...so we've got a much needed break coming up in a couple of weeks. Staying in a nice cottage in Penmachno. It's our first trip to North Wales so don't know a huge amount about the place apart from the Penmachno and Marin trails.
Any good 'natural' rides in the area? or other things to do/see? Quite keen to do some hiking too.
All of this is assuming snow isn't covering everything.
Any advice would be much appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
Nick.
Snowdon is only 15 minutes drive away from Pen 
You lucky, lucky individual.
The Bikefax MTB Snowdonia guidebook is your friend - best £16.00 you'll ever spend. Routes are graded so you can choose the perfect level of difficulty. Check the Bikefax website as well, where you can download individual routes.
Don't know how experienced you are but the 'Moel Y Ci' route stands up to bad weather, isn't too exposed and has a good combination of road and off road.
As for walking, there's just so much it would be pointless trying to describe individual routes.
Just type 'walking snowdonia' into Google and hundreds of routes are listed. Personally, I like a good guidebook though, and loads are available. Probably a few in your local library.
I envy you not having been before - I think it's the most beautiful place in the world.
If you like a bit of scrambling Tryfan is very pleasant.
http://www.mbnw.co.uk/routes.html
Get on the forums on mbnw. Also, t's not far down the A470 to Coed Y Brenin or Climachx
Yes, loads of routes off the main trail centre stuff. I live in North Wales so its our main stomping ground, Depends what you like and your fitness / technical abilities are ?
If you like it tough the two lakes route taking in the banks of Llyn Crafnant and Cowlyd is a killer route, hard physically and relatively technical, but it has a technicalish rocky descent from Crafnant - Capel Curig which is ace. Alternatively for a less technical all dayer you can combine the marin with the Sarn Helen and Siabod route. Great scenery, less technical than the first route but enough in it to keep it interesting 
Failing that Penmachno is an ace trail centre in itself
If you like it tough the two lakes route taking in the banks of Llyn Crafnant and Cowlyd is a killer route, hard physically and relatively technical, but it has a technicalish rocky descent from Crafnant - Capel Curig which is ace.
We tried that one last year. Partner threatened to shove my bike up my bum if I ever tried to take her anywhere that tough again 
We tried that one last year. Partner threatened to shove my bike up my bum if I ever tried to take her anywhere that tough again
I've had similar threats, although not on that route - I can kind of understand where she's coming from. Great track though
Agreed Grum, Tryfan + Bristly ridge is one of my fav' routes
Don't what every you do take your partner over Tryfan for a scramble unless you're sure she's pretty confidant, took my other half over there last year.
very very bad idea!!
she was in a similar frame of mind as Rusty's partner
Not too keen on really long rides, as it is a much needed rest...of sorts.
Anything really technical and long descents are good. Don't mind rides that are relatively equal i.e: Long climb/long descent.
Not sure any of what i've just said helps?!
In all honesty, she's the climber and scrambler and it's me that finds the North Ridge up Tryfan a bit of an ordeal - I don't like exposure.
That cycle route is really tough though - pretty much the limit of my ability. Fun in a masochistic sort of way.
Difficult route finding up from the A5 to Llyn Colwyd - we ended up following the footpath round to the end of the overflow as the bridleway is very indistinct.
Nick, honestly, get a copy of the guidebook - it's ace. I've no connection to them, just think it's a great book that's helped us a lot.
Tryfan and Bristly Ridge is a really good hike/scramble. Could be a bit wintery/serious ATM.
We tried that one last year. Partner threatened to shove my bike up my bum if I ever tried to take her anywhere that tough again
lol
Yep its not an easy ride, I think there was an article in MBR in their Wales special, that called it the hardest route in Wales, but I think thats overstating it a bit. Let me guess the rocky path along the west bank of cowlyd was not her favourite bit 
it is a proper technical challenge isnt it ? If you can clean that one, then I am proper impressed, I know I cant !
Will order a copy of the book ASAP. I suspect snow could be an issue at the moment.
Keep hearing great things about the Penmachno trail and our cottage has access directly into the forest so we'll be riding that for sure.
Theres some good stuff over the valley towards Dolwyddelan (between Pen and Betws) Hughjengin is right about the Crafnant/Cowlyd route is great but tough. I live quite close by and there is snow and ice on the tops at the moment which may be a factor. In the conwy Valley there is a bridal way up a mountain called Drum, which is an up and down (1 1/2 hours up and 11minutes down!) There is also the trip between Conwy and Llanfairfechan over Conwy Mountain that good. If you're in the area on 28th there's the final of the North Wales Cyclo-cross League at Bethesda Leasure Centre.
On on final note whatever you do visit the COnwy Falls Cafe off the A5 just before you head to Penmachno. Great food, the best Coffee in the area, wood burner, seatees and Olly how owns it is a top bloke, Oh yeah, bring your lights, night rides on the Marin trail are fantastic, just avoid the Dragons tail, if you're not feeling brave!
That's the bit Hugh.
I went over the bars at the start of it and beat myself up a bit. Landed on the only body shaped bit of grass in the area, surrounded by pointy rocks. Shook us both up TBH, could have been nasty.
Stupidly insisted on carrying on - was worth it for the drop down to Capel from above Crafnant.
We've stuck to easier stuff after that.
Jasn, the drop down into Llanfairfechan through the gorse from the old Roman road is my favourite bit of trail anywhere.
