (GR184371).
3. Follow this muddy track through a couple of bends before dropping down a steep rocky section and coming out onto
some tarmac. Continue down hill for 20m to the next junction. Take the track on the left to continue following the BW.
This section can be a bit muddy but thankfully steepens and
becomes twisty and rocky later. Halfway down the descent go
through a gate, then left through the stream. After the stream
turn right and follow the track as it descends bearing left. This is
a fast section that gets loose and rocky lower down. At the
junction at the bottom (GR191362) turn left on the road and
follow it into Pandy.
becomes twisty and rocky later. Halfway down the descent go
through a gate, then left through the stream. After the stream
turn right and follow the track as it descends bearing left. This is
a fast section that gets loose and rocky lower down. At the
junction at the bottom (GR191362) turn left on the road and
follow it into Pandy.
4. At the junction at the end of the lane, in Pandy, turn right and follow the main road.
Go past the lane on the left near Erw Gerrig cottages and follow the road as it climbs,
bearing right, up the valley. Continue along this road for the descent to the junction in
the middle of Tregeiriog (GR177338). Turn left down the 'Y' shaped junction and follow
the lane out of the village then across a bridge. Directly after the bridge turn right at the
crossroad and go to the gate on the right hand side of The Mill (GR177335). After the
gate climb up the main trail to the next junction then climb to the right, up the rutted track
between the hedges. At the top of this section continue along the main trail as
it bears left and comes to a gate at a lane halfway up.
5. Go straight across the road and through the gate on the other side to
continue climbing. Go up the rutted trail and go straight on over the crest of
the hill. The track starts descending here but is quite rutted and can be
muddy, although it’s usually still rideable even in the worst conditions. Take
the 90deg right turn (GR174314) where the track becomes rocky and a lot
more fun. This descent has slabs, drops, loose rocks and time permitting, is
worth a second go. At the bottom go through the gate, if it’s wet it can be a
stream here, and bear right through the actual stream crossing to follow the
track around the right hand side of the sheep pens. The track then
straightens out for a flat section of double track to Ty-gwyn farm. At the farm
follow the track straight on as it climbs to a junction. Take the left hand track,
going straight on, and descend a short way to the road junction.
it bears left and comes to a gate at a lane halfway up.
5. Go straight across the road and through the gate on the other side to
continue climbing. Go up the rutted trail and go straight on over the crest of
the hill. The track starts descending here but is quite rutted and can be
muddy, although it’s usually still rideable even in the worst conditions. Take
the 90deg right turn (GR174314) where the track becomes rocky and a lot
more fun. This descent has slabs, drops, loose rocks and time permitting, is
worth a second go. At the bottom go through the gate, if it’s wet it can be a
stream here, and bear right through the actual stream crossing to follow the
track around the right hand side of the sheep pens. The track then
straightens out for a flat section of double track to Ty-gwyn farm. At the farm
follow the track straight on as it climbs to a junction. Take the left hand track,
going straight on, and descend a short way to the road junction.
6. At the road turn left and after
approx. 80m take the marked BW
through the gate above on the right
(GR178300). It is then a short push
up through two fields, keeping tight to
the fence on the right. At the top of
the second field go through the gate and turn left. Follow the double track as it
climbs along the side of the hill. About halfway up the ascent there is a gate
with a small stand of trees just after. Go high of the trees (following the fence
on the left that should now have been completed), keeping them close on the .
climbs along the side of the hill. About halfway up the ascent there is a gate
with a small stand of trees just after. Go high of the trees (following the fence
on the left that should now have been completed), keeping them close on the .
8. Turn down the sharp left and descend
through the farm. Go through the gate to the
water splash at the bottom then follow the trail
uphill, bearing right, with trees on the right.
