 jump on the Pigories GR162562 8x6.jpg "Col (flattyres) hitting the jump on the Pigories GR162562")
 Russ approaching Moel Famau junction GR175612 8x6.JPG "Col (flattyres) and Russ approaching Moel Famau lower car park GR175612")
 The Mast Climb GR125669 8x6.jpg "Col (flattyres) on The Mast climb GR125669")
 descent from the Mast GR118691 8x6.jpg "Col (flattyres) descending from the mast GR118691")
Day 4: 43 miles and 6400ft of climbing from Gweryd Lakes to Prestatyn. The final day traverses the full length of the Clwydian Range on a good mixture of tracks and country lanes. It is the least technical day with the least climbing. That’s not to say it’s easy. There are climbs that will have your legs burning but it also has descents that will put a smile on your tired face. The riding is combined with fantastic views across Snowdonia and the Cheshire plain on a clear day.
1. At the junction in front of the accommodation turn right and follow the track out of Gweryd Lakes, with the trees on the left and the café on the right. The track bears left over a crest before dropping through a tight right hand bend and descending steeply to a T-junction at the bottom (GR185557). Turn left then left again at the next junction a short distance later. Climb the lane all the way to the top, where it becomes a dirt track (GR168558). Go straight on and descend the loose, rocky double track through a tight right hand bend. The track then goes through a long, fast left hand bend that leads into the trees. Once in the trees go past a track on the right to where the track becomes a tarmac lane. Follow the lane through a number of bends to a junction and turn right (GR145567). Go through a left hand bend to the next junction. Turn right and follow the lane past a farm on the right to the next junction, with a small lane on the right leading to a farm, marked as a BW (GR142573), directly before a junction with a lane on the left signed to Ruthin.
2. Turn right and follow the lane straight on through the farm. At the next junction bear left and climb to a junction at the bottom of the woods, by a house on the right (GR155576). Go straight on and climb the dirt track into the woods. 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).
3. Turn right and descend the main road a short way then take the track climbing away on the left, just after bollards (GR166582). At the houses follow the track right, then climb left across the side of the hill. At the junction at the end of the gorse hedge follow the left hand fork 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 track along the edge of the field to a gate at a farm (GR172597).
4. Once through the gate turn right and go through two more gates close to each other. Continue climbing, on a gentler incline, along the double track as it follows the drystone wall. 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 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 (GR172611).
5. Follow the trail on the opposite side to the entrance barrier, out the back of the car park, and bear right to a junction on the bend of a wide fire road. Climb the fire road to the second junction, at the crest (GR178616). Turn left and climb the fire road, which bear left and comes to a junction go straight on and follow the track as it drops and rises around the contours along the eastern slope of Moel Famau, ignoring any tracks off to the side. Eventually the track finishes with a short, rocky singletrack descent, which then bears left and climbs to a gate (GR169633).
6. After the gate turn left and climb the steep grassy trail by the drystone wall. When the trail flattens off go through a gate and follow the boggy section of the trail by the trees on the left to a crossroad junction (GR163633). Go straight on and follow the muddy singletrack that soon bears left up a short climb. After the crest descend through a gap in the wall then continue straight on along the grassy, muddy and rocky track to a junction (GR156630). Take the track on the left then, just before it kicks up the final steep climb to the ridge, turn square right and follow the muddy track that runs parallel to the ridge, on the left. Follow this to a junction with a concessional track on the right that goes over a low jumble of rocks (GR153630). If you come to a stile you have gone a bit too far.
7. Turn right over the rocks then at the next junction immediately after turn left. Follow the singletrack through the heather as it contours right then left around the hill. Go down a short, steep descent to a vague forked junction just after a line of rocks across the trail. Take the right hand track and descend to a junction with a rocky double track (GR146642), if you miss it don’t worry, either direction ends at the same track. Turn right and descend the double track to where it finishes at a lane, by a farm on the right. Follow the lane straight on to a crossroad junction (GR165653). Turn left and ride past the farm where the tarmac becomes a rocky double track. Follow this track through a big dip and on to a junction with a lane at the other end, under Moel Arthur (GR148659).
8. Turn left and go past the car park in the saddle on the ridge. Go over the cattle grid and descend the lane through a few bends. On the inside of a right hand bend, just before the lane drops steeply down hill, turn right and follow the signposted bridleway through a gate (GR141656). Traverses the hill just underneath Moel Arthur then turn left at the pond and descend to a gate. After the gate take the singletrack on the right to climb through the gorse bushes. Bear right over the crest then keep following the track to the right and descend to a junction with a lane (GR136665). Go right and climb the lane back to the top of the ridge. Go left into the car park and left again through the gate at the top of the woods (GR138668). Take the second track from the right and descend through the woods. At the bottom go through a small gate to a junction with the double track. Turn right and climb the double track. Continue climbing this track all the way to the junction at the top of the ridge underneath the transmitter mast (GR121690).
