11. Turn right on the main road and descend a short way
before turning left, just after the bollards, to climb a steep
track. A short distance later, at the houses, follow the
right hand track. After the double track crosses a cattle
grid climb left up the side of the hill. At the junction at the
end of the hedge follow the left hand track for a short,
steep and grassy kick up to a gate (GR170589). After the
gate follow the level trail through a couple of gates and the
trees. Go through the top of the following field to another
gate. After this gate keep to the trees on the right and go
straight on to the next gate positioned in the mud. Go
through the gate and ride through the dip, bearing left up
This mountain bike route of just over 18miles takes in
the low trails to the east of Moel Famau, on the way
to Cilcain. After climbing to the ridge of the Clwydian
Range the second half follows trails used in my Moel
Famau and the Vale of Clwyd route. The ride is more
challenging than the Moel Famau route as the trails
to Cilcain, and the descent into the Vale of Clwyd, are
a bit more tricky. It's also 2miles longer. Pretty much
rideable all year round but muddy when wet.
1. Start from the Moel Famau lower car park
(GR172611). Follow the trail out the back of the car
park , signed as a cycle route, almost opposite the
entrance barrier. Follow it around to the right, past a
junction with a footpath on the left, and straight up to
where it meets a fire track on a bend. Climb straight
up the firetrack. Go straight on at the first junction
and again at the second junction, on the crest. Keep
to the main trail and descend past a junction with a
track on the left. Continue descending the main track
through a long left hand bend then at the bottom
bear right to a junction (GR176621).
2. Turn right and climb the firetrack. Bear left over
the crest and descend the trail that soon becomes
singletrack. At the bottom turn sharp right to a gate
(GR174625). After the gate follow the muddy trail
through a stream crossing before climbing to a
junction with a double track. Continue straight on and
the low trails to the east of Moel Famau, on the way
to Cilcain. After climbing to the ridge of the Clwydian
Range the second half follows trails used in my Moel
Famau and the Vale of Clwyd route. The ride is more
challenging than the Moel Famau route as the trails
to Cilcain, and the descent into the Vale of Clwyd, are
a bit more tricky. It's also 2miles longer. Pretty much
rideable all year round but muddy when wet.
1. Start from the Moel Famau lower car park
(GR172611). Follow the trail out the back of the car
park , signed as a cycle route, almost opposite the
entrance barrier. Follow it around to the right, past a
junction with a footpath on the left, and straight up to
where it meets a fire track on a bend. Climb straight
up the firetrack. Go straight on at the first junction
and again at the second junction, on the crest. Keep
to the main trail and descend past a junction with a
track on the left. Continue descending the main track
through a long left hand bend then at the bottom
bear right to a junction (GR176621).
2. Turn right and climb the firetrack. Bear left over
the crest and descend the trail that soon becomes
singletrack. At the bottom turn sharp right to a gate
(GR174625). After the gate follow the muddy trail
through a stream crossing before climbing to a
junction with a double track. Continue straight on and
climb to a gate. After the gate follow the track over a crest and drop right through a rocky ford. Climb away from the
stream on rocky and muddy double track to a gate (GR178630).
stream on rocky and muddy double track to a gate (GR178630).
with a lane. Go straight on and descend to the next
junction with a lane on the left, just after the road
steepens (GR184634). It is easy to overshoot it, but if you
come to a right hand bend you have missed it. Turn left
and climb the broken tarmac to a house on the left. At this
point keep to the right and follow the thin muddy double
track through the line of trees. The track eventually
opens out at a farm. Go straight on to a gate, don’t drop
right to the farm. After the gate follow the trail as it bears
left then climbs to a white metal gate at a junction
(GR176637).
4. Take the right hand trail that contours around the hill.
Follow the track through the top of a field to a gate by a
junction with a lane on the left, just after the road
steepens (GR184634). It is easy to overshoot it, but if you
come to a right hand bend you have missed it. Turn left
and climb the broken tarmac to a house on the left. At this
point keep to the right and follow the thin muddy double
track through the line of trees. The track eventually
opens out at a farm. Go straight on to a gate, don’t drop
right to the farm. After the gate follow the trail as it bears
left then climbs to a white metal gate at a junction
(GR176637).
