Chamois Mountaineering Centre, Marconi Road, Ceunant, Caernarfon, LL55 4SA

Introduction:     

Earlier this year, one of the Chamois Mountaineering Club members asked me to give him some thoughts on mountain biking from the club hut which is very close to Llanberis and ideally situated for getting into the hills of Snowdonia. I sent him my comments, which prompted me to write this article for the benefit of everyone. First and foremost, I would like to give “The Chamois Bike Store builders” a big “Thank You” for their construction work. With the advent of a new build bike store at the Chamois hut, I thought that it might be useful to provide some information and encouragement to club members to “get on their bike” (or at least consider hiring one), whilst staying at the hut - to enable them to explore the roads, byways and tracks around Snowdonia, the Llyn Peninsular and Anglesey. Mountain biking has been undertaken by some club members for some time but not as a well-known club activity or theme of a meet. For a few years now, I have tried to combine mountaineering at the hut with various bike rides. Not only does it help muscles to recover by alternating between mountaineering and cycling but it also gives me an opportunity to explore areas not always visited under the guise of mountaineering. Moreover, cycling enables much large distances to be covered than on foot.

Mountain Biking:            

Cycling can embrace of many types of bikes from the road-bike (Peleton) to the mountain-bike (MTB). Some Peletons, with their drop handlebars and 25mm tyres are only suitable for well-made roads with minimal potholes. Gravel-bikes look similar, with drop handlebars, but with a more robust frame and heavy-duty wheels and 32mm tyres, they can be used on quite rough terrain. Mountain Bikes (MTBs) on the other hand are designed to be ridden off-road, with either a hard-tail (front-forks suspension only) or full suspension. Hard-tail bikes give good off-road performance and are easier to pedal than those with full suspension but are not as responsive as full suspension MTBs on downhill/bumpy tracks. Full suspension gives better handling but may require a little more effort on easy roads. Wheels on an MTB are usually found in three diameters: 26”, 27.5” and 29”. Bikes with 26” wheels are more manoeuvrable, bikes with 29” wheels ride bumps more easily and go faster, 27.5” wheels are a compromise.  MTBs come in two varieties, either: the ordinary MTB or the electric-MTB (e-MTB). Those using an e-MTB still need to pedal but the power becomes extremely useful and significant when going uphill. For those who wish to ride the circuit of Snowdon or the circuit of Anglesey, or other well-made roads, then the Peleton road-bike is the best choice. For those that wish to explore the wilder backroads and tracks of Snowdonia, I would recommend an MTB/e-MTB or a Gravel Bike.

Where To Go: 

It is important to note that is illegal to cycle on a footpath in Wales. Cycling is allowed on bridleways (Blue Arrow-markers) and byways (Red Arrow-markers). As far as cycling from the hut is concerned, route selection depends on the type of MTB used and the capability, fitness and experience of the rider(s). Clearly, those with an e-MTB can with less effort tackle steeper and/or longer routes than those without an e-MTB.  Experience has shown that it is better in a group not to mix e-MTBs riders with those riders without an e-MTB, unless the e-MTB owners are very patient. Generally, e-MTBs tend to be significantly heavier than ordinary MTBs. For example, an e-MTB can be around 25kg, whereas the ordinary MTB weighs in at around 15Kg. Whilst styles/gates and other obstacles can be negotiated, if necessary, by lifting the ordinary MTB over the obstacle; doing the same with an e-MTB poses a significant challenge or may be impossible, should riders not be weightlifters. Combined with this reason and the fact that it is illegal to cycle on footpaths, it is better to stick to bridleways and byways, tracks, trails or quiet roads when using an e-MTB.