Yep, of all the trail centres we are lucky to have at our whim in North Wales, Penmachno is my absolute fave, provided you do loop 2.
Marins ok too, and if you want to extend it to take in some great riding around Siabod then let me know, I can send you the link to the route. Its a lovely ride that takes you onto the Sarn Helen trail, down into Dolwyddelen and then back around the flanks of Siabod for a return to the Marin trail its about 4 hours and nothing too scary unlike the Cowlyd ride I problably unwittingly nearly sent you on
You can do an up/down of Cadair Idris that's pretty good. We followed the route suggested in MBR. It's a 15 mile round trip - well, straight up & straight down.
Fair bit of pushing on the way up, once you get near the summit, but coming back down was good fun.
Conwy Falls cafe is somewhere i have heard about so will check it out. That extra loop off the Marin trail looks good. I suspect that the technical parts of the Cowlyd route will have my wife off and pushing, maybe me as well!
Hugh....any chance of a link to the Marin extension?
I rode Pen' last year with a pal (on my full sus'), combined both loops and with a bit of photography it was one of the best 3hr rides I could have imagined. Just about perfect!
I thought at the time though, how much I was glad it was dry! In the afternoon I did the Marin but was bored to tears by it, so bailed and came back on the road, thus missing out the best bit!
Must get that guide book & go back.
Tryfan is the most beautiful and possibly satisfying mountain south of the Highlands.
Fuel 4 the ride:
Stuff y'er face in Pete's Eats in Llanberis.
A great café in one of the units that forms part of the smart redevelopement, you look out over the betws-y-Coed platform (can't recall its name).
+1 for the Falls Café.
Hugh....any chance of a link to the Marin extension?
No problems link below, its a great ride, we do it often. Sometimes these route guides on peoples websites are innaccurate and hard to follow, however having read through the route that the guys have put on the flattyres website, it is just about spot on as I can see, so you'll be fine with it.
Hi again,
Just been looking over the OS maps for the area and just wondered what the best way of doing the Llyn Crafnant/Llyn Cowlyd loop.
Flattyres route says Cowlyd then Crafnant but a couple of you suggest the reverse?
Thanks,
Nick.
We always do it from Trefriw (near Llanrwst) then go straight up the road to Llyn Crafnant, along along the Bridleway keeping Crafnant on your left. At the end of the lake turn left over the little bridge and up through the obvious gap in the mountains at Crimpau mountain. (its a super steep little technical climb). That leads you onto the brill descent into Capel Curig which is the real highlight. Then follow the byway from Capel Curig which goes alongside the A5 toward Tryfan mountain (goes on a bit this bit) at the campsite, turn right back onto the A5. Then go back on the A5 in the direction that you have just come from for about 1km then follow the bridleway signs left off the A5 follow this (tricky navigational part) and eventually you will hit the spectacular looking Llyn Cowlyd, follow the technical path keeping the resevoir on your right (give this section some respect, its technical and hard work) when you eventually reach the end of Cowlyd you will see the huge overground pipeline that takes the water from Cowlyd. Follow this onto a mountain road which is very steep but quite well surfaced and when you reach the summit, all thats left to do is enjoy the rollercoaster descent on the road to Trefriw
Rode Penmachno this morning with a mate, it really is a superb trail. not to be missed
Thanks Mr L....while I've been working all day! 
yep that Cowlyd routes a toughy ...feels good after it's done!
Cowlyd routes a toughy ...feels good after it's done!
Feels good, after you get back into the car, and check everything on your body is still working ok
Sorry for rubbing that in, me and Whytey had a cracking ride. I tried to help him with some fitness advice etc, and he tried to help me in how to get down a hill quickly without killing myself, so a win win
Thanks Hugh....Looking forward to trying this route. Seems criminal to not get out into the hills for a proper ride whilst we're there.
I'm assuming the bridleway up to Cowlyd that starts nearer Capel Curig is not the best way then?
http://northwalesmtb.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=forumrides&action=display&thread=4392&page=1 This Lot just did the Cowlyd Capel ride loads of pics to give you a taste.
Looks rubbish
+25 for the Llyn Cowlyd ride, did it last year (it's also in the ride guide from an oldish ST mag) and came away thinking 'that was great but a bit bloody hard for a supposedly medium route' took a look at the mag to find it was the hard route with Snowdon the medium
We also did Elin's Revenge and a chunk of the Marin on one day, with Penmachno on the third.
The bikefax book is ok...., the routes are great but they are all in the same format as a trail centre so you'll need OS Maps as well, the layout is shocking, it's full of adverts, everything is in both English and Welsh (seems a bit pointless but I guess those that only read Welsh and can't read English might appreciate it), it reprints the Marin and also has the Karrimor, Red Bull and other CyB trails which is definately pointless and it's quite possibly the worst contructed book I've ever owned, it just fell to pieces (was never taken out on a ride).
Other than that it's great.
I havn't got round to getting the Bikefax book and considering the stunning review above i shan't bother!
The link just above the previous posting with the big B/w photo is excellent, having read it, it describes the exact same route that we take. Bur we live nearer the Trefriw end than the Capel Curig end so it makes sense for us to go this way, but I still think its the best. The bits it doesnt describe so well is a. Where you get off the byway running along the A5 (which is at the campsite), and do not underestimate how tricky it is to navigate from where you turn off the A5 to getting up to the bridleway to Cowlyd, we still dont get it right now ! But if you take an OS map you'll get up there by hook or by crook
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