Continue along this trail to a gate at a crossroad
(GR225326). ). Go straight on along the rutted,
grassy double track as it climbs though the line
of trees. After the next gate keep to this trail as
it descends eventually bearing left to the gate at
Llechrydau Farm. After the gate bear right
through the dip and climb to the gate at the road
through the farm. Go through the gate to the
water splash at the bottom then follow the trail
uphill, bearing right, with trees on the right.
Continue along this trail to a gate at a crossroad
(GR225326). ). Go straight on along the rutted,
grassy double track as it climbs though the line
of trees. After the next gate keep to this trail as
it descends eventually bearing left to the gate at
Llechrydau Farm. After the gate bear right
through the dip and climb to the gate at the road
and turn left (GR223339).
9. Follow the lane up a gentle climb then down a gentle
descent until it comes to a gate on the left at the head of a
gully on the left, where the lane climbs off to the right. Go
through the gate then turn right and descend the wide,
rocky track. The descent bears left and comes to a
junction. Take the right hand track to continue
descending along the line of trees on the right. Where the
track reduces in steepness continue bearing right into the
trees and past the two tracks on the left. At the end of the
trees go past the cattle grid and continue along the
tarmac to the gate at the house (GR198352).
10. After the gate drop left then at the bottom go right
9. Follow the lane up a gentle climb then down a gentle
descent until it comes to a gate on the left at the head of a
gully on the left, where the lane climbs off to the right. Go
through the gate then turn right and descend the wide,
rocky track. The descent bears left and comes to a
junction. Take the right hand track to continue
descending along the line of trees on the right. Where the
track reduces in steepness continue bearing right into the
trees and past the two tracks on the left. At the end of the
trees go past the cattle grid and continue along the
tarmac to the gate at the house (GR198352).
10. After the gate drop left then at the bottom go right
over the bridge and climb to the junction with the main road near Erw Gerrig cottages.
Turn right and follow this road for 1.5miles through Pandy and back to the finish in Glyn
Ceiriog.
All of this route can be plotted on OS Explorer 255. I have used this route for one of my
'Edge Cycleworks' Shop Rides and a slight variation for one of my 'Oneplanet' Shop
Rides (we didn't do the first climb and descent into Pandy).
This route crosses and can be combined with other routes from my site :
Ceiriog Valley and the Vale of Llangollen
Ceiriog Valley Gryn Meolfre Long
Ceiriog Valley The Pheasant Track
Cadair Berwyn Loop
Turn right and follow this road for 1.5miles through Pandy and back to the finish in Glyn
Ceiriog.
All of this route can be plotted on OS Explorer 255. I have used this route for one of my
'Edge Cycleworks' Shop Rides and a slight variation for one of my 'Oneplanet' Shop
Rides (we didn't do the first climb and descent into Pandy).
This route crosses and can be combined with other routes from my site :
Ceiriog Valley and the Vale of Llangollen
Ceiriog Valley Gryn Meolfre Long
Ceiriog Valley The Pheasant Track
Cadair Berwyn Loop
left, through the bottom of the field to a gate. Go through this gate and the one shortly after.
7. The grassy trail flattens and comes to a fork (GR193297), take the left going down hill. The track bears left, then
after the gates at the sheepfold, bears right and comes to a farm. Go straight on past the farm and descend to the
junction with the road (GR209302). Turn left, descend to the crossroads and go straight across. Climb a short way to
the next junction and turn right. At the far end of this lane turn right again and climb the lane up the left side of the
valley. Bear left to the top of the climb, go past a track on the left, then descend a short way to the next track on the
left (GR225317)
7. The grassy trail flattens and comes to a fork (GR193297), take the left going down hill. The track bears left, then
after the gates at the sheepfold, bears right and comes to a farm. Go straight on past the farm and descend to the
junction with the road (GR209302). Turn left, descend to the crossroads and go straight across. Climb a short way to
the next junction and turn right. At the far end of this lane turn right again and climb the lane up the left side of the
valley. Bear left to the top of the climb, go past a track on the left, then descend a short way to the next track on the
left (GR225317)
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