Trail updates for mountain bike routes in Wales

It seems to be just one of those things that nothing stays the same forever, and no matter how much effort we put into writing our excellent guides, trails are bound to change over time.

Check here for trail updates and for further information on routes in the Bikefax guidebooks.

Amendments to Snowdonia guidebook

Page 112 - Gwasannaethau lleol (local services). Apologies to the Milk Bar in Dolgellau for the slightly clumsy translation of 'greasy plateful'. Personally, were all very fond of our greasy breakfast, and even consider it a necessity to a hard day out in CyB.

Page 119 - 'Tea shop at end of climb', this is actually only part way up the climb and shortly after the end of the hermon singletrack descent. Still its a welcome break at this stage of the ride, and great fortification before the climb up to Moel Hafodoen.

Marin trail

Marin Trail Just in case youve been confused looking at our map of the Marin Trail in the Snowdonia guide, and have been wondering where the missing bit of singletrack went around the Pigs Might Fly area, yes you are right there really is more singletrack there than is marked on the map.
Theres a little bit more ST between Croeso and the crossroads and the ST joins up from the last crosssroads right up to the finish, giving you a bump fest and an ear splitting grin to finish.

Snowdon

Voluntary Cycling Restrictions in place for the summer.

Summer is finally upon us and with that it the Voluntary Cycling Restrictions come into effect on Snowdon. So if you do fancy tackling the mighty peak at the moment its either going to have to be a dawn raid or and after hours sortie

So far this voluntary restriction is working well, safeguarding our long term access to this very fine ride. The restrictions apply to
The Llanberis Path
The Rhyd Ddu Path
The Snowdon Ranger Path

The voluntary restriction on cycling on the Snowdon bridleways is in effect between 10 am and 5 pm from 1st of may until the 30th September. This was agreed by a wide range of public bodies and individuals, and seeks to ensure safety of all path users, and avoid conflict between users

Please respect the voluntary agreement, or risk having a complete ban on cycling

Missing icon

Loose stony ground

Somewhere between the Office and the Printers the icon for loose stony ground went missing from the symbols page of the Snowdonia Guidebook If you see it flying downhill on some heinous piece of singletrack please let us know we need it back.
Most people will probably guess what it means when they see it on the maps, but heres a copy of the little devil for you just in case youre baffled.

Gwydyr Forest - Elin's Fancy

Due to concerns from the Forestry Commission over potential collisions between walkers and mountain bike riders, the following changes to routes have been agreed.

Therefore please note the following route diversions:

Waypoint 6 continue to Trashcan Island. There is an old No Bikes sign here which no longer applies. Turn L at the bins and ride past the no bikes sign. Stay on this track (passing Maes Newyddion) for 3km as it meanders around this very quiet part of the forest.

Waypoint 6a At a complicated junction take a R and then a L to head steeply downhill to Craig Forys

Waypoint 9 At the track junction go L through the barrier and continue with the route as detailed in the book.

Gwydyr Forest - Elin's Revenge

Elins Revenge

The Forestry Commision have expressed a concern at Waypoint 3 and the Caen y Coed Car Park over the potential for mountain bikers to come racing out of the forest into the carpark and straight into a car. There is also a concern that mountain bikers may use the carpark as an improvised freeride area.

Therefore please note the following route diversions:

Waypoint 2 (Maesnewyddion FC Depot) turn R and head down to the main road. Turn L onto the road and ride up the road for 1 km to the Caen y Coed carpark. This is a busy stretch of road, so take care and ride in single file.

Waypoint 3 Turn L into the carpark and immediately R towards Craig Forys. Continue as detailed in the guidebook.

Gwydyr Forest - Two Lakes Trail

Two Lakes Trail Loop 2

The Forestry Commision have expressed concern over the potential for collisions between walkers, dogs and mountain bikers on the final stretch of the ride between Waypoint 13 and Waypoint 14 as the last few hundred metres of trail coincides with a popular dog walkers footpath. Therefore please note the following route diversions:

Waypoint 13 (Purple Post 13) to avoid the potential for collision, go R and follow the track by a slightly longer route all the way back to Llyn Sarnau.

