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The fun for this ride started even before we got to Lake Vyrnwy. I led a convoy of five cars from the
meeting point at Llandegla MTB Centre to Lake Vyrnwy via Bala that meant driving over the Hirnant Pass. It
is a very picturesque route through the mountains on the edge of Snowdonia but on arrival at the car park
below the Lake Vyrnwy dam I heard some discussions about twisty singletrack roads, precipitous drops
and using the main road through Oswestry for the return journey. Once everyone had arrived and got
meeting point at Llandegla MTB Centre to Lake Vyrnwy via Bala that meant driving over the Hirnant Pass. It
is a very picturesque route through the mountains on the edge of Snowdonia but on arrival at the car park
below the Lake Vyrnwy dam I heard some discussions about twisty singletrack roads, precipitous drops
and using the main road through Oswestry for the return journey. Once everyone had arrived and got
ready there was a group of twelve ready for the
ride. The road descent from the lake had us
questioning whether we had brought enough
layers as the cold air cut though what we were
ride. The road descent from the lake had us
questioning whether we had brought enough
layers as the cold air cut though what we were
| Getting ready in the car park below the dam |
| Mark on a short descent in the woods |
| Steve, Paul, Jim, Mark and Andy using both options to cross the stream |
| (left to right) Ken, Mark, Steve, Andy, Shane, |
| Annwen, Sabine, Paul and Maca on the first long climb |
wearing. A stream crossing took us into the woods for the first climb of the
day. While on this long climb the clouds started lifting and the temperature
suddenly rose which had most of us changing our minds and stripping off a
layer. At the top we came across the first technical riding in the guise of
day. While on this long climb the clouds started lifting and the temperature
suddenly rose which had most of us changing our minds and stripping off a
layer. At the top we came across the first technical riding in the guise of
‘Turnip Shore ©’. Spread across the trail to feed the sheep the turnips rolled in
every direction under our wheels. Good line choice and cat like balance was
required to clean each section, made even harder when I decided to get the camera
out and point it at people. Following this we came to the top of the first proper
every direction under our wheels. Good line choice and cat like balance was
required to clean each section, made even harder when I decided to get the camera
out and point it at people. Following this we came to the top of the first proper
descent where I gave a warning about how easy it would
be to take too much speed into the loose rocky corners a
half way down. After just making it through the corners (I
should really take more heed of my own advice) I turned
be to take too much speed into the loose rocky corners a
half way down. After just making it through the corners (I
should really take more heed of my own advice) I turned
| Me on the first climb |
round at the sound of laughter to see Paul, Andy and their bikes in a heap in
the stream on the outside of the final corner. At least it gave us something to
talk about while Mark put a tube in his tubeless tyre to patch the slash he had
just got in his sidewall. A more subdued end to the descent brought us to a bit
the stream on the outside of the final corner. At least it gave us something to
talk about while Mark put a tube in his tubeless tyre to patch the slash he had
just got in his sidewall. A more subdued end to the descent brought us to a bit
of lane work and the next climb.
Again with the long gradual
theme we made or way back up
the hill. Near the top we turned
right up a very vague trail for the
more technically interesting half
of the ride.
Again with the long gradual
theme we made or way back up
the hill. Near the top we turned
right up a very vague trail for the
more technically interesting half
of the ride.
