This mountain bike route of just over 18 miles 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 2 miles 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, 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 down to a gate (GR174625). After the gate follow the grassy trail through a stream then on to another gate. Go through the gate and climb the muddy double track to a junction. Continue climbing straight on to the next gate. After the gate follow the track over a crest and descend right to a rocky ford. After the stream climb the muddy double track to a gate (GR178630).
3. After the gate continue along the track to a junction 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 and follow it through the top of a field to a gate by a house on the left. Go straight on through the gate to go down the track between the bushes. Go over very muddy part section of trail beneath the trees. After the mud go straight on across the grass, then over a small stream to follow the rooty singletrack trail as it bears left through the trees. After going through a gate the track soon bears left befreo dropping right over patch of roots to a tricky rock section and some planks. After the planks go through a gate for a steep singletrack descent. Go through the next gate, at a 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 a junction at the start of the tarmac. Turn left and follow the lane through a dip and climb right then 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, 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 one mile, going through a couple of gates on the way up. Follow the track all the way to a gate at the top of the climb in the saddle on the ridge (GR145641). After going through the gate there is a great view over the Vale of Clwyd, which makes 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 rocky double track. As the descent drops through a number of corners the rocks increase until it becomes covered in course, deep gravel. The rocks eventually give way to fast hardpack that leads on to a short section of broken tarmac and a gate (GR168633).
7. After the gate descend on the tarmac. Keep your speed down as the next junction isn't far down the road and it's quite easy to overshoot. In the first bends take the track on the left, on a left hand bend next to the house (GR138633). Follow the dirt track as it climbs through the bushes to a small gate. 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. At the end go through a gate to the junction with a lane. Cross the lane and continue descending along the bridleway 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. The trail comes out onto a lane at the village of Gellifor (GR126626).
8. Go straight on past a lane on the left to the next junction at the end of the lane. Turn left and follow the road to another junction and turn left again. Follow this lane for a couple of miles and after the second crossroad take the dirt track on the right, just before a house on the right (GR133603). Follow the muddy double track between the hedges. When the doubletrack eventually gives way to tarmac, continue straight on to a junction on a bend in the main road (GR141588).
9. Carefully cross the main road and follow the lane on the other side. Go right at the next junction a short distance later. Follow the lane for about 1mile. Just past a junction on the right, signed to Ruthin, turn left up a track signed as a bridleway (GR142573). Follow the 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 (GR155576).
10. Follow the main track straight ahead through the trees, ignoring the tracks on either side. At the junction at the top edge of the woods, where the right hand track leads to a house, take the left hand track that leads to a forked junction shortly after. Go through the gate on the right and exit the woods. Climb the track, keeping the trees on the left, then go through a left hand hairpin at the stone buildings and climb back into the trees. After the trees bear right through a field then follow the track past some houses to a junction with the A494 by the Clwyd Gate Hotel (GR163581).
11. Turn right and descend the main road a short way to the junction just after the bollards. Turn left and climb the track to the next junction at the houses. Bear right then climb across the hill. At the end of the gorse hedge on the left bear left and climb the steep grassy track to a gate a short distance later (GR170589). After the gate follow the singletrack into the trees. On the other side of the trees continue straight ahead through a few gates and fields, following the line of trees on the right. The grassy trail descends through another gate to a junction at the bottom. Turn left and climb the steep grassy track along the edge of the field to a gate at a farm (GR172597).
12. Once through the gate turn right and go through two more gates close to each other. Continue climbing along the double track that follows the drystone wall, on the right. The track bears right and flattens off before bearing left to a gate. Go through the gate then after a short distance bear right to descend a wide track. Bear left down the track and go through the gate about 1/3 of the way down. Continue descending ahead, bearing left around the hill, on the increasingly rocky trail to a gate and a junction at the bottom (GR179611). Turn left on the lane then follow it around a right hand bend to a junction at the end. Turn left and follow the lane to the lower Moel Famau car park on the right to complete the ride.
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