This mountain bike route of 21miles takes in the trails towards
the eastern end of the Ceiriog Valley and for a short time
drops over into the Vale of Llangollen. The trails are mainly
rocky and can be ridden in all weathers. 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. Ride through Pandy, keeping to the main road. About
1/3mile after Pandy, at Erw Gerrig cottages and the bus stop,
take the lane on the left (GR195354). Drop down this lane
and cross the bridge at the houses then follow the left hand
tarmac lane uphill. After the gate on the right turn the track
slowly gets better, evolving from firetrack into a loose tricky
climb. After crossing the cattle grid and entering the trees
follow the main trail as it continues climbing bearing to the left,
ignoring the tracks that drops away on the right. The track
emerges from the trees, still following the trees on the left,
before coming to the final steep section where it becomes
increasingly rocky and loose.
the eastern end of the Ceiriog Valley and for a short time
drops over into the Vale of Llangollen. The trails are mainly
rocky and can be ridden in all weathers. 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. Ride through Pandy, keeping to the main road. About
1/3mile after Pandy, at Erw Gerrig cottages and the bus stop,
take the lane on the left (GR195354). Drop down this lane
and cross the bridge at the houses then follow the left hand
tarmac lane uphill. After the gate on the right turn the track
slowly gets better, evolving from firetrack into a loose tricky
climb. After crossing the cattle grid and entering the trees
follow the main trail as it continues climbing bearing to the left,
ignoring the tracks that drops away on the right. The track
emerges from the trees, still following the trees on the left,
before coming to the final steep section where it becomes
increasingly rocky and loose.
3. At the junction near the top, with the lane through the gate on the left, turn right and follow the track a short way to
the top of the climb (GR211344). The next section is rutted and can be very muddy, but thankfully it’s short. Go
through the gate, into the next field, and follow the ruts to the next gate (GR205338). Don't go through the gate. Turn
left and climb along the line of the fence on the right. Ride over the crest and past the BW sign pointing off to the right
then head towards the corner of the woods directly ahead. Go through the gate at the woods and follow the wide
grassy trail along the right hand edge of the field, towards the rusty barn (old hanger). At the barn follow the track down
hill, bearing to the left. At the bottom go straight on at the junction, past the gated trail on the right, and climb a short
way to the road by the farm (GR224340).
the top of the climb (GR211344). The next section is rutted and can be very muddy, but thankfully it’s short. Go
through the gate, into the next field, and follow the ruts to the next gate (GR205338). Don't go through the gate. Turn
left and climb along the line of the fence on the right. Ride over the crest and past the BW sign pointing off to the right
then head towards the corner of the woods directly ahead. Go through the gate at the woods and follow the wide
grassy trail along the right hand edge of the field, towards the rusty barn (old hanger). At the barn follow the track down
hill, bearing to the left. At the bottom go straight on at the junction, past the gated trail on the right, and climb a short
way to the road by the farm (GR224340).
4. Turn left then, almost immediately, turn right through a gate to climb the double track.
Follow this trail as it bears left and on to the gate at the top. The trail then turns right,
flattens, and continues to a crossroad junction with in Caemor Wood (GR219352).
5. Turn right and follow the road straight on to the next junction. Follow the lane ahead
as it bears left. The road soon starts going downhill and eventually bears right to a
junction. Take the sharp left then, a short distance later, turn right at the next junction
(GR244354).
6. Within about 20-30m turn left on the BW through the trees. This descent starts out
as fast double track then becomes quite technical lower down as it steepens and is
strewn with big, loose rocks. Turn right on the road at the bottom (GR234361) and
climb. It starts steep but flattens off a bit later on. Don't take the track off to the left but
bear right on the road and follow it to the crossroad at the top. Go straight ahead on the
double track that soon starts going downhill.
7. At the junction with the road turn left (GR248362).
Follow the road downhill and go straight on at the junction
by the farm. Continue straight on down the hill where the
road soon gives way to a fast loose and rocky track.
Ignore any tracks off to the side and follow the main trail
down through the trees. Near the bottom the track
becomes double track and leaves the trees before coming
to an end at a crossroad (GR266369), with a view of Chirk
Castle on the left. Turn left and continue descending on a
rocky track between the hedges. This bears right around a
house on the right and soon after comes out at a road.
8. Turn left and follow the road downhill to the next junction
7. At the junction with the road turn left (GR248362).
Follow the road downhill and go straight on at the junction
by the farm. Continue straight on down the hill where the
road soon gives way to a fast loose and rocky track.
Ignore any tracks off to the side and follow the main trail
down through the trees. Near the bottom the track
becomes double track and leaves the trees before coming
to an end at a crossroad (GR266369), with a view of Chirk
Castle on the left. Turn left and continue descending on a
rocky track between the hedges. This bears right around a
house on the right and soon after comes out at a road.
