This mountain bike route starts at Moel Arthur in the
Clwydian Range. The ride takes in two loops from the
car park. The first one is a fairly easy loop of 11miles
with nothing too technical or too steep. The second
loop, although shorter at 9.5miles, has some rocky,
loose descents and climbs that are long and steep in
places. Most of the ride takes place on rocky double
track but being the Clwyds if it is wet it will also be muddy.
1. From the car park (GR147658) turn right and follow
the lane over the cattle grid. Descend on tarmac for
about 1/3rd of a mile to a right/left bend in the road then
take the marked BW on the right through a gate. After
the gate follow the muddy double track along the contour
of the hill. At the next junction follow the left hand track
that descends, past a pond on the right, to a gate.
About 20m after the gate take the singletrack off to the
right of the double track descent (GR139661). Follow
this singletrack as it gently climbs through the gorse
bushes, eventually bearing right to a small field at the
top. Continue straight on over the field and after a short
distance pick up the double track descending off to the
right and through a gate. Take a sharp right 1/3 of the
way down the track and drop into the trees, finally
coming to a gate at a lane.
2. Through the gate turn right and climb the lane. After
a long left hand bend that comes out at the top of the
climb there is a junction where the lane turns right. Take
the short broken track straight on into the car park
(GR138668). At the end of the fence on the left turn left
Clwydian Range. The ride takes in two loops from the
car park. The first one is a fairly easy loop of 11miles
with nothing too technical or too steep. The second
loop, although shorter at 9.5miles, has some rocky,
loose descents and climbs that are long and steep in
places. Most of the ride takes place on rocky double
track but being the Clwyds if it is wet it will also be muddy.
1. From the car park (GR147658) turn right and follow
the lane over the cattle grid. Descend on tarmac for
about 1/3rd of a mile to a right/left bend in the road then
take the marked BW on the right through a gate. After
the gate follow the muddy double track along the contour
of the hill. At the next junction follow the left hand track
that descends, past a pond on the right, to a gate.
About 20m after the gate take the singletrack off to the
right of the double track descent (GR139661). Follow
this singletrack as it gently climbs through the gorse
bushes, eventually bearing right to a small field at the
top. Continue straight on over the field and after a short
distance pick up the double track descending off to the
right and through a gate. Take a sharp right 1/3 of the
way down the track and drop into the trees, finally
coming to a gate at a lane.
2. Through the gate turn right and climb the lane. After
a long left hand bend that comes out at the top of the
climb there is a junction where the lane turns right. Take
the short broken track straight on into the car park
(GR138668). At the end of the fence on the left turn left
flattyres flat tyres mtb routes route
mountain bike North Wales
Denbighshire Clwydian Range Clwyds
Vale of Clwyd
mountain bike North Wales
Denbighshire Clwydian Range Clwyds
Vale of Clwyd
through the gate to the top of the woods. There is a choice of four tracks here, take the second firetrack from the right.
This trail starts the descent with trees on both sides, comes out of the trees for a long left hander in the middle then
drops back into the trees for the final twistier, mildly rooty section. At the bottom go through the small gate on the right
and follow the track a short way to a junction with a double track (GR126663).
This trail starts the descent with trees on both sides, comes out of the trees for a long left hander in the middle then
drops back into the trees for the final twistier, mildly rooty section. At the bottom go through the small gate on the right
and follow the track a short way to a junction with a double track (GR126663).
3. Turn right and follow this track for about 2miles as it
gradually climbs its way up the flank of the hill below
Penycloddiau Fort. There are a number of gates on this climb,
but they are well spaced out and don’t interrupt the ride. At the
top of the climb the track ends at a gate that leads on to a lane
beneath the radio mast (GR121689).