| Paul & Andy after a visit to the stream |
| Sabine on the first descent |
| Maca, Paul, Sabine and Annwen experience 'Turnip Shore ©' |
On riding up the grassy trail I was asked a few times how
I found it, with it being non-existent at the start. Putting
aside pretensions of map reading genius I had to admit
to riding past it first time only finding it when I saw
someone else coming down it the other way. At the gate
into the woods we had another break before heading
into the tunnel of trees for the next descent. A rooty,
muddy singletrack trail led down through the trees to a
I found it, with it being non-existent at the start. Putting
aside pretensions of map reading genius I had to admit
to riding past it first time only finding it when I saw
someone else coming down it the other way. At the gate
into the woods we had another break before heading
into the tunnel of trees for the next descent. A rooty,
muddy singletrack trail led down through the trees to a
| Regrouping after a short, sharp climb |
long straight off-camber section which had everyone’s adrenaline kicking in as
the roots were constantly trying to direct the bikes down the steep slope on
the right. We all made it down to a short muddy climb where we emerged from
the trees and back into the sun. The middle section was a descent on fire track
that brought us to the final tricky section and a return to singletrack. A steep,
mildly rocky dirt track transformed on the way down through a muddy, rutted
the roots were constantly trying to direct the bikes down the steep slope on
the right. We all made it down to a short muddy climb where we emerged from
the trees and back into the sun. The middle section was a descent on fire track
that brought us to the final tricky section and a return to singletrack. A steep,
mildly rocky dirt track transformed on the way down through a muddy, rutted
| Annwen & Steve below Blaen y cwm farm |
(left) Andy after
the off-camber
roots
the off-camber
roots
(right) Steve &
Rob emerging
from the trees
Rob emerging
from the trees
| Ken, Jim, Paul & Rob on the second climb |
| (below) Andy & Jim on the muddy chute |
| Rob & Me on the muddy chute |
chute and on to a loose rocky,
muddy finish. There were big
smiles at the bottom as stories
were swapped about incidents and
parts that were cleaned, apart from
Maca who was complaining about
muddy finish. There were big
smiles at the bottom as stories
were swapped about incidents and
parts that were cleaned, apart from
Maca who was complaining about
| Maca hiding from the camera as everyone else gets on with the descent |
me taking a photo of him on the ground after an off while avoiding the
rider in front, something about it not being a real crash so it didn’t
count……yeah, whatever. We were then on to the last climb of the day
rider in front, something about it not being a real crash so it didn’t
count……yeah, whatever. We were then on to the last climb of the day
which kicked up sharply at the
start. It was relatively short
and the rest of the climb was
more gradual but after a few
forgotten climbs no-one
believes me any more. There
was then time to rest as, while
climbing slowly through a farm
a little further on, we were ask
start. It was relatively short
and the rest of the climb was
more gradual but after a few
forgotten climbs no-one
believes me any more. There
was then time to rest as, while
climbing slowly through a farm
a little further on, we were ask
| Annwen & Steve on the Blaen Hirnant climb |
Sabine and Rob
to walk as it was lambing season. We were
aware of this and taking care, but fair enough,
so after responding politely we walked the rest
of the way to the other side of the farm. Once
we were back at the woods we all remounted to
finish the climb. On the far side of the woods
we came to the top of the climb for the final
descent back the Lake Vyrnwy. There were a
few who were thankful for this, as the three
long climbs had taken their toll on legs.
aware of this and taking care, but fair enough,
so after responding politely we walked the rest
of the way to the other side of the farm. Once
we were back at the woods we all remounted to
finish the climb. On the far side of the woods
we came to the top of the climb for the final
descent back the Lake Vyrnwy. There were a
few who were thankful for this, as the three
long climbs had taken their toll on legs.
Maca & Jim on the Blaen Hirnant climb
| Sabine on the last descent |
A fantastic view over Lake Vyrnwy
and the following sweeping,
grassy descent soon got rid of the
feelings of fatigue. After riding
round the back of the Lake Vyrnwy
Hotel all that was left was a short
and the following sweeping,
grassy descent soon got rid of the
feelings of fatigue. After riding
round the back of the Lake Vyrnwy
Hotel all that was left was a short
| The view over Lake Vyrnwy |
blast down to the road and the ride back over the dam to the car park,
then coffee and cake at the cafe.
Thanks to all for the great ride and also to Jim for some of the photos.
A description of this ride can be found on the routes section of this
site.
then coffee and cake at the cafe.
Thanks to all for the great ride and also to Jim for some of the photos.
A description of this ride can be found on the routes section of this
site.
| Completing the ride on the dam |
| www.flattyresmtbroutes.com |