flattyres flat tyres mtb mountain bike
route routes Machynlleth cli-machx trail
Wales
route routes Machynlleth cli-machx trail
Wales
After a while go past a track on left
and on to a three-way junction
(GR773081). Turn right and continue
climbing on fire track to the wide,
previously visited, three way junction
at the top (GR774078). Turn right
and rejoin the Cli-machx trail for the
long and fantastic final descent (tony
the tiger). After this great final blast
follow the signs back to the car park
and the end of the ride.
and on to a three-way junction
(GR773081). Turn right and continue
climbing on fire track to the wide,
previously visited, three way junction
at the top (GR774078). Turn right
and rejoin the Cli-machx trail for the
long and fantastic final descent (tony
the tiger). After this great final blast
follow the signs back to the car park
and the end of the ride.
The Cli-machx is a great trail but I do find it a bit of a long way to go for such a short route, at just over 9miles. To make
it worth the trip I have added in some of the other trails the forest has to offer. It's not much longer at 13.5miles but
there are an extra four great descents spread out across the route to spice things up.
it worth the trip I have added in some of the other trails the forest has to offer. It's not much longer at 13.5miles but
there are an extra four great descents spread out across the route to spice things up.
1. Start from the Cli-machx car park
(GR759063) and follow the Cli-machx
trail up the long fire track climb. After
the first section of singletrack
(sidewinder) turn left onto the fire track
(GR768072). Climb past the marked
singletrack on the right (windy alley) to
leave the Cli-machx trail. Continue up
the fire track to the junction at the top
(GR774078).
2. The junction is a wide three way fire track junction with
the start of the last descent of the Cli-machx trail (tony the
tiger) on the left. Turn right and climb the fire track,
passing the singletrack trail (the end of - where's my
ball?) on the left. The climb bears left then flattens off
and straightens. At the start of the next left hand bend,
where the trail begins to descend, turn hard right down a
loose rocky track (GR778081). First is a little jump on the
left then a larger jump on the right, they don’t have to be
ridden though. A rutted berm and tight drop follows
before a loose rocky and rooty blast down to the fire track
at the bottom (GR778076).
3. Turn left onto the fire track to pick up the Cli-machx trial again for a section of
singletrack (easy rider) a little later, on the left. At the end of singletrack turn right and
leave the Cli-machx trail to descend a loose rocky track to a wide fire track junction
(GR782078). Turn left, then immediately turn right down a loose rocky singletrack trail.
At the T-junction a short distance later turn left for a fantastic section of trail that twists
down the hill and ends with a really nice rock section. At the fire track at the bottom
(GR786077) turn left.
singletrack (easy rider) a little later, on the left. At the end of singletrack turn right and
leave the Cli-machx trail to descend a loose rocky track to a wide fire track junction
(GR782078). Turn left, then immediately turn right down a loose rocky singletrack trail.
At the T-junction a short distance later turn left for a fantastic section of trail that twists
down the hill and ends with a really nice rock section. At the fire track at the bottom
(GR786077) turn left.
4. Go past the track on the right and climb the
gully, keeping the stream on the right.
Eventually turn right over the stream then left at
the following four-way junction (GR786083).
Continue climbing on fire track, going through a
left hand hairpin then a long left hand bend to
gully, keeping the stream on the right.
Eventually turn right over the stream then left at
the following four-way junction (GR786083).
Continue climbing on fire track, going through a
left hand hairpin then a long left hand bend to
cross the flank of the hill. After some time the trail descends then climbs
through a couple of bends to a wide fire track junction, with the top of previous
rocky descent on the left (GR782078). Turn right and climb the wide rocky
trial to rejoin the Cli-machx trail. Continue up the climb to the junction at the
top (GR781084).
through a couple of bends to a wide fire track junction, with the top of previous
rocky descent on the left (GR782078). Turn right and climb the wide rocky
trial to rejoin the Cli-machx trail. Continue up the climb to the junction at the
top (GR781084).
5. Stay on the Cli-machx trail by following the
singletrack (va-va-voom) off to the right. At the
end of this trail turn right to leave the Cli-machx
trail again. Turn left immediately down a thin
rutted track that will probably see you whipped by
thorny branches. The pain is worth it though as
the trail soon turns right and drops down a steep
and very loose slate chute. When it is wet half of
this trail turns into a stream so it is gouged out
with off-camber sections, holes and steps. At the
bottom (GR787083) turn right and climb the previously ridden fire track. Climb through the
long left hand bend to a trail on the right where the fire track flattens off (GR785085).
long left hand bend to a trail on the right where the fire track flattens off (GR785085).
6. Turn right up a
short, tricky start to
the trail, then follow
it as it bears right
for a less steep but
rutted, and muddy if
wet, climb. Go past
the top of the previous descent and rejoin the Cli-machx trail.
After a while on a wide rocky trail, turn left on the marked
singletrack (the artist). At the end of this short trail follow the
signs left up a wide fire track. Have fun on the next section of
singletrack (better late than never) then follow the signs,
along the fire track, to the next signed junction (GR781085).
After a while on a wide rocky trail, turn left on the marked
singletrack (the artist). At the end of this short trail follow the
signs left up a wide fire track. Have fun on the next section of
singletrack (better late than never) then follow the signs,
along the fire track, to the next signed junction (GR781085).
7. Follow the signs and turn right to climb a
steep rocky track. At the next junction go
straight on and continue climbing past the start
of the singletrack (where's my ball?) on the right
to leave the Cli-machx trail again. This climb
soon bears right and reaches the top of the
ridge short while later (GR781087). Follow the
trail off to the left for the start of a great descent
with loose rocks, mud and roots the whole way
down. At the bottom turn left on the fire track
(GR777089).
steep rocky track. At the next junction go
straight on and continue climbing past the start
of the singletrack (where's my ball?) on the right
to leave the Cli-machx trail again. This climb
soon bears right and reaches the top of the
ridge short while later (GR781087). Follow the
trail off to the left for the start of a great descent
with loose rocks, mud and roots the whole way
down. At the bottom turn left on the fire track
(GR777089).
8. Follow the fire track for a while, through a right hand
bend then down a fast descent. The track eventually starts
climbing off to the left. Just before the fire track goes
through another tight right hand bend, in a
stream gully cut into the hillside, take the steep,
muddy, rocky and rutted climb on the left, into
the trees (GR765081). It is a tricky climb and
while it may require some pushing it’s not too
long. It winds up the hill right then left to come
out at another section of fire track (GR767082).
9. Turn right and follow the fire track down hill to
a right hand bend then climb to a junction
(GR769079). Turn left and climb the fire track.
stream gully cut into the hillside, take the steep,
muddy, rocky and rutted climb on the left, into
the trees (GR765081). It is a tricky climb and
while it may require some pushing it’s not too
long. It winds up the hill right then left to come
out at another section of fire track (GR767082).
9. Turn right and follow the fire track down hill to
a right hand bend then climb to a junction
(GR769079). Turn left and climb the fire track.
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| For video footage of the descents have a look at this page on www.mountainbikerides.co.uk |