9. Go through the gate on the left for a steep grassy and rocky descent. The track soon bears right then descends through a few bends. It finishes in a dip by a house on the left before climbing a short way to a 3-way bridleway junction (GR113691). Turn left and descend the grassy track that bears right around the hill, going past a couple of tracks on the left. Eventually the track climbs right to some woods. Descend through the woods and go straight on at a junction with a track on the right. The track finishes at a junction with a lane (GR108699). Turn left and descend the lane to a junction at the bottom. Turn right, then turn left at the next junction immediately after. Follow the lane to the end and turn right to a junction with the main road (GR092697).
10. Turn right a follow the main road to a junction with a lane on the left by the shop in Bodfari (GR097701). Turn left and climb the steep lane that soon bears right and flattens off. At the junction where the lane turns right and descends steeply, go straight on along the dirt track (GR097709). Almost immediately after take the woodland singletrack on the right. At the end of this track bear left on the tarmac to a junction with a lane on the right , a short distance later, by a house on the left on the ridge of the hill (GR096712). Turn right and climb the steep lane and go straight on at the crossroads. Continue climbing steeply for a while before the lane flattens off and undulates to the top of the hill. At the top of the hill the lane turns left then comes to a junction on a tight right hand bend, with a footpath straight on and a gate on the left (GR098723).
11. Go through the gate on the left and descend the grassy track. After the track becomes a lane, by a house on the right, descend to the next junction (GR087719). Turn right and follow the lane, which soon becomes a grassy track, to a gate. Go straight on, past a track on the left, to a junction ahead with two gates. Go through the left hand gate and continue straight on to a gate and left hand bend. Go through the gate and turn left then climb the grassy double track ahead. The track bears right as it climb the hill. After the next gate the track bears left and descends through the gorse bushes to a gated junction with a lane at the top of the hill (GR094731). Go straight on through the gate and follow the lane through a dip to where it ends at a junction. Turn left then almost immediately right and climb the steep lane to a junction at the top (GR091741).
12. Turn left and descend the bridleway into the trees. Just before the second gate take the singletrack on the right through the trees. This short cuts the gated junction just below. On returning to the main track turn right and climb to a junction at the top. Turn left to follow the singletrack that soon descends to a lane and a junction (GR082744). Turn left and descend to a junction with the B5429. Turn right and follow the road underneath the A55 to a junction in Rhewl. Go straight on, past Smithy Arms pub on the right, and follow the lane along the woods, on the right. Eventually the lane comes to a forked junction (GR065768).
13. Take the lane on the right and climb with the woods still on the right. At the next junction go straight on and climb steeply to the junction at the top (GR073774). Turn left, then at the next junction immediately after turn right. At the triangular junction turn right and follow the main road to a junction with a dirt track on the left at a farm (GR082782). Turn left down this track and follow it between the hedges. After going through a left then right hand bend the track becomes a muddy singletrack descent that can be churned up by hooves but it’s usually rideable. The track becomes good again as it enters the trees and descends to a junction at a stream. Go straight over the stream then climb right to a T-junction. Turn left and follow the track to a junction with the A5151 (GR085797).
14. Turn left on the main road then take the next lane on the right signposted to Gwaenysgor. Go straight across the following crossroad and climb into the village. Immediately after a junction with two lanes on the left, in the middle of the village, take the next lane on the right (GR075811). The lane soon turns left up a short steep kick before turning right at the top. Continue straight on when the lane becomes a wide gravel track and head towards the antenna at the woods.
15. At the antenna turn right and descend the double track to a junction in the woods just at the end of a right hand bend (GR087821). Turn right and climb the muddy singletrack. At the top of the hill bear left and descend the track. Continue descending straight ahead as the track widens twice before it comes to a T-junction (GR103822). Turn left and go down the rutted, grassy then rocky track. Although it’s the last descent it’s a good one to finish on. At the bottom go straight on to a junction with the road through Gronant.
16. Turn left and ride through the village to the junction at the other end. Turn right and descend to the junction with the A548 coast road (GR091834). Turn left on the main road then turn right at the next junction immediately after. Go past the cafes and shops on the right, across the bridge over the railway, then turn left to follow National Cycle Route 5 through the golf course. At the far side of the golf course continue straight on along the road into the outskirts of Prestatyn. Take the next road on the right to go past Pontin’s, on the left (GR070835). After Pontin’s follow the road left to ride by the sea wall, on the right. At the far end turn right up the concrete ramp to the car park. Go straight through the car park to reach the sea and the end of the ride (GR061838).
North Wales Coast 2 Coast - Day 1
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