Big 3 - Gwydyr Forest

Amendments to Big 3 Trail in the 'The best mountain bike trails in Snowdonia'.

Please note important changes to this route affecting the track between waypoint 11 and waypoint 12

The 400 metre section of track leading up to the forest from the minor road at Pont y Pant
(Grid Ref: 754536) is currently subject to access issues. Until this matter is resolved, we ask that you access this section of forest by repeating waypoint 18 to 19 in the reverse direction.

If you do find yourself on this section of track, please ensure that you walk up the track with your bike until you reach the forest gate.

Thank you for your co-operation. The Bikefax Team

New trails in the Clwydian hills

New MTB Trails in the Clwydian Typical, eh? You publish a guidebook to North East Wales and 12 months later someone creates a couple of new trails.

You can get the full details of the story at NWMBA

North Wales Mountain Bike Association have played a key part in creating new legal routes near Moel Famau & Cilcain in the Clwyds. Both routes cross land belonging to the Archdale Family from Nannerch who have had a long association with mountain biking despite the fact that not one of them rides a bike, being farmers they tend to favour quad bikes or horses.

Anyway, this all started a few years ago when NWMBA were organising a round of the Kona 100 series at Corwen. The Archdales were approached to see if they would offer access to two areas of hillside for the event in order to cut out some busy A road sections. They were happy to oblige and asked for nothing in return.

The aftermath of this event saw plenty of illegal use of the trails, as over 1000 riders now knew of their existence. Last year though, NWMBA suggested the Archdales have the routes classified as permissive Bridleways under the Tir Gofal scheme funded by the Welsh Assembly. Having convinced the funding bodies that people riding push bikes dont constitute a major threat to rural ecology the men in suits gave it the green light and two new routes were created for riders of bikes and horses.

Hats off to the Archdale family and to NWMBA for making this happen. If you know of any places where this has happened let us know.

Llandegla - New black routes

The trail fairies have been busy over at Coed Lllandegla with not one but three whole new sections on the red route. With the red now turning into the new black route about half way round.

With loads of squirming singletrack and twisting trails youll be finding it hard to go slowly and/or stop grining. And as well as all that check out the 10 foot high north shore!!

CLICK HERE to download a free route map and i-guide for Llandegla Mountain Bike Centre.

Cyffylliog, North East Wales

Cyffylliog Challenge

We've had a couple of updates on this ride which unfortunately seems to have been spoiled by windfall and felling operations.

'Everything was ok until point 2, where it says " turn right at the forest corner, head SO at crossroads, and SO at 2nd, then SO again into the forest..... this was described as being muddy, but the path virtually disappears and there are dreadful fallen trees across so we ended up carrying our bikes for about 30mins. I've attached a pic of what we were up against. I'm disappointed as I've been lookin forward to doing that ride since last year. I would have thought the tracks are supposed to be kept clear if the public can use them??'

-Jane Clark

'Unfortunately, the Forestry Commission only has a duty to clear fallen trees from public rights of way, such as footpaths and bridleways, if a beautiful piece of singletrack doesnt happen to fall into this category, they have no responsibility at all, sadly.

- editor.

Lollipop Loop - Newborough Forest

Hi, enjoyed taking the family round the Lolipop loop on saturday but had a few navigation issues with some new posts and their numbering. After the route description pt2 which is at most 100m from the 1st post we followed the trail to the left as described then round to the right to a new post number 22 where we went left not right as per pt3 of the route description this then bears round to the right past a cross roads and bench continuing on to post 21 as per route description.

We also missed the fork left at post 20 initially, as heads were down in the rain and the main trail carries straight on.Hi, enjoyed taking the family round the Lolipop loop on saturday but had a few navigation issues with some new posts and their numbering. After the route description pt2 which is at most 100m from the 1st post we followed the trail to the left as described then round to the right to a new post number 22 where we went left not right as per pt3 of the route description this then bears round to the right past a cross roads and bench continuing on to post 21 as per route description.

- Nick

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