8. Turn left and follow the road downhill to the next junction
9. Where the lane forks at the house take the right to continue climbing. At the next
house follow the lane round to the right and then up the track, over the roots and into the
woods. After a short distance this track turns left and flattens out. The track soon starts
climbing again, bearing to the right, and comes to a junction. Follow the steep and loose
main track straight ahead. The track soon flattens then comes to another short climb a
little later. At the junction at the top of the climb go straight on. Carry straight on till the
track descends slightly, to the right, and comes to a road (GR254389).
10. Turn right and climb. At the junction keep climbing straight on. Next comes a
junction, with a house on the left, where straight on is down hill and 90deg left is a steep
climb. Turn left and climb through the bends. After a while, where the climb has
flattened off a bit, go straight across the crossroad. At the next junction go through the
gate directly ahead onto the double track in the field (GR253404).
11. After taking in the great views of the Cheshire basin, the Vale of Llangollen
and Worlds End head off down the double track that is the top of the 'Three
Trees' descent. Simply follow this fast rocky trail for about 1mile to a sharp
right hand bend (GR237408). At the junction directly after this corner turn hard
left and climb into the trees, following the fence line on the right. DO NOT
continue down hill on the smooth trail.
12. Climb to the gate in the woods. The trail climbs through the trees for a
while then becomes a little less steep as it emerges to views across the Vale of
Llangollen on the right. At this point the trail becomes rutted all the way to the
gate at the top. Go through the gate and follow the ruts for a short way to next
gate at the road (GR227398).
13. Turn right and follow the road a short way down hill then go straight on
past the next three junctions to climb to the top of the following hill. Just over
the crest, at the junction with a road dropping away to the left, go through the
gate on the left and into the field (GR215394). Keeping tight to the fence and
and Worlds End head off down the double track that is the top of the 'Three
Trees' descent. Simply follow this fast rocky trail for about 1mile to a sharp
right hand bend (GR237408). At the junction directly after this corner turn hard
left and climb into the trees, following the fence line on the right. DO NOT
continue down hill on the smooth trail.
12. Climb to the gate in the woods. The trail climbs through the trees for a
while then becomes a little less steep as it emerges to views across the Vale of
Llangollen on the right. At this point the trail becomes rutted all the way to the
gate at the top. Go through the gate and follow the ruts for a short way to next
gate at the road (GR227398).
13. Turn right and follow the road a short way down hill then go straight on
past the next three junctions to climb to the top of the following hill. Just over
the crest, at the junction with a road dropping away to the left, go through the
gate on the left and into the field (GR215394). Keeping tight to the fence and
bushes on the left and drop down the
left hand side of the fields and through
a few more gates. This leads to a
narrow section of trail straight ahead.
Follow this to a junction with a lane at
the far end (GR218384).
left hand side of the fields and through
a few more gates. This leads to a
narrow section of trail straight ahead.
Follow this to a junction with a lane at
the far end (GR218384).
14. Turn right and follow the road down hill for a few 100m. Follow the road
through a left then right hand bend to a large gate on the left. Turn left and go
through the small gate on the right hand side of the large gate (GR219381).
Climb the double track and go straight on when the track turns 90deg left,
keeping to the right hand drystone wall. Go around the left hand side of the of
the sheep pen, to the gate in the corner of the field. Follow the grassy track
straight on through a few more gates and eventually descend to the road
(GR225381).
15. Turn left, climb 10m and then turn right. Descend a short way towards a
house and, just before, take the rocky track that drops away to the right. This
track is steep, loose, rocky and usually wet so be careful. Lower down follow
the main track through a sharp left hander for more loose descending to a
farm. Go through the farm where the track becomes tarmac again. Follow this
lane down to a junction at the end (GR231385) and turn right. Take the next
right, before the farm buildings, and follow the muddy, grassy track between
the hedges as it bears off to the right. Continue along the track to a fork at a house and descend left on the tarmac. At
the main road (GR231378) turn right. Follow the main road back to Glyn Ceiriog, going left/right over the bridge at
Dolywern. At the roundabout in the middle of Glyn Ceiriog go straight across to pass the front of the Glyn Valley Hotel
to complete the ride.
All of this route can be plotted on OS Explorer 255.
This route crosses and can be combined with other routes from my site :
Ceiriog Valley Gryn Moelfre Long
Ceiriog Valley Gryn Meolfre Medium
Ceiriog Valley The Pheasant Track
the main road (GR231378) turn right. Follow the main road back to Glyn Ceiriog, going left/right over the bridge at
Dolywern. At the roundabout in the middle of Glyn Ceiriog go straight across to pass the front of the Glyn Valley Hotel
to complete the ride.
All of this route can be plotted on OS Explorer 255.
This route crosses and can be combined with other routes from my site :
Ceiriog Valley Gryn Moelfre Long
Ceiriog Valley Gryn Meolfre Medium
Ceiriog Valley The Pheasant Track
and turn right and descend to the bottom of the valley. This road is steep, slippy and blind so take care. At the junction
after the bridge (GR264377) go straight across the main road and up the lane that climbs away to the left.
after the bridge (GR264377) go straight across the main road and up the lane that climbs away to the left.
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