This mountain bike route of 18.5 miles is set in the beautiful area around Lake Vyrnwy in Northern Powys. It uses tracks through the forest to the East of the lake for a mixture of rocky doubletrack and grassy, muddy trails. The route is still rideable in the worst of weather as the grassy and muddy parts are mainly used for the descents.
1. Start from the car park by the wooden sculpture park at the bottom of the dam (GR018190). Leave the car park using the lane and climb to a junction. Turn left and ride past the telephone box. After leaving the village bear left over a bridge. At the next two junctions turn right to climb steeply up the tarmac. At the top follow the lane right and descend to the next junction. Go straight on to climb the rocky double track for a short distance. After reaching the crest go straight on for a long, fast descent. The track bears right after a while then ends at a two-way junction. Go left around the hairpin and descend to a lane (GR013175).
2. Go straight on along the lane all the way to a bridge across the River Vyrnwy. Cross the bridge then climb off to the left to a junction. Continue straight on along the lane to the next junction at the top of the climb (GR030177). Turn hard right to climb the single track lane. This lane bears left and steepens before reaching a junction at the top. Bear left on the lane to a three-way junction a short distance later (GR030174). Turn left and climb the rocky double track into the trees. At the junction at the top go straight on and descend to the lane at the bottom. Turn right on the lane and ride a short way to the next junction on a hairpin in the main road (GR035182).
3. Bear left and descend the main road into Abertridwr. After passing some buildings on the right the road goes across a small stream and comes to a junction with a track on the right, just before reaching a road sign (GR033189). Turn right down this track and go past the garages on the left. At the junction just after the garages take the right hand track to ride by the stream. Continue straight on to a crossing over the stream, on the right (GR036191).
4. Use the ford or bridge to cross the stream then climb into the trees. The singletrack soon comes to a junction. Follow the fire track right and climb through a left bend to the junction at the top (GR141192). Go straight on and descend left to the next junction then keep left to continue down the hill. At the next junction, where then main track turns left, go straight on to follow the track up a long, gradual climb of about two miles along the right hand side of the valley. Continue stright on all the way up until the track turns left, through a dip, and comes to a T-junction (GR063210).
5. Turn right and climb the rocky double track to the next junction (GR067211). Take the track on the left for a short, step section, which soon comes out to the top of the hill. Continue along the track, then go past the trees on the right to a signed bridleway immediately after a barn on the right (GR076216).
6. Turn right through the gate and enter the enclosure by the barn. Go through the next gate and ride across the grass while staying by the forest on the left. After the next gate the grassy double track can be very wet and soft but it is possible to ride through it and it's only a short section. When the trail dries continue ahead, between some hawthorn trees, to the next gate, keeping by the forest on the left. Once through the gate climb a small rise then descend to the next gate. Go through the gate and descend across a field, following the line of big trees to the gate on the other side. After this gate follow a thin grassy track along a line of trees on the right. There is another gate on the way down before coming to a final one at the bottom. Go straight on through this last gate to a junction with a lane (GR095223).
7. Turn left and climb steeply up the lane. After the climb flattens off go straight on at the crossroad and descend to the next junction with a tarmac lane on the left, at a little crest in the lane (GR099232). Turn hard left and climb the potholed tarmac through the trees. Continue straight on up the main track, past two large junctions, to a gate at the top (GR077217).
8. Go through the gate then, a short distance later, go past the previously visited barn on the left. At the far side of the following section of trees go across a stream to where the trail bears left (GR074214). At this point go straight ahead across the grass, in the direction of the bridleway sign that is hidden behind you in the corner of the trees. Climb gently on the vague grassy track, then when a fence appears ahead aim slightly high of the right hand corner. The track becomes a little more defined as it turns right and steepens. Follow the line of the fence on the left to a small gate leading into the trees on the ridge (GR066216).
9. Go through the gate and follow the rooty, muddy singletrack into the trees. The trail soon starts descending and passes through a brief clearing, with some big roots, before diving back into the trees for a fast traverse dotted with off camber roots. At the end of the descent turn right and cross a small bridge. After the bridge climb a short steep slope then bear right for a rooty and muddy trail that ends at a junction with a wide forest track (GR061219).
10. Turn right and descend the track to a junction with a lane. Turn left, then almost immediately right, through a small gate for a singletrack bridleway that climbs away in a small gully. At the next junction take the left hand track for a steep and tricky descent in a bigger gully. This track has a lot of debris washed down it but is generally muddy at the top and bouldery at the bottom. At the house at bottom bear right on the lane, then cross a stream before reaching a junction in the village of Hirnant (GR050229).
11. Turn left on the road and ride a short way to the next junction by a house. Go left and follow the lane across the River Hirnant then up the opposite side of the valley. Continue up this steep tarmac climb to a four-way junction at the top (GR042217). Turn right onto the double track leading into the forest. At the next junction turn left. Climb this track and bear left at the next junction, with a grassy track on the right. At the next junction a short distance later turn right and climb steeply under the cover of the trees. The trail soon comes out into daylight again and eventually finishes at another junction (GR033210). Turn right, then at the next junction a short distance later turn left. Climb straight on past the next two junctions, with trails on the right, to a gate at the top at the edge of the forest (GR029207).
12. Go through the gate and take in the great views across Lake Vyrnwy before descending the grassy double track to a junction. Go in either direction as the tracks rejoin in about 30m, the left hand one is slightly steeper. After that bear right and descend to a gate. Go through the gate and bear left, staying high of the puddle, then go past a track climbing off on the right. Keep bearing left to follow the singletrack as it straightens out and descends down the right hand side of a gully. This opens up into a fast grassy trail that goes through a few bends but heads generally straight on. The trail eventually comes out at a wide gravel track and a gate at the back of the Lake Vyrnwy Hotel (GR022199).
13. Go across the back of the Hotel to the car park on the opposite corner. Take the steep singletrack that drops into the trees just to the right of the car park. The trail bears left halfway down and comes straight out to a road (GR020195). Go left on the road and then right, over the top of the dam. At the junction on the opposite side of the dam turn left and descend past the café on the left to a junction with a lane on the left. Turn left and descend this lane back to the car park to complete the ride.
Comments
Rode this route a few weeks
Rode this route a few weeks ago - loved it.
Instructions spot on.
A couple of trees down after Abertridwr but otherwise snagless.
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