This mountain bike route of 18.5miles is
set in the beautiful area around Lake
Vyrnwy in North Powys. It uses tracks
through the forest to the East of the lake
for a mixture of rocky doubletrack and
grassy, muddy trails. The route is still
rideable in the worst of weather as the
grassy and muddy parts are mainly used
for the descents.
1. Start from the car park by the wooden
sculpture park at the bottom of the dam
(GR018190). Leave the car park using the
lane and climb to a junction. Turn left and
ride past the telephone box. After leaving
the village bear left over a bridge. At the
next two junctions turn right to climb
steeply up the tarmac. At the top follow the
lane right and descend to the next junction.
Go straight on to climb the rocky double
track for a short distance. After reaching
set in the beautiful area around Lake
Vyrnwy in North Powys. It uses tracks
through the forest to the East of the lake
for a mixture of rocky doubletrack and
grassy, muddy trails. The route is still
rideable in the worst of weather as the
grassy and muddy parts are mainly used
for the descents.
1. Start from the car park by the wooden
sculpture park at the bottom of the dam
(GR018190). Leave the car park using the
lane and climb to a junction. Turn left and
ride past the telephone box. After leaving
the village bear left over a bridge. At the
next two junctions turn right to climb
steeply up the tarmac. At the top follow the
lane right and descend to the next junction.
Go straight on to climb the rocky double
track for a short distance. After reaching
singletrack soon comes to a junction. Follow the fire track
right and climb through a left bend to the junction at the
top (GR141192). Go straight on and descend left to the
next junction then keep left to continue down the hill. At
the next junction, where then main track turns left, go
straight on to follow the track up a long, gradual climb of
about two miles up the right hand side of the valley. At the
end the track turns left, through a dip, and comes to a
T-junction (GR063210).
5. Turn right and climb the rocky double track to the next
junction (GR067211). Take the track on the left for a
short, step section, which soon comes out to the top of the
hill. Continue along the track and go past the trees on the
right to a signed BW immediately after a barn on the right
(GR076216).
6. Turn right through the gate and enter the enclosure by
the barn. Go through the next gate and ride across the
grass while staying by the forest on the left. After the next
gate the grassy double track can be very wet and soft but
it is possible to ride through it. It is only a short section
and soon dries out to travel between some hawthorn trees
to the next gate, while still keeping by the forest on the left.
Once through the gate climb a small rise then descend to
the next gate. Go through the gate and descend across a
field, following the line of big trees to the gate on the other
side. After this gate follow a thin grassy track along a line
of trees on the right. There is another gate on the way
down before coming to a final one at the
right and climb through a left bend to the junction at the
top (GR141192). Go straight on and descend left to the
next junction then keep left to continue down the hill. At
the next junction, where then main track turns left, go
straight on to follow the track up a long, gradual climb of
about two miles up the right hand side of the valley. At the
end the track turns left, through a dip, and comes to a
T-junction (GR063210).
5. Turn right and climb the rocky double track to the next
junction (GR067211). Take the track on the left for a
short, step section, which soon comes out to the top of the
hill. Continue along the track and go past the trees on the
right to a signed BW immediately after a barn on the right
(GR076216).
6. Turn right through the gate and enter the enclosure by
the barn. Go through the next gate and ride across the
grass while staying by the forest on the left. After the next
gate the grassy double track can be very wet and soft but
it is possible to ride through it. It is only a short section
and soon dries out to travel between some hawthorn trees
to the next gate, while still keeping by the forest on the left.
Once through the gate climb a small rise then descend to
the next gate. Go through the gate and descend across a
field, following the line of big trees to the gate on the other
side. After this gate follow a thin grassy track along a line
of trees on the right. There is another gate on the way
down before coming to a final one at the
hand corner. The track becomes a little more defined as it turns right and
steepens, following the line of the fence on the left towards the trees. Just
before reaching the trees stay to the right of the boggy ground. On reaching
the fence turn left to a small gate leading into the trees (GR066216).
steepens, following the line of the fence on the left towards the trees. Just
before reaching the trees stay to the right of the boggy ground. On reaching
the fence turn left to a small gate leading into the trees (GR066216).
bottom. Go straight on through this last gate to a junction with a lane (GR095223).
7. Turn left and climb steeply up the lane. After the climb flattens off go straight on at
the crossroad and descend to the next junction with a tarmac lane on the left, at a little
crest in the lane (GR099232). Turn hard left and climb the potholed tarmac through the
trees. Continue straight on up the main track past two large junctions to a gate at the top
(GR077217). A little further on go past the previously visited barn on the left and then
past the following section of trees.
7. Turn left and climb steeply up the lane. After the climb flattens off go straight on at
the crossroad and descend to the next junction with a tarmac lane on the left, at a little
crest in the lane (GR099232). Turn hard left and climb the potholed tarmac through the
trees. Continue straight on up the main track past two large junctions to a gate at the top
(GR077217). A little further on go past the previously visited barn on the left and then
past the following section of trees.
8. Cross a stream to where the trail bears left at
the end of the trees and go straight on across
the grass, in the direction of the BW sign that is
hidden in the corner of the trees (GR074214).
