| This route crosses and can be combined with other routes on this site: Trefriw - Capel Curig Loop |
This mountain bike route of
25miles adds a loop of natural
trails into the middle of the Marin
Trail. It uses part of the historic
Sarn Helen trail to head south
from the Marin Trail before a
return leg below Moel Siabod.
This extra loop has a mixture of
forest tracks, rutted double track,
bouldery descending and
fantastic views.
1. Start from the Marin Trail car
park. Ride the first half of the
Marin Trail. After the Dragon’s
Tail continue following the Marin
Trail for a little while to a
crossroad junction with a tarmac
lane (GR758579). This junction
has a signpost ahead on the
right pointing left to Nant BH and
right to the Ugly House (Ty-hyll).
Turn right and descend the lane
to the Ugly House and a junction
25miles adds a loop of natural
trails into the middle of the Marin
Trail. It uses part of the historic
Sarn Helen trail to head south
from the Marin Trail before a
return leg below Moel Siabod.
This extra loop has a mixture of
forest tracks, rutted double track,
bouldery descending and
fantastic views.
1. Start from the Marin Trail car
park. Ride the first half of the
Marin Trail. After the Dragon’s
Tail continue following the Marin
Trail for a little while to a
crossroad junction with a tarmac
lane (GR758579). This junction
has a signpost ahead on the
right pointing left to Nant BH and
right to the Ugly House (Ty-hyll).
Turn right and descend the lane
to the Ugly House and a junction
with the main road, A5, in the bottom of the valley (GR756575).
2. Turn left onto the main road and ride across the bridge. Directly after the bridge take the lane off to the right that
follows the course of the Afon Llugwy. Go up the second forest track on the left for a short, steep climb to a crossroad
(GR753573). Turn left and continue climbing past the forestry gate. This trail traverses the hillside and soon descends
to a concrete stream crossing just before another forestry gate and a junction (GR758572).
2. Turn left onto the main road and ride across the bridge. Directly after the bridge take the lane off to the right that
follows the course of the Afon Llugwy. Go up the second forest track on the left for a short, steep climb to a crossroad
(GR753573). Turn left and continue climbing past the forestry gate. This trail traverses the hillside and soon descends
to a concrete stream crossing just before another forestry gate and a junction (GR758572).
3. Turn right at the junction and climb steeply for a while. At the next junction turn left,
then a short distance later at the following junction turn right. Continue climbing to a long
left hand bend at the top. Follow the forest track straight on across the top of the hill,
then down a gentle descent. Eventually the trail bears to the right and passes a forest
track on the right. Just after this is a forestry gate and a junction with a forest track on
the left (GR769568). Go straight on and follow the track through a number of bends to
the next junction. Turn right at this triangular junction and drop through a dip then climb
a short way to the next junction, with a track on the right (GR773561).
4. Turn right to join the Sarn Helen trail. This
starts with some bad tarmac as it climbs to a
gate by a house on the right. Go straight on
through the gate and continue climbing. The
track then flattens off and comes to a junction
with a gate on the left. Go past the gate and follow the track as is descends
right then left to come out at a gate by some abandoned houses on the right
(GR768555). Go straight on through the gate and climb the rocky trail in to the
trees. The trail soon flattens off and undulates through a clear area in the
trees. Follow the double track straight ahead, past a big rock wall on the right,
to a crossroad junction (GR766551).
5. Go straight on up the rocky double track ahead. It soon flattens off and
undulates across the top of the hill. There can be some sections of deep water
on this trail and your feet could get very wet. The track eventually descends
through a loose S-bend and comes to a gate. Go through this gate, and the
next, to come out at a tarmac junction (GR759543). Go straight on and
continue descending. Be careful when descending this lane as it is green in
the middle, often damp and has blind bends. Near the bottom bear left, past a
track on the right, to a junction with the main road, A470, in the bottom of the
valley (GR753538).
right then left to come out at a gate by some abandoned houses on the right
(GR768555). Go straight on through the gate and climb the rocky trail in to the
trees. The trail soon flattens off and undulates through a clear area in the
trees. Follow the double track straight ahead, past a big rock wall on the right,
to a crossroad junction (GR766551).
5. Go straight on up the rocky double track ahead. It soon flattens off and
undulates across the top of the hill. There can be some sections of deep water
on this trail and your feet could get very wet. The track eventually descends
through a loose S-bend and comes to a gate. Go through this gate, and the
next, to come out at a tarmac junction (GR759543). Go straight on and
continue descending. Be careful when descending this lane as it is green in
the middle, often damp and has blind bends. Near the bottom bear left, past a
track on the right, to a junction with the main road, A470, in the bottom of the
valley (GR753538).
