This hard mountain bike route of 23 miles that
includes a climb to the top of Drum mountain, with
a summit of 770m. The ride starts at a car park
just behind Conwy mountain, on the Sychnant
pass road, that can be found on the road out of
Conwy about 1mile past the YHA. By Crows Nest
Hall the road comes to a steep hill and a junction
(GR759769). The car park and the start of the
ride is here.
1. From the car park ride away from the main
road down the single track lane keeping the hill on
the right. Follow this lane, and after a nice warm
up, descend to a T-junction (GR764756) and turn
right for the first climb of the day. Although the
climb is tarmac it is 1.5miles and a grind. Go
straight on at the first junction and straight on at
the second, after a left/right turn in the road. The
road then turns left over a stream. Follow the
includes a climb to the top of Drum mountain, with
a summit of 770m. The ride starts at a car park
just behind Conwy mountain, on the Sychnant
pass road, that can be found on the road out of
Conwy about 1mile past the YHA. By Crows Nest
Hall the road comes to a steep hill and a junction
(GR759769). The car park and the start of the
ride is here.
1. From the car park ride away from the main
road down the single track lane keeping the hill on
the right. Follow this lane, and after a nice warm
up, descend to a T-junction (GR764756) and turn
right for the first climb of the day. Although the
climb is tarmac it is 1.5miles and a grind. Go
straight on at the first junction and straight on at
the second, after a left/right turn in the road. The
road then turns left over a stream. Follow the
tarmac right at the next junction and climb to a house and a fork in the road. Turn left and follow the sign for the chapel
(GR754745).
2. Ignore the next road on the left and continue climbing the tarmac uphill. Near the top of the hill, with a farm on the
right, go straight through the gate and onto a concrete road. After 30m or so take the track off to the left and onto dirt
for the first time. A short climb finishes at a junction, turn left (GR751738).
3. This is where the payback for the climb starts. Descend past the chapel on the left along the grassy double track. It
soon steepens up becoming loose and rocky with water running down it. At the junction about 2/3 of the way down follow
the track straight ahead down into the woods. This is a steep and loose track with rocks, roots and a couple of
switchbacks thrown in. Near the bottom go straight on to a gate that leads to a tarmac lane (GR758733).
(GR754745).
2. Ignore the next road on the left and continue climbing the tarmac uphill. Near the top of the hill, with a farm on the
right, go straight through the gate and onto a concrete road. After 30m or so take the track off to the left and onto dirt
for the first time. A short climb finishes at a junction, turn left (GR751738).
3. This is where the payback for the climb starts. Descend past the chapel on the left along the grassy double track. It
soon steepens up becoming loose and rocky with water running down it. At the junction about 2/3 of the way down follow
the track straight ahead down into the woods. This is a steep and loose track with rocks, roots and a couple of
switchbacks thrown in. Near the bottom go straight on to a gate that leads to a tarmac lane (GR758733).
4. Turn left, though the gate, and follow the lane
down hill to the next junction. Turn right and spin
your legs along the flat tarmac section. The road
then gently climbs to the junction above Rowen
(GR754721). Turn right and climb the lane and
past the 25% sign, the reason for taking it easy on
the previous section. This is a very hard climb
which is in two sections so don't blow all your
energy on the first climb as after a short flat
interlude the second steeper part of the climb
begins. On the ride in the photos only 3 out of the 6 of us (including me) made this climb
in one go. I've been informed it's actually 1 in 3 in places.
5. The tarmac comes to an end at Rowen YHA and is followed by a rocky track (Roman
road) which is thankfully less steep. Ride straight ahead along this track, through a series
of gates, and turn right on the tarmac road (GR732715).
in one go. I've been informed it's actually 1 in 3 in places.
5. The tarmac comes to an end at Rowen YHA and is followed by a rocky track (Roman
road) which is thankfully less steep. Ride straight ahead along this track, through a series
of gates, and turn right on the tarmac road (GR732715).
