This route is set in the beautiful area
around Lake Vyrnwy in North Powys. It is
just over 15.5miles long and goes through
the forest and woods to the East of the
lake. 2/3rds of the way round it drops
through Hirnant village, not to be confused
with the Hirnant Pass that leads to Bala
from the other end of the Lake.
1. Start from the visitor centre car park at
the bottom of the dam (GR018190). Ride
back to the top of the dam then turn right
to ride across the dam. Once at the other
side turn right on the road and descend
into Abertridwr. Turn right at the junction
by the garage (GR033191) and follow the
road to a track on the left, at the end of the
block of houses on the left, just before the
road crosses a stream and starts to climb.
Turn left down this track and go past the
garages on the left. Take the right hand
around Lake Vyrnwy in North Powys. It is
just over 15.5miles long and goes through
the forest and woods to the East of the
lake. 2/3rds of the way round it drops
through Hirnant village, not to be confused
with the Hirnant Pass that leads to Bala
from the other end of the Lake.
1. Start from the visitor centre car park at
the bottom of the dam (GR018190). Ride
back to the top of the dam then turn right
to ride across the dam. Once at the other
side turn right on the road and descend
into Abertridwr. Turn right at the junction
by the garage (GR033191) and follow the
road to a track on the left, at the end of the
block of houses on the left, just before the
road crosses a stream and starts to climb.
Turn left down this track and go past the
garages on the left. Take the right hand
track at the junction just after the garages, keeping close to the stream on the right. Continue straight on down the
track to the stream and the crossing (GR036191).
2. Use the ford or bridge to cross the stream then climb into the trees. The track soon comes to a junction. Follow the
fire track right and climb then go through a left turn, to the next junction (GR141192). Go straight on and descend left
to the next junction then keep left to continue down hill. At the next junction, where then main track turns left, take the
right (almost straight on) and follow the track up a long gradual climb for about two miles, up the right hand side of a
small valley. At the end the track turns left, through a dip, and comes to a T-junction (GR063210).
track to the stream and the crossing (GR036191).
2. Use the ford or bridge to cross the stream then climb into the trees. The track soon comes to a junction. Follow the
fire track right and climb then go through a left turn, to the next junction (GR141192). Go straight on and descend left
to the next junction then keep left to continue down hill. At the next junction, where then main track turns left, take the
right (almost straight on) and follow the track up a long gradual climb for about two miles, up the right hand side of a
small valley. At the end the track turns left, through a dip, and comes to a T-junction (GR063210).
3. Turn right and climb, then as the track emerges from
the trees and comes to a junction at the bottom of a
steeper section of the track, take the double track on the
right (GR067211). Go straight on at the next junction and
on to a gate in the saddle between the hills. Through the
gate descend the rocky track being careful of the
occasional eroded rut on the top section then turn sharp
left for some loose rocky bends. Be careful of your speed
down here, especially on the bottom half, as it is easy to
hit around 40mph but not so easy to slow down or get
round the tricky corners. After the ford go down the track
straight ahead for the final part of the descent that
eventually comes to a farm and drops right to a gate at a
lane (GR084210).
4. Turn left on the lane and follow it for just over 1mile to a junction with the
old chapel and phone box on the right (GR094219). Go straight ahead then
after a while go through a dip, keeping to the tarmac, and up a short steep
climb. After the climb flattens off go straight on at the crossroad (GR096229)
and descend to the next junction with a tarmac lane on the left, at a little crest
in the lane (GR099232).
5. Turn hard left and climb along the tarmac through the trees. Go straight on
at the junction with the firetrack and then straight on at the crossroad at the
top and through a gate (GR077217). Not long after passing the building on
the left bear right on a very vague track on the grass, directly after the small ford coming
from the stream cutting on the right, at the end of the small stand of trees on the left,
where the main track bears slightly left and then crosses the head of the valley on the left
(GR074214). Go straight ahead on the grass, aiming slightly high of the fence in front.
from the stream cutting on the right, at the end of the small stand of trees on the left,
where the main track bears slightly left and then crosses the head of the valley on the left
(GR074214). Go straight ahead on the grass, aiming slightly high of the fence in front.