Route Choice:   

Selection of the route depends on whether one decides to start from the hut; or, travel from the hut to the start of the planned route. Another consideration is whether to go for a challenging MTB route or stay mainly on quiet roads. There are very few completely off-road MTB routes, other than purpose designed trails. Most MTB routes will involve a certain percentage of metalled road to go from one trail or track to another. Use of an MTB is a distinct advantage, even on quiet roads, as there are often elements of cross-country or large potholes found on any route. Moreover, an MTB or Gravel Bike gives the option of taking a track that would otherwise wreck a Peleton. For those that want to have a quiet time, the location of the Chamois hut is a blessing, as it gives easy access to at least five excellent and mostly “traffic-free” trails. These trails are known as: Lon Eifion (Caernarfon to Bryncir (13miles)), Lon Las Menai (Carnarvon to Bangor (6 miles)), Lon Las Ogwen (Bangor to Ogwen (8 miles)), and the Lon Las Cefni on Anglesey (Cefni Reservoir via Llangefni-to Newborough Forest (12 miles). The trails offer a good outing in themselves but are often better employed as part of a longer route.  Graded trails come in four varieties: Green, Blue Red and Black – a bit like the grades of ski pistes. The standard of cycling and capability for these graded routes is well described at the link: MTB cycle route grades. Personally, I always try to get the feel of a graded trail area by riding a Blue trail, before embarking on the Red trails. In my opinion, those wishing to undertake Black routes, should consider investing in body armour, in addition to a very robust cycle helmet.

Guides:               

For the countryside around the hut, I have found the Goldeneye map entitled “Cycling Country Lanes & Byways Snowdonia and Anglesey” helpful in planning quiet road and traffic-free routes. The Mountain Bike Guide (North Wales) by Pete Bursnall describes a variety of easy to hard MTB routes, for those who want a rough ride in more remote locations. As a starter for Chamois members, I have assembled a collection of guides/maps, some of which are described in this article. 

Routes from the hut:      

Starting a route from the hut has many advantages: no hassle loading bikes, no need to spend time travelling but it does mean that one is inevitably likely to cover some of the same roads/tracks on a regular basis. This can be a positive advantage, as familiarity increases speed of movement and the views and conditions always change with the weather and the season. Starting from the hut you have only 4 main options: head towards Caernarvon; head towards Llanrug; head towards Waun Fawr; or, go over Bwylch-y-Groes towards Llanberis.

Towards Caernarvon.      

My favourite route and probably the best one from the hut to Caernarfon is to cycle through Waunfawr and take the A4085 towards Caernarvon. After 100yds, take a left-turn to follow the marked bike route on the bridleway and back roads past Plas Glan-y-Afon. The route now goes under the “Caernarvon by-pass” straight all the way to the A487. Care is needed when crossing one of the minor “B” roads. Once at the A487 junction you have two options, either head South along the Lon Eifion or head to Caernarvon along the back roads to the harbour and Castle.

From Caernarvon - South: 

From the A487 junction, you need to find the bike path to take you under the A487 and cross the small-gauge railway line to follow the Lon Eifion south beside the Welsh Highland Railway. At Dinas, the Welsh Highland Railway veers off towards Waun Fawr whilst the Lon Eifion follows the line of the old railway track towards Penygroes and the end of the trail at Bryncir.  The trail is fairly flat until the long climb out of Penygroes.  If you wish to cycle into Cwm Penant or take the backroads to Porthmadog, it is best to divert before Bryncir at Dafan Faig and take the quiet lane to Dolbenmaen.  Just after Dolbenmaen, you need to head towards Cwm Pennant on quiet lanes. The choice here is either to head directly towards Rhyd Ddu and pick-up the bridleways (difficult). Alternatively, head past the old Brynkir woollen mill and turn towards Prenteg or continue all the way to Porthmadog. The road to Prenteg is in the valley of the Afon Ddu and is a delightful switchback. The descent into Prenteg is quite steep, which will test the efficiency of your brakes.  At Prenteg, I would recommend either taking the B4410 to Gareg and then the road to Nantmor back to Beddgelert; or, if time is pressing head along the A498, quicker but with more traffic. At Pont Croesor on the B4410 or at Nantmor, there are stations belonging to the Welsh Highland Railway. If trains are operating, there may be the option of taking the bikes on the train, if space is available. This will save the long climb from Beddgelert to Rhyd Ddu but may not be a necessary alternative if e-MTBs are being used. For the keen biker, at Beddgelert, the best option is to take the Slate Trail back to Rhyd Ddu. If time is pressing, at the Afon Colwyn at the top of the Beddgelert Forest, take the A4085 back to Rhyd Ddu. By now you will probably be thirsty, so the Cwellyn Arms will provide a welcome break. From Rhyd Ddu the 4085 is mainly downhill, so it gives a great ride back home, apart from the pull up from Waun Fawr to the Chamois hut.

