North Wales

mountain bike route guides

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The North Wales Coast to Coast

This ride is a four day, 181 mile mountain bike route through the Cambrian Mountains, the Berwyn Mountains and the Clwydian Range. It follows the continuous chain of peaks from Aberystwyth to Prestatyn on challenging trails and quite country lanes. There are only a few short sections of main road to disturb the tranquillity of the ride. It also visits the trails of Nant yr Arian, the Cli-machx Trail and Llandegla MTB Centre. At the end of four days you will have climbed higher than Everest (approx 29784ft) but by finishing at the sea you will have descended the same amount as well.

Snowdonia

The Snowdonia National Park contains breathtaking scenery and some of the most technical riding North wales has to offer. While Snowdon my be the jewel in the crown there is plenty more rocky riding that should not be missed.

The Clwydian Range

This is a chain of heather clad hills just inside North Wales stretching for Llandegla all the way to the sea at Prestatyn. The hills are crossed with bridleways, flowing trails and long, fast descents. While the riding is generally not too technical there is plenty of variety to challenge you whatever you level, including some fun rocky descents if you know where to look.

The Ceiriog Valley and Llangollen

This Ceiriog Valley is a beautiful and still quite an undiscovered gem and one of my favourite local riding locations. While the entrance to the valley is almost hidden at Chirk the far end opens out onto the expanse of the Berwyn mountains. The steep sided valley is covered in rocky bridleways and lanes that make it the prefect winch and plummet location and this wonderful riding continues over into the Vale of Llangollen just to the north.

Mynydd Hiraethog

Mynydd Hiraethog is an area of moorland in central North Wales that also contains Clocaenog Forest, which gives a contrast to the riding with vast open spaces or confined within the conifers.

Powys

Powys is the largest county in Wales and it is covered in hills, which makes it great for riding. It also gives you the opportunity to experience being in the middle of nowhere. These route guides are based in the northern end of the county, so I can just about count them as North Wales.

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