The track becomes a little more defined as it
turns right and steepens, following the line of the
fence on the left. Follow the fence all the way up
to a small gate leading into the trees
(GR066216).
6. Through the gate descend on the rooty,
muddy singletrack between the trees. This ends
at a small bridge at the bottom of a tricky
off-camber slope traverse. After the bridge
climb a short steep slope then bear right for a
turns right and steepens, following the line of the
fence on the left. Follow the fence all the way up
to a small gate leading into the trees
(GR066216).
6. Through the gate descend on the rooty,
muddy singletrack between the trees. This ends
at a small bridge at the bottom of a tricky
off-camber slope traverse. After the bridge
climb a short steep slope then bear right for a
7. Turn left on the road and ride a short way to the next junction by a house and go
straight ahead along the lane. After taking in the view over the forest on the left, follow
the lane right for a short steep kick up as the lane changes to a dirt track and comes to a
stream crossing and a gate on the left (GR034225). Through the gate follow the double
track up to a farm. Turn left through the farm and follow the track to a gate into the trees
on the firetrack. At the next junction take the climb on the right (GR032222) and climb
the track bearing right around the hill. Follow the main trail, bearing left at the next
junction which has a trail climbing away to the right. The track then bears right and
comes to another junction with a trail descending on the left, keep right and continue
climbing. At the next junction, where the trail flattens, continue straight on through a
shallow right, then left, that comes to another junction and a gate at the top of the climb
(GR029207).
8. Go through the gate and follow the grassy double track trial as it descends to a
junction, on this section there is a great view over Lake Vyrnwy. Take either as in about
rooty and muddy section of
trail, that ends at a junction
with a fire track (GR061219).
Turn right and descend the
fire track to the junction with
a lane. Turn left then take
the singletrack BW that
climbs away in the small
cutting on the opposite side
of the tarmac. At the junction
in the trail take the left hand
BW and descend on a steep,
tricky trail that comes out to a
house and a lane that leads
to a junction at Hirnant
(GR050229).
trail, that ends at a junction
with a fire track (GR061219).
Turn right and descend the
fire track to the junction with
a lane. Turn left then take
the singletrack BW that
climbs away in the small
cutting on the opposite side
of the tarmac. At the junction
in the trail take the left hand
BW and descend on a steep,
tricky trail that comes out to a
house and a lane that leads
to a junction at Hirnant
(GR050229).
30m they rejoin, the right hander is
slightly longer so less steep. Drop
right, down to a gate, after which turn
square left, not up a short climb
straight ahead. Follow the singletrack
and continue descending down the
right hand side of a gully. This opens
up into a fast grassy trail comes out at
a wide gravely trail and a gate at the
slightly longer so less steep. Drop
right, down to a gate, after which turn
square left, not up a short climb
straight ahead. Follow the singletrack
and continue descending down the
right hand side of a gully. This opens
up into a fast grassy trail comes out at
a wide gravely trail and a gate at the
back of the Lake Vyrnwy Hotel (GR022199). Go across the to the opposite
corner of the Hotel to a steep section of singletrack on the right of the car park,
marked as a BW, that drops into the trees. The trail turns left half way down
corner of the Hotel to a steep section of singletrack on the right of the car park,
marked as a BW, that drops into the trees. The trail turns left half way down
and comes straight out at a road without flattening off (GR020195). Go left on the road and then right, over the top of
the dam, and on to the car park and the end of 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 dam, and on to the car park and the end of 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.
| There is currently an access issue with the descent to Blaen-y-Cwm Farm, para 3. The farmer has put notices up stating the track is 'Private with no public access'. The OS map says otherwise. I have sent an email to the Powys Rights of Way Officer for clarification but haven't received a reply yet. |