This mountain bike route of 19.2miles is an extremely difficult and technical ride. It uses all the bridleways on Snowdon
and in doing so reaches the summit twice. Steep, bouldery trials that will test your riding skills to the limit make up the
majority of this route. The percentages included on what is ridable are based on a very fit rider comfortable with riding
Scottish level black runs. There is a lot of hike’a’biking on this route so you must be happy with pushing and carrying
your bike. .Also, please adhere to the times of the voluntary bike ban.
1. Start from the car park by Llyn Padarn in Llanberis (GR577605). Turn left onto the main road and follow it to a
junction just after the Snowdon Mountain Railway station (GR583596). Turn right and as you ride out of the town get
your legs ready for the first short climb where the road becomes steep with a capital 'S'. At the top of the climb go past
a house on the left and continue along the lane to a gate where the lane turns right. Once through the gate follow the
lane right, up a short climb, to a signpost on the left indicating the start of the Llanberis Trail.
and in doing so reaches the summit twice. Steep, bouldery trials that will test your riding skills to the limit make up the
majority of this route. The percentages included on what is ridable are based on a very fit rider comfortable with riding
Scottish level black runs. There is a lot of hike’a’biking on this route so you must be happy with pushing and carrying
your bike. .Also, please adhere to the times of the voluntary bike ban.
1. Start from the car park by Llyn Padarn in Llanberis (GR577605). Turn left onto the main road and follow it to a
junction just after the Snowdon Mountain Railway station (GR583596). Turn right and as you ride out of the town get
your legs ready for the first short climb where the road becomes steep with a capital 'S'. At the top of the climb go past
a house on the left and continue along the lane to a gate where the lane turns right. Once through the gate follow the
lane right, up a short climb, to a signpost on the left indicating the start of the Llanberis Trail.
2. This sign directs you through a gate for the start
of the off road ascent (GR582589). The first parts of
the trail gives a good indication of what is to come
with some very difficult rock sections. What follows is
very challenging, with a mixture of boulders, loose
scree and some flatter rocky hardpack. There are
some sections that are always a push, mainly in the
top third, but in good conditions the trail is about 70%
ridable. The bonus though is when it gets a bit too
much you can have a rest and take in the awesome
scenery. Continue following
down the Llanberis trail to the standing stone
at the view point at top of the Pyg Track on
the right (GR607548). On the opposite side
of the Llanberis Trail from the standing stone
follow the start of Snowdon Ranger down to
the railway then turn right and follow the track
for a few 10s of meters. Turn left over the
rails and descend on the fast, sweeping,
loose trail. After a long left hand bend the
at the view point at top of the Pyg Track on
the right (GR607548). On the opposite side
of the Llanberis Trail from the standing stone
follow the start of Snowdon Ranger down to
the railway then turn right and follow the track
for a few 10s of meters. Turn left over the
rails and descend on the fast, sweeping,
loose trail. After a long left hand bend the
the Llanberis trail all the way to the
summit. Once you reach the top
(GR610544), there is time to take in
the views while refuelling and getting
ready for the first descent.
3. Descend from the summit back
summit. Once you reach the top
(GR610544), there is time to take in
the views while refuelling and getting
ready for the first descent.
3. Descend from the summit back
trail comes to a steep section where things start to get really technical, with the rocks becoming increasingly larger.
The greater rockiness is combined with chutes, steps and tight switchbacks, proper pick your way down stuff. This
ends with a section of about 30m of big rocks that I couldn’t ride. When the rocks finish the trail flattens out a bit for a
fast gravely trail with a great view of Snowdon on the left. Don't get distracted by this, you can wait till the gate a little
further on (GR586556). After the gate the trail becomes a bit boggy in sections, not too much through. After a while a
drystone wall comes in from the left and leads to another gate at a stream crossing. Go through the gate and follow the
gravely trail over the water bars and down through a number of switchbacks, finally ending up at a small group of
houses. At the end of the houses turn left and drop down, over the railway tracks, to the road in the bottom of the
valley (GR564551).
The greater rockiness is combined with chutes, steps and tight switchbacks, proper pick your way down stuff. This
ends with a section of about 30m of big rocks that I couldn’t ride. When the rocks finish the trail flattens out a bit for a
fast gravely trail with a great view of Snowdon on the left. Don't get distracted by this, you can wait till the gate a little
further on (GR586556). After the gate the trail becomes a bit boggy in sections, not too much through. After a while a
drystone wall comes in from the left and leads to another gate at a stream crossing. Go through the gate and follow the
gravely trail over the water bars and down through a number of switchbacks, finally ending up at a small group of
houses. At the end of the houses turn left and drop down, over the railway tracks, to the road in the bottom of the
valley (GR564551).
4. Turn left and follow the lane, past the Snowdon Ranger YHA , all the way into the
village of Rhyd Ddu. In the village go straight on at the junction with a lane on the right to climb the road as it bears
left. Just after the end of the row of buildings on the right look for the track in between the houses on the left, signed
incorrectly as a footpath (GR569527). If you pass the next single house on the right you have gone too far.
5. Take this track on the left, which turns immediately right around the back of the houses then comes out at a railway
crossing. Go over the rails and follow the track up to a junction where straight on is a private track (GR572527). Turn
right and ride around the barrier before climbing the BW, negotiating a few locked gates on the way. The trail
eventaully comes to a crossroad junction, with the track up Snowdon again marked incorrectly as a footpath
(GR582525).