6. Turn right and follow the main road to Dolwyddelan. On entering the village turn right up a small tamac lane just
after the first couple of houses (GR738525), if you reach a footpath sign on the left hand side of the main road you
have gone too far. (For a good food stop go straight on to the junction in the middle of the village where there is a Spar
with a covered outside seating area on the left). Follow the lane up between the houses for a very steep tarmac climb.
Keep going straight on up the climb where it becomes less steep, rocky double track. The track eventually bears left up
a tricky rock section. This is Jonathan’s climb, the one he uses when teaching difficult climbing technique on his SMBLA
MBL training course. It’s a short but tricky section of slate bed rock covered in loose rocks, with water usually running
down it. I have cleaned it but only after stopping and practising, my ultimate aim is to clean it after climbing non-stop
from the bottom. After the slate the track bears right over more loose rocks, then up a short but very steep section of
tarmac to a junction.
after the first couple of houses (GR738525), if you reach a footpath sign on the left hand side of the main road you
have gone too far. (For a good food stop go straight on to the junction in the middle of the village where there is a Spar
with a covered outside seating area on the left). Follow the lane up between the houses for a very steep tarmac climb.
Keep going straight on up the climb where it becomes less steep, rocky double track. The track eventually bears left up
a tricky rock section. This is Jonathan’s climb, the one he uses when teaching difficult climbing technique on his SMBLA
MBL training course. It’s a short but tricky section of slate bed rock covered in loose rocks, with water usually running
down it. I have cleaned it but only after stopping and practising, my ultimate aim is to clean it after climbing non-stop
from the bottom. After the slate the track bears right over more loose rocks, then up a short but very steep section of
tarmac to a junction.
7. Go straight on and continue climbing, now up a shallow gradient. The
tarmac soon gives way to a forest track and pine trees before coming to a
junction with another wide forest track on the right (GR739528). Go straight
then at the next junction bear right and descend to a small concrete bridge.
After the bridge stay on the main track and climb past the tracks on either side
before eventually descending to another concrete bridge. After the bridge go
straight on past a track on the right to a three way junction just after
(GR731544). Follow the sign pointing right to Capel Curig. At the next two
junctions go right. This will bring you out to a gate at the edge of the forest
(GR732548).
tarmac soon gives way to a forest track and pine trees before coming to a
junction with another wide forest track on the right (GR739528). Go straight
then at the next junction bear right and descend to a small concrete bridge.
After the bridge stay on the main track and climb past the tracks on either side
before eventually descending to another concrete bridge. After the bridge go
straight on past a track on the right to a three way junction just after
(GR731544). Follow the sign pointing right to Capel Curig. At the next two
junctions go right. This will bring you out to a gate at the edge of the forest
(GR732548).
8. Go through the gate and along the rutted double track underneath Moel Siabod, on
the right. After another gate halfway along and prepare for a few more puddles that will
get your feet wet. Eventually the track descends through a couple of sweeping bends to
a crossroad junction (GR737560). If you need to this is a good place to drop your
saddle. Go straight on for a steep descent strewn with big loose boulders. After the
main section of rocks bear left to a gate. Go through the gate to cross the steam then
complete the descent on a shorter section of rocks that finishes at a junction with a lane
(GR736567).
9. Turn right on the lane and follow it along the course of the river on the right all the
way to where it finishes at the previously visited junction with the main road, A5
(GR756574). Turn left and cross the bridge then turn right and go up the steep lane by
the side of the Ugly House. Climb this lane all the way up to the crossroad junction with
the signpost on the left (GR758579), to rejoin the Marin Trail. Turn right and follow the
Marin Trail marker posts all the way back to the car park at the end of the trail.
the right. After another gate halfway along and prepare for a few more puddles that will
get your feet wet. Eventually the track descends through a couple of sweeping bends to
a crossroad junction (GR737560). If you need to this is a good place to drop your
saddle. Go straight on for a steep descent strewn with big loose boulders. After the
main section of rocks bear left to a gate. Go through the gate to cross the steam then
complete the descent on a shorter section of rocks that finishes at a junction with a lane
(GR736567).
9. Turn right on the lane and follow it along the course of the river on the right all the
way to where it finishes at the previously visited junction with the main road, A5
(GR756574). Turn left and cross the bridge then turn right and go up the steep lane by
the side of the Ugly House. Climb this lane all the way up to the crossroad junction with
the signpost on the left (GR758579), to rejoin the Marin Trail. Turn right and follow the
Marin Trail marker posts all the way back to the car park at the end of the trail.
| www.flattyresmtbroutes.com |
|