4. Take the right hand trail that contours around the hill.
Follow the track through the top of a field to a gate by a
house on the left. Go straight on through the gate and down the track between the bushes. Go over the rocks and
across the planks for a very muddy part of the ride. Keep straight on and try to find the best line through the muddy
holes. It's doable if you're lucky and find the less deep parts. After the mud go straight on and follow the rooty
singletrack trail as it bears left. It eventually drops right over patch of roots to a tricky rock section and some planks.
After the planks go through the gate for a steep singletrack descent. Go through the next gate, at the stream, and
continue descending straight on along the wide track all the way to the T-junction at the bottom (GR168646).
across the planks for a very muddy part of the ride. Keep straight on and try to find the best line through the muddy
holes. It's doable if you're lucky and find the less deep parts. After the mud go straight on and follow the rooty
singletrack trail as it bears left. It eventually drops right over patch of roots to a tricky rock section and some planks.
After the planks go through the gate for a steep singletrack descent. Go through the next gate, at the stream, and
continue descending straight on along the wide track all the way to the T-junction at the bottom (GR168646).
5. Turn right and follow the track to the junction at the start of the tarmac.
Turn left and follow the lane through a dip then climb right and left to a junction
by the church in Cilcain (GR176652). Turn left and climb through a right hand
bend to the next junction. Turn left and climb steeply through a few bends.
The lane soon flattens off, then goes past a parking area on the right before
coming to a crossroad junction (GR166653). Turn left for a gentle climb up the
lane. 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 where
the lane changes to a wide rocky track (GR160651).
6. Stay on this track and climb for just over a mile, there
are a couple of gates on the way up. Follow the track all
the way to the gate at the top of the climb in the saddle
on the ridge (GR145641). After going through this gate
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 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 (GR168633).
are a couple of gates on the way up. Follow the track all
the way to the gate at the top of the climb in the saddle
on the ridge (GR145641). After going through this gate
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 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 (GR168633).
7. After the gate drop down the tarmac. Keep your speed down as the next junction is a
house (GR138633). It is a dirt track that climbs into the bushes to a small gate, which is
quite easy to shoot past. Once through the gate turn immediately right and follow the
fence line down to a small gate in the bottom corner of the field. Go through the gate
and descend between the fences for a fun trail through a gully in the trees. If it has been
wet it can be quite muddy. At the end go through a gate to the junction with a lane.
Cross the lane and continue descending along the BW on the opposite side, just slightly
to the right. This is a nice fast trail but be careful of the stream in the deep gulley. This
comes out onto tarmac at the Gellifor (GR126626).
8. Go straight on for a short distance to a junction at the end of the lane. Turn left and
follow the road to the end and turn left again. Follow this lane for a couple of miles and
after the second crossroad take the dirt track off to the right, just before a house on the
right (GR133603). Follow the muddy double track between the hedges. The
doubletrack eventually gives way to tarmac, continue straight on to a junction on a bend
in the main road.
9. Carefully cross the main road and follow the lane on the other side. Go right at the
next junction a short distance later then follow the lane for about 1mile. Just past a
junction on the right, signed to Ruthin, turn left up the track signed as a BW
(GR142573). Follow this trail through a farm. Climb towards the trees and at the first
small junction follow the lane to the left. At the next junction, by a house on the right, go
straight on and climb the dirt track into the woods.
10. Climb the main track straight ahead and go past a steep track that soon appears on
the left. Continue straight on past the next track on the right and climb for a while to a
junction at the top right hand edge of the woods, where the track on the right leads to a
house. Take the left hand track that leads to a forked junction a short distance later.