4. Turn right on the lane. The lane soon bears
left, at this point continue straight on along the
dirt track that comes out at two gates. Go
through the gate straight ahead and follow the
grassy trail down hill. Go through the next gate
and descend the loose rocky track till it comes
out at a lane by a farm on the left. Go straight
ahead on the tarmac, past the farm, for a fast finish to
the descent. The lane bears left at the bottom then
climbs to a junction (GR137701).
the descent. The lane bears left at the bottom then
climbs to a junction (GR137701).
that climbs away to the left. Follow the track
through a right hand bend where the track
becomes muddier and go straight on past the
next track on the left. Eventually the track
comes to a small open grassy area at the next
junction, after a small climb. Turn left and
descend the muddy, rutted track. After passing
a house on the left, go through a right hand
bend and down to a junction with a lane
(GR144686).
through a right hand bend where the track
becomes muddier and go straight on past the
next track on the left. Eventually the track
comes to a small open grassy area at the next
junction, after a small climb. Turn left and
descend the muddy, rutted track. After passing
a house on the left, go through a right hand
bend and down to a junction with a lane
(GR144686).
6. Turn left and follow the lane to the next junction. Turn right then ride to the
next junction and turn right again (GR147682). Climb this lane to the car park
at the top of Nannerch woods. Continue along the lane and descend to the
left. Just after the end of the long right hand bend, previously climbed, take
the track on the left hand side (GR136665). This junction is easily overshot as
it is on a straight section of steep tarmac.
7. Through the gate climb the double track to the next junction, turn left and
continue to follow the double track, through the gate, to the small field at the
top. Bear slightly left and pick up the singletrack in the gorse bushes.
Descend the track as it bears left round the hill then go straight on at the
junction at the end of the trail and climb to the gate. Through the gate climb
next junction and turn right again (GR147682). Climb this lane to the car park
at the top of Nannerch woods. Continue along the lane and descend to the
left. Just after the end of the long right hand bend, previously climbed, take
the track on the left hand side (GR136665). This junction is easily overshot as
it is on a straight section of steep tarmac.
7. Through the gate climb the double track to the next junction, turn left and
continue to follow the double track, through the gate, to the small field at the
top. Bear slightly left and pick up the singletrack in the gorse bushes.
Descend the track as it bears left round the hill then go straight on at the
junction at the end of the trail and climb to the gate. Through the gate climb
the trail as it bears right then follow the double track along the contour of the hill to the gate at the end. After the gate
turn left on the lane and climb back to the Moel Aruthur car park.
turn left on the lane and climb back to the Moel Aruthur car park.
8. To start the second loop leave the car park, turn left and follow the lane to the junction at
the start of the woods on the right (GR148659). Turn right on the dirt track then after
negotiating the gate follow the trail as it climbs gently off to the left. The trail soon bears right
then, after the crest, descends to a gate. After the gate drop down the fast double track, try to
keep up your speed for the short climb that follows. At the top of this climb where the trail
bears right go through the gate on the left with the white gatepost, signposted as a Byway
(GR161661).
9. Go Down the long, fast and straight descent with a lot of rocks and mud, it can be a
bit wet. Follow the trail straight ahead all the way to the bottom where it gets really rocky,
it then finishes with some very muddy ruts. Follow the ruts through a couple of bends to
the next junction and turn left. The trail soon steepens and turns into tarmac. Be careful
as there are a few blind bends and it is usually green and slimy. Follow this lane down to
a road junction at the bottom (GR174676).
10. Turn right and follow the main road over a crest. Descend past a crossroad with
some dirt tracks, then go past the open junction on the left on the flat. After the next
lane on the right is a crossroad at the house on the right with the well kept hedges
(GR177660). Turn right, following the sign for the viewpoint, and climb the lane to the
next junction, just after a right turn. Turn left and continue climbing going straight on at
the next junction for a steep climb to the following crossroad (GR166653). Go straight on
9. Go Down the long, fast and straight descent with a lot of rocks and mud, it can be a
bit wet. Follow the trail straight ahead all the way to the bottom where it gets really rocky,
it then finishes with some very muddy ruts. Follow the ruts through a couple of bends to
the next junction and turn left. The trail soon steepens and turns into tarmac. Be careful
as there are a few blind bends and it is usually green and slimy. Follow this lane down to
a road junction at the bottom (GR174676).
10. Turn right and follow the main road over a crest. Descend past a crossroad with
some dirt tracks, then go past the open junction on the left on the flat. After the next
lane on the right is a crossroad at the house on the right with the well kept hedges
(GR177660). Turn right, following the sign for the viewpoint, and climb the lane to the
next junction, just after a right turn. Turn left and continue climbing going straight on at
the next junction for a steep climb to the following crossroad (GR166653). Go straight on
and continue up the now gentle climb. At a junction with some tracks on the
right, on a left hand bend, bear left to stay on the tarmac. Climb past a farm
on the left and go straight on to where the lane changes to a wide rocky track
(GR160651).
