This mountain bike route of 36.3 miles starts from below Moel Famau in the Clwydian Range in North Wales. Using a mixture of tarmac and trails it heads out through Nercwys Forest on the way to the manmade singletrack at Llandegla. After taking in the Black Route leave the forest on the historic Offa’s Dyke trail before returning to Moel Famau along the ridge of the Clwyds. This big day out in the hills is a great mixture of pure XC and singletrack fun with good café stops on the way.
1. Leave the lower Moel Famau car park (GR172611) using the exit at the lane and turn left. Go straight on at the next junction then after a while follow the lane over a rise before descending to Tafarn-y-Gelyn. Go straight on through the village, past the lanes on the right and left. At the junction with the main road turn left and descend to the garage in Loggerheads (GR196623).
2. At the garage turn right and follow the bridleway across the bridge. Follow the track right then left before going up a steep, muddy climb. The climb isn’t too long. When it flattens off a nice bit of singletrack leads to a junction with a muddy double track. Go straight on to where the track finishes at a junction with a lane. Turn right and descend to a junction at the bottom, by a steam crossing on the right (GR193611).
3. Turn left and follow the lane up an increasingly steep climb all the way to Meashafn at the top. Go straight on through Maeshafn to a junction on the far side of the village (GR203610). Continue straight on at the junction and follow the undulating lane to the junction at the end (GR213603). Turn left and descend to the next junction. Turn right at this crossroad and ride along the lane, keeping the forest just high on the right. After passing two lanes on the left climb to the next junction (GR221593). It’s a crossroad with the left hand entrance being a dirt track and an inscribed stone on the right. Turn right and climb to a short way to the entrance into Nercwys Forest (GR218593).
4. Go through the gate on the left to enter the forest. Climb the wide hardpack track and go past a track on the left. Continue climbing to the next junction with a track on the right on a left hand bend, marked by a direction post. Turn right and climb the singletrack. At the next junction, with a track on the right, go straight on. A short distance later follow the main trail through a 90deg left hand bend, ignoring the tracks on either side. Climb the trail straight on through the trees to the junction just after the top. Turn right and follow the short stretch of singletrack past Llyn Ochin before rejoining the main trail. Turn right and descend through a number of bends. The trail then straightens out and leads to a left hand bend. The left hand bend leads to another series bends. After the bends the trial straightens and flattens off leads to a junction, just before the trail starts to descend again (at speed it can be easy to miss). Turn right for a short winding climb to a view point. After the summit continue along the track for a short, rocky descent to a junction. Turn right and descend to a gate at the lane (GR217577).
5. Once through the gate turn left on the lane. A short distance later turn right onto the dirt track just before the house on the right (GR219577). Ride left around the back of the house then straight on at the junction. Follow the muddy double track as it bears right. At the junction at the end of the track turn right and descend the lane to the next junction, where the lane flattens off (GR221566). Turn right and climb the wide dirt marked as a BW. Once over the crest descend to a junction with a lane. Turn right and climb the lane to a grassy bridleway on the left, at the crest, that descends past an old chimney (GR213569).
6. Turn left through the gate and descend by the wall on the right, past the chimney to a gate at a small ford. After the gate go straight on and climb the muddy singletrack. After the reaching the top descend to where the track ends at a road (GR212563). Turn right on the road and descend into Graianrhyd. At the four-way junction by the Pub turn right. At the next junction a short distance later turn right again (GR218561). Follow the tarmac to the next junction and climb the steep gravel track on the left. This track soon flattens off and eventually ends at a junction with a lane (G215550).
7. Turn left and follow the lane over the top of the hill then descend to a junction. Turn right and follow the lane all to the traffic lights at the crossroad (GR234550). Go straight across the junction and follow the undulating main road all the way to the next crossroad junction at the Moors Inn on the A525. Go straight on and climb the road over the crest then descend a short way to a junction on the left hand bend (GR253529). Turn right and follow the lane past the farm. Continue straight on along this lane all the way to the entrance of Llandegla MTB centre on the left (GR239524).
8. Turn left through the gates and climb to the Log Cabin at the trail head of Llandegla MTB centre. The café here does great food & drink. Follow the Red Route Log Cabin. After the first long climb descend to the start of the Black Route on the left, just after a hairpin bend. After completing all of the Black descents climb through the switchbacks to the fire track. Continue on the Black Route up the next singletrack climb through the trees. The climb finishes with a straight, steep and wide rocky section. Directly after reaching the top a singletrack trail crosses the track, descending off to the left, which is Offa’s Dyke (GR213509). If you reach the point where the Red Route rejoins the Black you have gone a little too far.
9. Turn left and descend the thin rocky track. After a couple of bends it gives way to a wider, muddy and root covered track. At the junction with a forest track go straight on and descend the singletrack. Go through the gate at the edge of the forest then through a couple of steep, loose and rocky bends to a junction with a lane (GR207512). Turn right and follow the lane to a junction with the A525 at the Plough Inn (GR207518).
10. At the Plough Inn turn left and follow the A525. Take the next lane on the right to Llandegla village. At the crossroad junction in the village go straight on over the main road (GR199519). Descend through the village to the next junction and bear left then right around the church. Continue along the lane to the next crossroad junction (GR182526). Go straight on and follow the lane over the next hill. After the crest descend a straight section of lane to a junction (GR171542). Take the double track ahead, just to the right of the lane. At the next junction immediately after go right to the gate leading to Gweryd Lakes fishery. Go through the gate and follow the double track through the trees. Descend straight on out of the trees and go past the lake on the left. At the junction by the big barn, which contains a nice café, turn right around the back of the building (GR174552).
11. Follow the track left over a crest then descend through a tight right hand bend where then track becomes tarmac and descends steeply to a T-junction at the bottom (GR184557). Turn left then, at the next junction a short distance later, turn left again. Climb the dead end lane on the right all the way to the top, where it becomes a dirt track (GR168558). Go straight on and descend the double track through a tight right hand bend then along some fast ruts, on a long left hand bend that leads into the trees. At the junction in the trees turn left, past a track on the right. Soon after the track becomes a lane and leaves the trees. Descend the lane through a number of bends to a junction at the end (GR145567).
12. Turn right and follow the lane through a left hand bend to the next junction. Turn right and follow the lane past a farm on the right. At the next junction, directly before a lane on the left signed to Ruthin, turn right up a lane leading to a farm, signed as a BW (GR142573). Follow the lane through the farm and climb towards the trees. At the forked junction climb the damaged lane on the left. At the next junction, by a house on the right, go straight on and climb the dirt track into the woods (GR155576).
13. Follow the main track straight ahead through the trees ignoring the tracks on either side. At a 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 a gate on the right to 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).
14. Turn right and descend the main road a short way then take the track climbing away on the left, just after bollards. At the forked junction at the house follow the right hand track. Go over the cattle grid then to climb across the side of the hill. At the junction at the end of the gorse hedge follow the left hand track up a short, steep grassy climb to a gate (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 double track along the edge of the field to a gate at a farm (GR172597). 15. Once through the gate turn right and go through two more gates set close together. Continue climbing, on a gentler incline, along the double track as it 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 a short distance later 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 (GR172611).
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