From Caernarvon - North:  

From A487 junction, go through Caernarvon and follow the cycle path alongside the Menai Straight towards Bangor. Beyond Y Felinheli (Port Dinorwic) there are many quiet-road options which can be taken to return to Llanrug and the local road to Ceunant and the hut.

From Llanrug: 

There are a few quiet roads from the hut to Llanrug and many more quiet roads beyond Llanrug.  Pick your own route and head towards Bangor via Pentir or Deiniolen and take the Lon-Las Menai back to Caernarvon and then back to the hut. See the Goldeneye Map for further details.

From Waunfawr:

Take the road from the hut towards Waunfawr. The quickest route for an MTB outing is to take the road to Bwlch-y-Groes (Start of footpath to Moel Eilio) and then down to Llanberis. The return to the hut is past Bryn Bras Castle and then on the local road to Ceunant. Another interesting possibility, which I have not done myself, is to cycle though Waun Fawr heading towards Betws Garmon and then take the turning to Rhosgadfan. From the village head to Penygroes and then either go to Rhyd Ddu or go to Caernarvon and then back to the hut.

Routes requiring travel away from the hut:

Travelling away from the hut to start a route gives all the benefits of being able to try new terrain, locations, and experience different scenery, However, one needs to decide which type of bike to use and what type of terrain likely to be encountered.  Bear in mind that if one is travelling to a new location, it is wise to be able to identify where it will be possible to park easily, securely, without upsetting the locals and with plenty of space to unload the bikes.

Rough Routes:

    For those wishing to use their MTBs or possibly their Gravel Bikes, there are quite a few options on marked or graded trails:

  1. Beddgelert Forest: The nearest location is the Car Park at the North-end of the Beddgelert Forest, just south of the bridge where the railway crosses The Beddgelert Forest has several marked trails. For those without bikes, they can be hired from the bike shop in the forest campsite: 1085 Adventures.
  2. Betws-y-Coed: A bit further afield are the routes around Betws-y-Coed, mainly focussed on the old roman road of Sarn Helen or the Gwydir Forest. The Gwydir Mawr/Gwydir Bach trails (previously known as the Marin Trail) are good options, with parking near Llanrwst: Gwydir Mawr & Bach.   From near Betws-y-Coed, there is also the old Roman Road (Sarn Helen) which is a popular MTB route, see Pete Bursnall’ s book for details.
  3. Penmachno: Tucked away in Snowdonia National Park, Penmachno offers year-round natural riding in amongst beautiful ancient woodland.  The trails have the perfect mix of singletrack descents & forest climbs (with a few technical climbs thrown in for good measure!). They can be ridden as one 30km route or as a 19km loop (Loop 1), or a 11km loop (Loop 2). Loop 2 branches off from Loop 1 at around the halfway point so, if you're not certain which one to ride start on Loop 1 and see how you feel when you get to the Loop 2 junction! The 19km loop offers fast descents and thigh-burn inducing climbs, while the 11km loop is a bit mellower, with flowing singletrack and the chance to take in some absolutely stunning views. Please note that some club members have enjoyed cycling these trails but as they are graded “Red” they are not suitable for beginners or those that have not been on single tracks before. The facilities are limited onsite, however there is always Betws-y-Coed for refreshments and bike services. See details of the routes at: Penmachno Trails.
  4. Coed-y-Brenin:  Just North of Dolgellau, there is the MTB centre of Coed-y-Brenin. Good CP, Visitors Centre and several routes of all standards. Coed-y-Brenin is a growing network of all-weather singletrack offering a gateway into the stunning landscape of Snowdonia. There are nine routes available, from mellow green and blue trails for the novices to more rocky and technical black trails for the experts to tackle. There’s also a skills area to work on your progression or simply have a bit of fun on your bike. Facilities include a cafe, bike hire, bike wash, shop and showers. See details of the routes at: Coed-y-Brenin Trails
  5. Antur Stiniog:    Nestled in the heart of Snowdonia at Blaenau Ffestiniog, Antur Stiniog is home to six downhill and freeride trails that range from blue to black in severity, allowing riders of all abilities to have a go. The trails are serviced by an uplift, which has been hailed as one of the best and fastest in the UK. To get the most out of your day and to avoid any disappointment during high season it’s recommended that you book this uplift service in advance. Other facilities available include bike hire, a bike wash, an onsite cafe and mountain bike coaching for riders of all levels. See details of the routes at: Antur Stiniog Trails.

