CADAIR IDRIS, NORTH WALES

Distance 16.7km (10.4 miles) Climbing 870m Time 3hrs to 5hrs

Route summary: This is a ‘simple’ up-and-down ride, but it offers a great experience and challenge, with wonderful views. Retracing your tracks also means no nasty surprises on the way back down, so it makes a good introduction to big-mountain riding.

Start/finish: The car park opposite the chapel in Llanfihangel-y-Pennant (postcode: LL36 9TU, grid ref: SH 672/088).

LOCATION DETAILS:

North Wales is a great holiday destination with a variety of outdoor activities to enjoy. It also has lots of great MTBing. Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) is extremely busy, and there’s a voluntary ban on bikes between May and September from 10am to 5pm. Thankfully, the much quieter Cadair Idris also offers a great mountain ride experience.

GETTING THERE:

Cadair Idris is just south of Dolgellau. Take the A487 between Dolgellau and Machynlleth, and turn west towards Tywyn, on the B4405. Go right in Abergynolwyn, along minor roads, to a crossroads. Turn right here, to the car park by the Chapel in Llanfihangel-y-Pennant.

FACILITIES:

Abergynolwyn has a good pub and cafe, and there’s the Fferm Cedris Farm campsite just up the road (www.ffermcedris farm.wales). There’s more accommodation in Corris, to the south (www.bikecorris.co.uk and www.corris-bunkhouse.co.uk). Try Dolgellau Cycles (01341 423332, www.dolgellaucycles. co.uk) for bike stuff. For maintenance, guiding and bike hire check out www.wheelism.co.uk.

MAPS & BOOKS:

Ordnance Survey Landranger 124: Porthmadog & Dolgellau. Wales Mountain Biking: Beicio Mynydd Cymru by Tom Hutton (Vertebrate Publishing).