Take the right hand track and go through a gate to exit the woods. After the gate climb
the hardpack track, keeping the trees on the left. The track goes through a left hand
hairpin near a stone building and climbs back into the trees. The trail then bears right as
it exits the trees and goes through a field before it flattens and passes some houses.
Follow this track all the way to the junction with the A494 by the Clwyd Gate Hotel
(GR164581).
next junction a short distance later then follow the lane for about 1mile. Just past a
junction on the right, signed to Ruthin, turn left up the track signed as a BW
(GR142573). Follow this trail through a farm. Climb towards the trees and at the first
small junction follow the lane to the left. At the next junction, by a house on the right, go
straight on and climb the dirt track into the woods.
10. Climb the main track straight ahead and go past a steep track that soon appears on
the left. Continue straight on past the next track on the right and climb for a while to a
junction at the top right hand edge of the woods, where the track on the right leads to a
house. Take the left hand track that leads to a forked junction a short distance later.
Take the right hand track and go through a gate to exit the woods. After the gate climb
the hardpack track, keeping the trees on the left. The track goes through a left hand
hairpin near a stone building and climbs back into the trees. The trail then bears right as
it exits the trees and goes through a field before it flattens and passes some houses.
Follow this track all the way to the junction with the A494 by the Clwyd Gate Hotel
(GR164581).
and left to the next gate. After this gate and follow the track straight on to the
top of the final descent. Drop right down the wide, muddy and rocky track. The
trail bears left to a gate about 1/3 of the way down. After the gate continue
descending ahead, bearing slightly left, on the increasingly rocky trail. At the
bottom (GR179611) go through the gate and turn left at the junction with the
lane. Follow the lane as it bears right to a T-junction. Turn left then after about
100m finish the ride at the lower Moel Famau car park on the right.
This ride took just under four hours but that was a really social pace with lots of
standing round chatting. The very fit should be able to get round this in about
an hour and a half. For refreshments there is the White Horse Inn in Cilcain. I
haven't explored Gellifor so don't know what's there. At the end of the ride
there is usually a little trailer that sells tea and food in the car park but for
something more robust there is always the option of popping down the road to
the Druid Inn in Llanferres, a cycle friendly pub that also does accommodation.
top of the final descent. Drop right down the wide, muddy and rocky track. The
trail bears left to a gate about 1/3 of the way down. After the gate continue
descending ahead, bearing slightly left, on the increasingly rocky trail. At the
bottom (GR179611) go through the gate and turn left at the junction with the
lane. Follow the lane as it bears right to a T-junction. Turn left then after about
100m finish the ride at the lower Moel Famau car park on the right.
This ride took just under four hours but that was a really social pace with lots of
standing round chatting. The very fit should be able to get round this in about
an hour and a half. For refreshments there is the White Horse Inn in Cilcain. I
haven't explored Gellifor so don't know what's there. At the end of the ride
there is usually a little trailer that sells tea and food in the car park but for
something more robust there is always the option of popping down the road to
the Druid Inn in Llanferres, a cycle friendly pub that also does accommodation.
Pictures and a description of the rides I have taken on this route can be found in the Gallery.
Oneplanet Adventure Oct '06 Clwydian 'Shop Ride'
Flattyres 'Social' Ride Mar '09
This route crosses and can be combined with other routes from this site :
Moel Famau and the Vale of Clwyd
Moel Authur Circuits
The Clwyds and Nercwys Forest
The Cilcain Circuit
Oneplanet Adventure Oct '06 Clwydian 'Shop Ride'
Flattyres 'Social' Ride Mar '09
This route crosses and can be combined with other routes from this site :
Moel Famau and the Vale of Clwyd
Moel Authur Circuits
The Clwyds and Nercwys Forest
The Cilcain Circuit
12. After the gate turn right then go through two more gates close to each other. Continue climbing, on a gentler
incline, along the double track as it follows the drystone wall on the right. Go through a gate near the top then bear right
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the grassy climb. Follow the track along the right hand edge of the field to a gate at the
farm (GR172597).
farm (GR172597).