6. After just under 1mile go through the gate at the car park
and follow the double track. Feel free at this point to utter a few
harsh words to whoever put pylons through such a beautiful
part of the country. At the top of the saddle go through the
gate in the drystone wall. Continue along the double track, in a
down hill direction now, and get rid of the memory of climbs and
tarmac roads with some well earned speed. After negotiating
the little water splashes climb to the crossroad and take a
breather (GR693722).
7. Turn left and follow the sign for the top of Drum mountain.
This is a 2mile climb from 393m to 770m. It is fully ridable and a
long hard slog but well worth it. As this is an out and back it is a
good opportunity to choose a line for riding back
down again, especially in the rocky sections. After a
hard fought 2miles the stone shelter at the summit
comes into view. We spent a bit of time up here
soaking in the views, refuelling for the descent and
pointing out to Maca that we saw him pushing the
final section to the top (GR708696).
down again, especially in the rocky sections. After a
hard fought 2miles the stone shelter at the summit
comes into view. We spent a bit of time up here
soaking in the views, refuelling for the descent and
pointing out to Maca that we saw him pushing the
final section to the top (GR708696).
8. Once ready turn round and ride back to the crossroad. Go straight across
following the sign for Llanfairfachen. At this point the track turns into grassy
double track. Keep to this track as it sweeps round the right hand side of a
following the sign for Llanfairfachen. At this point the track turns into grassy
double track. Keep to this track as it sweeps round the right hand side of a
hillock. At the wide junction that follows take the track on the left for a steep descent to a drystone wall on the left. Stay
on the double track keeping close to the drystone wall on the left and descend to a heavy bodged up gate. Once
through that carry on down the steep bed rock trail to a gate leading to a road (GR682739).
9. Turn right and follow the road. After just under 1mile, where the road descends and there is a wall on the left, the
road turns hard left over a bridge. At the end of the bridge turn left and within about 40m turn right up a steep tarmac
climb (GR693741). Where the lane turns left over a small bridge go straight on up the gravel track to a junction with
another tarmac lane and continue climbing left. At the next junction, with the hedge directly ahead, turn left. Follow this
lane for a short way to the junction by the house in the photo below (GR696747).
on the double track keeping close to the drystone wall on the left and descend to a heavy bodged up gate. Once
through that carry on down the steep bed rock trail to a gate leading to a road (GR682739).
9. Turn right and follow the road. After just under 1mile, where the road descends and there is a wall on the left, the
road turns hard left over a bridge. At the end of the bridge turn left and within about 40m turn right up a steep tarmac
climb (GR693741). Where the lane turns left over a small bridge go straight on up the gravel track to a junction with
another tarmac lane and continue climbing left. At the next junction, with the hedge directly ahead, turn left. Follow this
lane for a short way to the junction by the house in the photo below (GR696747).
10. Take the first turn on the right up
the road with the footpath marker
pointing up it, shown in the puncture
repair photo. Climb the road to a gate,
ahead on the left hand side, the right
hand being a driveway which descends.
Through the gate continue climbing, off road now, on the BW section of the North Wales
Path. After the gate at the farm the trail turns into grassy double track that follows the line
of the hill right then left to a gate at the saddle. It is then a gentle climb over the saddle
bearing left. The track soon turns slightly right at a junction with a footpath coming in from
the left (GR718747).The trail descends at this point, following the line of the hill.
Path. After the gate at the farm the trail turns into grassy double track that follows the line
of the hill right then left to a gate at the saddle. It is then a gentle climb over the saddle
bearing left. The track soon turns slightly right at a junction with a footpath coming in from
the left (GR718747).The trail descends at this point, following the line of the hill.
11. Not long after this take the left hand rutted
double track that follows the line of the drystone wall. There is a great view
over towards the Great Orm here. After a short descent the track climbs off to
the right for a short while. Once over the top the track bears left and descends
to a tight right/left through a gate and a farm. At the far side of the farm go
through the next gate, up the next short climb and then descend to a gate on
the right hand side in the drystone wall, before the track climbs again
(GR733753).