6. Go through the kissing gate on the left for the start of the extremely difficult Rhyd Ddu climb. One of the ridable
sections is the first, over large uneven boulder flagged paving. This includes technical sections through tight turns and
up steps. The trail eventually becomes more natural but steeper where more and more pushing is required. The
carrying really starts after the trail flattens out and a dark boulder field comes into view just off to the right. Follow the
trail to the bottom of the boulders for the start of a long hike’a’bike. Carry, push and occasionally ride up to the next
gate. Once through the gate continue climbing in a hike’a’bike style through the next, longer boulder field. Eventually
left. Just after the end of the row of buildings on the right look for the track in between the houses on the left, signed
incorrectly as a footpath (GR569527). If you pass the next single house on the right you have gone too far.
5. Take this track on the left, which turns immediately right around the back of the houses then comes out at a railway
crossing. Go over the rails and follow the track up to a junction where straight on is a private track (GR572527). Turn
right and ride around the barrier before climbing the BW, negotiating a few locked gates on the way. The trail
eventaully comes to a crossroad junction, with the track up Snowdon again marked incorrectly as a footpath
(GR582525).
6. Go through the kissing gate on the left for the start of the extremely difficult Rhyd Ddu climb. One of the ridable
sections is the first, over large uneven boulder flagged paving. This includes technical sections through tight turns and
up steps. The trail eventually becomes more natural but steeper where more and more pushing is required. The
carrying really starts after the trail flattens out and a dark boulder field comes into view just off to the right. Follow the
trail to the bottom of the boulders for the start of a long hike’a’bike. Carry, push and occasionally ride up to the next
gate. Once through the gate continue climbing in a hike’a’bike style through the next, longer boulder field. Eventually
the trail bears right along the line of the ridge and becomes ridable again for some time
before coming to a gate (GR597537).
technical but flatter part of the ride to the bottom of a steep set
switchbacks. Dismount and continue with the push and carry
theme, it’s a bit less rocky this time though. At the top of the
switchbacks remount and ride to a precarious singletrack ridge
traverse to the café. The first section is ridable but you should
consider the 350m drop off to the left before deciding to
attempt it. The trail definitely becomes unridable again when it
kicks up right and swaps to the right hand side of the ridge,
with a 350m drop now on the right. Carefully pick your way
along the ridge to where it widens out to a ridable (but I couldn’t
be bothered) section to the final scramble up to the back of the
summit café. Go around the back of the café and complete the
climb to the summit for a second time at the trig point.
switchbacks. Dismount and continue with the push and carry
theme, it’s a bit less rocky this time though. At the top of the
switchbacks remount and ride to a precarious singletrack ridge
traverse to the café. The first section is ridable but you should
consider the 350m drop off to the left before deciding to
attempt it. The trail definitely becomes unridable again when it
kicks up right and swaps to the right hand side of the ridge,
with a 350m drop now on the right. Carefully pick your way
along the ridge to where it widens out to a ridable (but I couldn’t
be bothered) section to the final scramble up to the back of the
summit café. Go around the back of the café and complete the
climb to the summit for a second time at the trig point.
8. After refuelling descend
the Llanberis Trail and return
to Llanberis to complete the
ride. The trail is a difficult
and technical descent but is
the Llanberis Trail and return
to Llanberis to complete the
ride. The trail is a difficult
and technical descent but is
100% ridable and a fantastic rockfest. The top
section to the first bridge can be a bit congested with
walkers but once past this point the foot traffic usually
gets a lot lighter.
section to the first bridge can be a bit congested with
walkers but once past this point the foot traffic usually
gets a lot lighter.
To recover from this ride we visited Pete's Eats for some great food. This was a BIG ride with
nearly 6500ft of climbing and it took 6hrs to complete. We kept the food breaks short and
were only slowed down by a couple of punctures, I'll hold my hand up to both. I took a lot of
summit cafe. These can be closed so it is best to check before hand. The pub in Rhyd
Ddu is also worth a visit.
I have since ridden this route in the opposite direction, to descend the Rhyd Ddu trail
and climb the Snowdon Ranger. To be honest I preferred it this way round. The
descent of Rhyd Ddu was more consistently technical and while very difficult, about 70%
rideable. The climb of the Ranger is more rideable than climbing Rhyd Ddu. The bottom
third of the Ranger was steep but rideable, the steep rocks of the middle third are still a
long hard carry and the top third is again rideable (but only just). For a route guide
follow the Rhdy Ddu route from my Snowdon route guide, but at para.7 continue straight
on, up to the top instead of taking the track off to the left, signed to Llanberis. This
route can also be broken up into shorter rides that are described on my Snowdon route
guide.
All of this route can be plotted on OS Landranger 115.
Ddu is also worth a visit.
I have since ridden this route in the opposite direction, to descend the Rhyd Ddu trail
and climb the Snowdon Ranger. To be honest I preferred it this way round. The
descent of Rhyd Ddu was more consistently technical and while very difficult, about 70%
rideable. The climb of the Ranger is more rideable than climbing Rhyd Ddu. The bottom
third of the Ranger was steep but rideable, the steep rocks of the middle third are still a
long hard carry and the top third is again rideable (but only just). For a route guide
follow the Rhdy Ddu route from my Snowdon route guide, but at para.7 continue straight
on, up to the top instead of taking the track off to the left, signed to Llanberis. This
route can also be broken up into shorter rides that are described on my Snowdon route
guide.
All of this route can be plotted on OS Landranger 115.
| To finish here are some of the veiws we had while climbing the Llanberis trail |
| www.flattyresmtbroutes.com |
| To find out what the conditions are like check out the Snowdon webcam |
7. Go through the gate for a more
food and ate it all but if you want to travel lighter there are a few possible food stops at the Halfway Station and the
|