Climbing gently on the grass and when a fence
appears ahead aim slightly high of the right
9. Go through the gate and follow the rooty, muddy singletrack into the trees. The trail soon starts descending then
passes through a brief clearing with some big roots before diving back into the trees for a fast traverse dotted with off
camber roots. At the end of the descent turn right and cross a small bridge. After the bridge climb a short steep slope
then bear right for a rooty and muddy trail that ends at a junction with a wide forest track (GR061219).
10. Turn right and descend
the track to a junction with a
lane. Turn left then almost
immediately right through a
small gate for a singletrack
BW that climbs away in a
small gully. At the next
junction take the left hand
track for a steep and tricky
descent in a bigger gully.
This track has a lot of debris
washed down it but is
generally muddy at the top
and bouldery at the bottom.
The descent finishes at a house and a lane that bears right and crosses a stream before reaching a junction in the
village of Hirnant (GR050229).
11. Turn left on the road and ride a short way to the next junction by a house. Go left to follow the lane across the
River Hirnant and up the opposite side of the valley. Continue up this steep tarmac climb to a four-way junction at the
village of Hirnant (GR050229).
11. Turn left on the road and ride a short way to the next junction by a house. Go left to follow the lane across the
River Hirnant and up the opposite side of the valley. Continue up this steep tarmac climb to a four-way junction at the
top (GR042217). Turn right onto the double track leading into the forest. At
the next junction turn left. Climb this track and bear left at the next junction with
a grassy track on the right. At the next junction a short distance later turn right
to climb steeply under the cover of the trees. The trail soon comes out into
the next junction turn left. Climb this track and bear left at the next junction with
a grassy track on the right. At the next junction a short distance later turn right
to climb steeply under the cover of the trees. The trail soon comes out into
13. Go across the back of the Hotel to
the car park on the opposite corner.
Take the steep singletrack that drops
into the trees just to the right of the
car park. The trail bears left half way
down and comes straight out to a road
(GR020195). Go left on the road and
then right, over the top of the dam. At
the junction on the opposite side of
the dam turn left and descend past the
2. Go straight on along the lane all the way to a bridge across the River Vyrnwy. Cross
the bridge then climb off to the left to a junction. Continue straight on along the lane to
the next junction at the top of the climb (GR030177). Turn hard right to climb the single
track lane. This lane bears left and steepens before reaching a junction at the top. Bear
left on the lane to a three-way junction a short distance later (GR030174). Turn left and
climb the rocky double track into the trees. At the junction at the top go straight on and
descend to the lane at the bottom. Turn right on the lane and ride a short way to the
next junction on a hairpin in the main road (GR035182).
12. Go through the gate and take in the great views across Lake Vyrnwy before
descending the grassy double track to a junction. Go in either direction as the tracks
rejoin in about 30m, the left hand one is slightly steeper, then drop right to a gate. After
the gate bear left, staying high of the puddle, and go past the track climbing off to the
right. Keep going to the left and follow the singletrack as it straightens out and descends
down the right hand side of a gully. This opens up into a fast grassy trail that goes
through a few bends but heads generally straight on to come out at a wide gravel trail
and a gate at the back of the Lake Vyrnwy Hotel (GR022199).
descending the grassy double track to a junction. Go in either direction as the tracks
rejoin in about 30m, the left hand one is slightly steeper, then drop right to a gate. After
the gate bear left, staying high of the puddle, and go past the track climbing off to the
right. Keep going to the left and follow the singletrack as it straightens out and descends
down the right hand side of a gully. This opens up into a fast grassy trail that goes
through a few bends but heads generally straight on to come out at a wide gravel trail
and a gate at the back of the Lake Vyrnwy Hotel (GR022199).
the crest go straight on for a long, fast descent. The track bears right after a while then ends at a two-way junction. Go
left around the hairpin and descend to a lane (GR013175).
left around the hairpin and descend to a lane (GR013175).
3. Bear left and descend the main road into
Abertridwr. After passing some buildings on the
right the road goes across a small stream and
comes to a junction with a track on the right, just
before reaching a road sign (GR033189). Turn
right down this track and go past the garages on the left. At the junction just
after the garages take the right hand track to ride by the stream on the right.
Continue straight on to the stream and a crossing on the right (GR036191).
4. Use the ford or bridge to cross the stream then climb into the trees. The
after the garages take the right hand track to ride by the stream on the right.
Continue straight on to the stream and a crossing on the right (GR036191).
4. Use the ford or bridge to cross the stream then climb into the trees. The
daylight again and eventually finishes at another
junction (GR033210). Turn right, then at the
next junction a short distance later turn left.
Climb straight on past the next two junctions,
with trails on the right, to a gate at the top at the
edge of the forest (GR029207).
junction (GR033210). Turn right, then at the
next junction a short distance later turn left.
Climb straight on past the next two junctions,
with trails on the right, to a gate at the top at the
edge of the forest (GR029207).
café on the left to a junction with a lane on the left. Turn left and descend this lane back to the car park to complete
the ride.
I used this route for one of my OnePlanet Shop Rides. Pictures and a description of the ride can be found in the
Gallery.
the ride.
I used this route for one of my OnePlanet Shop Rides. Pictures and a description of the ride can be found in the
Gallery.
| www.flattyresmtbroutes.com |
|