Smooth Routes and Quiet road:

For those wishing to travel from the hut to other locations to use their MTBs or Gravel Bikes in less rough terrain by, there are many more option either listed in the guides or adapted from the guidebooks and/or the Goldeneye Map. Some of my favourite routes are described below.

  1. Lleyn Peninsular. One excellent route starts from Tudweiliog, although easy parking is difficult to find in the village. The route follows the coast road all the way to Aberdaron. It is worth a quick detour to the Whistling Sands Café, if you have the time. Beyond Aberdaron there is a stiff climb to Rhiw and then a glorious downhill section afterwards. At Nanhoren, you can decide either to head back to Tudweiliog via Llaniestyn and Dinas; or, continue on to Pwllheli and the back to Morfa Nefyn and then Tudweiliog. This latter route would be best suited to those on Peletons rather than MTBs.
  2. Anglesey: The island of Anglesey is blessed with many quiet cycling routes on quiet roads. As a start, the Goldeneye map shows many interesting routes. In addition, there is the Copper Trail or the Lon-Las Cefni which has long stretches of traffic-free cycle paths. My favourite route is to park at the Community Centre in Llanfair-PG and take the quiet roads through Talwrn to the Car Park at the Northeast end of the Cefni reservoir. From here you can take the Lon Las Cefni all the way through Llangefni and across the Malltraeth Marshes to the village of Malltraeth. From here there is an easy cycle along a disused railway cycle path beside the estuary to the Newborough Forest. The forest has many trails; the best option is to take the Corsica (Cedar) bike trail which should take you through the forest to the Newborough Forest Car Park. On reaching the Car Park Road, head to Newborough village and then head towards Llangaffo along the B4419 and then turn towards the Bodowyr Burial Chamber. From here head for Llanddaniel along the quiet road that will take you gently downhill all the way back to Llanfair-PG. Another grand day out.
  3. Penygroes to Rhyd Ddu: This route follows the Lon Eifion from Caernarvon, as previously described above, to Bryncir. From Bryncir head on the national cycleway towards Pwllheli After a mile and passing through a farmyard, turn northwards to take any of the quiet roads to the West of Lon Eifion back towards Llanllyfni or Penygroes. From Llanllyfni or Penygroes, head towards/along the B4418 towards Rhyd Ddu, over the Bwylchgylfin, by which time you will surely have had another fantastic day out. The Cwellyn Arms may be needed to provide a welcome break and refreshment before heading home. From Rhyd Ddu the 4085 is mainly downhill, so it gives a great ride back home, apart from the pull up from Waun Fawr to the Chamois hut.
  4. Llanfairfechan to Colwyn Bay: This route requires driving to park in the Car Park beside the seawall adjacent to the railway station at Llanfairfechan. There is a marked cycleway from the centre of the village that follows the southern side of the A55 to Penmaenmawr, where it crosses the A55 to the northern side. Follow the track all the way to Conway you will not be disappointed. At Conway there is a cycle track which leads around the headland past Deganwy to Llandudno, although it is necessary to use some quiet roads to reach the centre of Llandudno. You may find the cycle track alongside the estuary by Deganwy covered in sand, which may require some effort to negotiate. At Llandudno, you have two choices, continue along the cycle path to Rhyl and then retrace your way back to your starting location at Llanfairfechan; or, take the private road around the Great Ormes Head. This road is free to cyclists and does not take more than an ½ hour if you stick to the coast road. You can take the road up to the visitors’ centre at the top of the Orme. It is a strenuous road climb but worth the effort for the views and a stop at the café. The descent to the coast road is fairly rapid and you can then continue towards Conway and return to Llanfairfechan.

Conclusion:

The Chamois centre offers a magnificent location from which to cycle either using a Peleton or MTB/Gravel Bike. In addition to the routes described above, the permutations for finding interesting routes are endless. Club members may wish to try some of the above routes or adapt the routes to fit in with their preferences. I hope that the above information proves to be of value and encourages the use of bikes from the hut.