12. Turn right through the gate and descend a short way to a junction in the
over towards the Great Orm here. After a short descent the track climbs off to
the right for a short while. Once over the top the track bears left and descends
to a tight right/left through a gate and a farm. At the far side of the farm go
through the next gate, up the next short climb and then descend to a gate on
the right hand side in the drystone wall, before the track climbs again
(GR733753).
12. Turn right through the gate and descend a short way to a junction in the
trail. Go straight on over the track at the trail marker and along the singletrack that
weaves through the gorse bushes, following the drystone wall on the left. Follow the line of
the wall down the grassy track to a gate. Through the gate follow the wall round to the left
where it comes out at a stream crossing. After the stream the track climbs away to the left
then follows the contour of the hill to the right. The track at some points in not very well
defined and crosses some boggy bits but it climbs gradually towards the telegraph poles
on the right and joins a well defined track just above the drystone walls straight ahead,
which can be seen in the photo below right. Keeping the drystone wall on the left follow the
rocky track down to a junction (GR746758).
weaves through the gorse bushes, following the drystone wall on the left. Follow the line of
the wall down the grassy track to a gate. Through the gate follow the wall round to the left
where it comes out at a stream crossing. After the stream the track climbs away to the left
then follows the contour of the hill to the right. The track at some points in not very well
defined and crosses some boggy bits but it climbs gradually towards the telegraph poles
on the right and joins a well defined track just above the drystone walls straight ahead,
which can be seen in the photo below right. Keeping the drystone wall on the left follow the
rocky track down to a junction (GR746758).
13. Continue straight on, climbing on the track that goes up the
slope from left to right. This trail eventually climbs to a white gate
set into the drystone wall on a sharp right hand turn. Go through
the gate and follow the grassy trail as it climbs off bearing left.
The trail flattens out and comes to a junction, take the track on
the left that soon starts descending. It drops away quickly and
near the bottom and turns right up a short climb. After descending to the next
junction turn 90deg left. The track becomes rocky and goes through a long
right hander, up over a short climb, which comes out at the next junction. Turn
left onto the grassy track. Turn right at the bottom onto a thin trail which after a
short time comes to a junction. Turn hard left an follow the track down to the
gate which comes out at the car park at the top of Sychnant Pass (GR749770).
junction turn 90deg left. The track becomes rocky and goes through a long
right hander, up over a short climb, which comes out at the next junction. Turn
left onto the grassy track. Turn right at the bottom onto a thin trail which after a
short time comes to a junction. Turn hard left an follow the track down to the
gate which comes out at the car park at the top of Sychnant Pass (GR749770).
14. Go straight across the road and follow the
surfaced track across the top of the pass. After a
short sharp climb follow the main trail 90deg right. The track then bears left and comes out
at a junction. Take the first right, a straight wide rocky trial, over the crest. Descend to the
next junction and turn right. After a short climb the trail dips left then right and up another
short climb to the top of the final decent of the day. Engage the big ring and have fun this
fast rocky hard pack track. 2/3 of the way down, in the woods, take the down hill trail
straight ahead at the junction, keeping the wall on the right.
at a junction. Take the first right, a straight wide rocky trial, over the crest. Descend to the
next junction and turn right. After a short climb the trail dips left then right and up another
short climb to the top of the final decent of the day. Engage the big ring and have fun this
fast rocky hard pack track. 2/3 of the way down, in the woods, take the down hill trail
straight ahead at the junction, keeping the wall on the right.
15. Go through the gate at the bottom and go
straight on down the tarmac. At the junction at
the bottom of the road, in the outskirts of Conwy,
turn right (GR775778). Climb to the next junction
and turn right. The road turns left up a steep
climb to the T-junction with a wall straight ahead. Turn right and climb past
Conwy YHA and follow the road for just over one mile back to the car park and
the end of the ride.
Conwy YHA and follow the road for just over one mile back to the car park and
the end of the ride.
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