This mountain bike route of 19.2 miles is an extremely difficult and technical ride. It uses all the bridleways on Snowdon and in doing so reaches the summit twice. Steep, bouldery trials that will test your riding skills to the limit make up the majority of this route. The percentages included on what is ridable are based on a very fit rider comfortable with riding Scottish level black runs. There is a lot of hike-a-biking on this route so you must be happy with pushing and carrying your bike. When riding this route 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. Return back down the Llanberis trail to the standing stone at the view point near the top of the Pyg Track on the right (GR607549). At the standing stone turn left down the start of the Snowdon Ranger Path and descend to the railway. Turn right and follow the track for a few 10s of meters then turn left and cross the rails. After crossing the rails turn right and descend the fast, loose and rocky track through a long left hand bend for first third of the Ranger. At the end of the left hand bend the trail comes to a steep section where things start to get really technical. The rocks get increasingly larger and this is combined with chutes, steps and tight switchbacks, proper pick your way down stuff. This ends with a section of about 30m of big rocks that I've not had the bottle to attempt yet. When the big rocks finish the trail flattens out for a fast gravel trail, with a great view of Snowdon on the left, that soon comes to a gate (GR585555).

4. After the gate the trail becomes boggy in sections. After a while the trail comes to another gate at a stream crossing. After the gate climb the trail off to the left. The trail soon bears right and starts descending again over some slate water bars. Continue stright on and descend the trail to another gate. After the gate descend the switchbacks, finally ending up at a small group of houses. At the end of the houses turn left and descend over the railway tracks. Directly after the railway crossing turn left and follow the track that leads to the Snowdon Ranger YHA. At the YHA the track turns right and finishes at a junction with the main road in the bottom of the valley (GR565551).

5. Turn left and follow the lane, past the YHA, all the way to the village of Rhyd Ddu. At the junction with the lane on the right, in the village, go straight on (GR569530). Bear left and climb the road to end of the row of buildings on the right, then look for the track in between the houses on the left for a track incorrectly signed as a footpath (GR569527). If you pass the next single house on the right you have gone too far.

6. Take the track on the left, which turns immediately right around the back of the houses before coming out at a railway crossing. Go over the rails and follow the track up to a junction with a private track straight ahead (GR572527). Turn right and ride around the barrier before to climb the bridleway, negotiating a few locked gates on the way. The track eventaully comes to a crossroad junction, with the track up Snowdon again marked incorrectly as a footpath (GR582525).

7. Go through the gate on the left to start the extremely difficult Rhyd Ddu climb. The first section, over large uneven boulder flagged paving, is rideable but not easy. It includes technical sections through tight turns and up steps. The trail eventually becomes more natural but steeper with more and more pushing required. The carrying really starts after the trail flattens out and a dark boulder field comes into view just off to the right. Follow the trail to the bottom of the boulders for the start of a long hike-a-bike. Carry, push and occasionally ride up to the next gate. Once through the gate continue climbing in a hike-a-bike style through the next, longer boulder field. Eventually the trail bears right along the line of the ridge and becomes ridable again for some time before coming to a gate (GR597537).

8. Go through the gate for a more technical but flatter part of the ride to the bottom of a steep set switchbacks. Dismount and continue with the push and carry theme, it’s a bit less rocky this time though. At the top of the switchbacks remount and ride, or push, the precarious singletrack ridge traverse to the café. The first section is ridable but you should consider the 350m drop off to the left before deciding to attempt it. The trail definitely becomes unridable again when it kicks up right and swaps to the right hand side of the ridge, with a 350m drop now on the right. Carefully pick your way along the ridge to where it widens out to a ridable (but I couldn’t be bothered) section for the final scramble to the back of the summit café. Go around the back of the café and complete the climb to the summit for a second time (GR610544).

9. After refuelling descend the Llanberis Path and return to Llanberis to complete the ride. The trail is a difficult and technical descent but is 100% ridable and a fantastic rockfest. The top section to the first bridge can be a bit congested with walkers but once past this point the foot traffic usually gets a lot lighter.

This is a BIG ride with nearly 6500ft of climbing. It took me 6hrs to complete. Food breaks were short and we only slowed down for a couple of punctures, I'll hold my hand up to both. I took a lot of food and ate it all but if you want to travel lighter there are a few possible food stops at the Halfway Station and the summit cafe. These can be closed, so it is best to check before hand. The pub in Rhyd Ddu is also worth a visit.

I have since ridden this route in the opposite direction, to descend the Rhyd Ddu trail and climb the Snowdon Ranger. To be honest I preferred it this way round. The descent of Rhyd Ddu was more consistently technical and while very difficult, about 70% rideable. The climb of the Ranger is more rideable than climbing Rhyd Ddu. The bottom third of the Ranger was steep but rideable, the steep rocks of the middle third are still a long hard carry and the top third is again rideable (but only just). For a route guide follow the Rhdy Ddu route from my Snowdon route guide, but at para.8 continue straight on, up to the top instead of taking the track off to the left, signed to Llanberis.

This route can also be broken up into smaller rides as detailed in my other Snowdon Routes.