This mountain bike route descends the Rhyd Ddu trail on a 16 mile route that starts in Llanberis. Rhyd Ddu is the most consistantly technical bridleway on Snowdon. It starts at the opposite side of the cafe to the Llanberis trail with a treacherous push across the top of a 350m drop before descending boulder after boulder after boulder all the way to Rdhy Ddu village at the bottom. Please adhere to the times of the voluntary bike ban.

1. Start from the car park by Llyn Padarn in Llanberis (GR577605). Turn left onto the main road and follow it straight on, past the Snowdon Mountain Railway at the far side of Llanberis. Climb straight on after the railway to the mini roundabout junction just after (GR583596). Turn right and follow the lane over the traffic calming past the line of houses on the left. At the junction near the end of the houses go straight on. After crossing the cattle grid at the end of the houses engage a very low gear for the first short climb where the road becomes very steep. At the top of the climb go past Pen-y-Ceunant tea house on the left. After the tea house continue along the lane to a gate where the lane turns right. Once through the gate follow the lane right, up a short climb, to the signposted junction with the start of the Llanberis Path on the left (GR581589).

2. Turn left and follow the trail through a gate then up a few rocky sections that give a good indication of what is to come. What follows is a very challenging mixture of boulders, loose scree and the occasional bit of flatter rocky hardpack. There are some sections that are always a push, mainly in the top third, but in good conditions the trail is about 70% ridable (if you are very good at climbing). The bonus though is when it gets too much you can rest and take in the awesome scenery. If it's open the Halfway House is a great place to stop for a cup of tea and a cake. Continue following the Llanberis Path all the way to the summit (GR610544).

3. After the obligatory summit photos, taking in the views, and fighting past the crowds for a coffee the mountain has to be descended. From the summit head to the left hand side of the cafe. After going straight on past the entrance to the cafe the track can be seen traversing a thin ridge ahead. Go straight on and descend the very rocky track to the start of the traverse, which is mainly a push and carry. If you don't like walking along a 6 inch wide track, holding on to rocks with one hand while pushing your bike above a 350m sheer drop with the other I wouldn't advise you to go this way. Fortunately not much height is lost on the ridge. Near the end of the ridge section the trail splits in two (GR604537).

4. Follow the track on the right but don't look down as there is now a 350m sheer drop on the right. At this point your bike can be remounted but think carefully about the big drop and the cost of an error. When the singletrack traverse finishes the trail follows a fence that starts on the right. The trail follows the fence and, after a short distance, descends through a number of loose, very steep switchbacks. After the switchbacks the ground flattens out slightly for a very rocky track that follows the line of the ridge before coming to a gate in a drystone wall (GR597537).

5. After the gate the trail parallels the ridge for a while before dropping off to the left, where the trail steepens and goes through some very technical but rideable rock gardens. They go on for a long time and are a good test of skill, nerve and your forearms. After a short walk/scramble down the last particularly evil section the trail flattens out and the boulder fields disappear. Follow the trail straight ahead and descend the dirt track. This soon gives way to big uneven boulder paving where some speed can be gained. There are still big steps and tight corners to catch you out. Even with a full-sus your arms will be burning at the bottom from the pounding of the constant lumps. The trail ends with a short climb to a gate (GR582525).

6. After the gate turn right and descend the wide gravel track to Rhyd Ddu village. Unfortunately there are a few locked gates to negotiate on this bridleway. At the next junction near the end of the descent, with a gate to a farm on the right, turn left. Directly after crossing the railway turn right and follow the around the back of the houses, then turn left at the next junction to come out at the A4085 (GR569527).

7. Turn right and follow the A4085 for roughly 1.5 miles to the Snowdon Ranger YHA. Directly after the YHA follow the Snowdon Ranger bridleway, sign posted off to the right (GR565551). This comes out at the railway where it turns left before coming to a crossing point a little further down. Turn right over the railway and climb to the houses. Just behind the houses follow the trail right (GR565552). This track climbs steeply through a number of switchbacks and over a few water bars. Just after the trail starts flattening off look out for a bridleway on the left, signposted to Llanberis up a very steep grassy slope (GR573553). If you descend left to a gate at a stream crossing you have gone a little far, but not by much.

8. Turn left and climb the calf crampingly steep carry (or push) that is thankfully not too long. Continue straight on when the trail becomes rideable again and follow the trail towards the saddle to the gate at the top (GR572558). Go through the gate and follow the rocky track that descends down the left hand side of the valley ahead. This trail is great fun, even with the amount of water bars on it. Towards the bottom of the descent the trail bears left. Keep following the trail to where it turns into a lane. Continue ahead along the lane to a junction where straight ahead is a gate and the road turns right (GR573591). Turn right and descend the lane, past Llanberis YHA, all the way back into Llanberis. At the junction with the main road in Llanberis (GR578601). Turn left and ride to the junction with Pete’s Eats on the corner. Turn right and return to the car park to complete the ride.