11. Stay on this track and climb for just over a mile. There are a couple of
gates on the way up, go through these to the gate at the top of the climb in the
saddle on the ridge (GR145641). There is a great view over the Vale of Clwyd
that makes it a good spot to catch your breath and have some food. It is then
time to start the best descent of the ride. Go straight on straight on down the
main trail through a couple of corners over bedrock then on to the loose, rocky
main section of the descent. It starts off as double track scattered with small
rocks but as you descend the amount of rocks increase. The rocks eventually
give way to a fast hardpack trail that leads on to a short section of broken
right, on a left hand bend, bear left to stay on the tarmac. Climb past a farm
on the left and go straight on to where the lane changes to a wide rocky track
(GR160651).
11. Stay on this track and climb for just over a mile. There are a couple of
gates on the way up, go through these to the gate at the top of the climb in the
saddle on the ridge (GR145641). There is a great view over the Vale of Clwyd
that makes it a good spot to catch your breath and have some food. It is then
time to start the best descent of the ride. Go straight on straight on down the
main trail through a couple of corners over bedrock then on to the loose, rocky
main section of the descent. It starts off as double track scattered with small
rocks but as you descend the amount of rocks increase. The rocks eventually
give way to a fast hardpack trail that leads on to a short section of broken
tarmac and a gate. After the gate
follow the tarmac down through a
number of bends to the junction at the
bottom (GR129633). Be careful as a
lot of the corners are blind and the
road is slippery.
12. At the crossroad turn right into
Llangynhafal village. At the junction
follow the tarmac down through a
number of bends to the junction at the
bottom (GR129633). Be careful as a
lot of the corners are blind and the
road is slippery.
12. At the crossroad turn right into
Llangynhafal village. At the junction
the lane towards Moel Arthur. Climb, past a house on the left, all the way to a gate
straight ahead where the tarmac turns 90deg left (GR138652). Through the gate
climb the steep, muddy trail following the tree line on the left. The trail soon
reduces in steepness and leads on to another gate. After the gate the trail soon
comes out of the trees, widens out and gives a view of the final part of the climb.
Back off a bit and get ready for the steep final section that winds through a couple
of bends to a gate at the top. This comes out by the cattle grid near the Moel
Arthur car park and the end of the ride.
The first part of this loop was with a big group and quite social, taking just over 2hrs.
In the dry I would think 1.5hrs wouldn't be hard to achieve. Although shorter I would
advise similar times for the second loop as it includes difficult climbs. There isn't
any real chance to buy refreshments on this ride but then this shouldn't be a
problem as you will return to your car in the middle of the ride.
straight ahead where the tarmac turns 90deg left (GR138652). Through the gate
climb the steep, muddy trail following the tree line on the left. The trail soon
reduces in steepness and leads on to another gate. After the gate the trail soon
comes out of the trees, widens out and gives a view of the final part of the climb.
Back off a bit and get ready for the steep final section that winds through a couple
of bends to a gate at the top. This comes out by the cattle grid near the Moel
Arthur car park and the end of the ride.
The first part of this loop was with a big group and quite social, taking just over 2hrs.
In the dry I would think 1.5hrs wouldn't be hard to achieve. Although shorter I would
advise similar times for the second loop as it includes difficult climbs. There isn't
any real chance to buy refreshments on this ride but then this shouldn't be a
problem as you will return to your car in the middle of the ride.
5. Turn right and climb the lane as it bears right, coming out at
a junction after a cattle grid. Turn right and follow the lane till it
comes to the next junction (GR136695). Take the double track
More pictures of this ride can be found in the Gallery.
This route crosses and can be combined with other routes from this site :
Cilcain and the Vale of Clwyd
The Cilcain Circuit
This route crosses and can be combined with other routes from this site :
Cilcain and the Vale of Clwyd
The Cilcain Circuit
by the pub follow the lane off to the right. Continue along the lane past a few
tracks and farms on the right to a crossroad (GR126648). Turn right and climb
tracks and farms on the right to a crossroad (GR126648). Turn right and climb
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