What are some good areas N or N central Wales to get far from the madding crowd? Stuff that feels remote, won’t-see-a-soul-all-day sort of rides? Looking to take a day off work Manchester way and head for the hills – any tips on areas to look at that fit the bill?

You’ll be wanting mid rather than north Wales.

With a bit of climb-a-bike, the Carneddi.

There’s a route from the Marin (least populated trail centre in the world) that buggers off into the moors and adds 20odd km, proper people free

You barely meet another rider at Penmachno or Cli-machx on a weekend, a weekday even less chance!

I’ve heard Llandegla can be quite quiet nowadays

Berwyns/Glyn Ceriog/Tanat Valley.

what Rorschach said.

Rorschach. Ssshhh!

wayfarer route, midweek, you wont see a soul.

http://www.hitthehills.com/blog/index.php/2012/06/berwyn-mountains-bike-route/

Thanks all for the suggestions, loads to look at there.

Rorschach – that 8hr ride we did would have to count as pretty remote around them there hills

Agree with ton. The Wayfarer is not a Classic for nothing! Remote with stonking scenery and pack those waterproof socks!

I rode it on my own many years ago, started at Llandrillo. Twas a big day out. 8)

Mid Wales my friend- take a look at a map and sort a route around Plynlimon. But whatever you do, avoid the Afon Hengwm valley. Have fun!!

http://shop.sustrans.org.uk/products/5443-bikefax-the-best-mountain-bike-trails-in-north-east-wales

We had this, most of the routes we did had nobody on them.

Pont Scethin

Route

Tried to do Pont Scethin route in Sept – t’was recommended we do it clockwise rather than anti-clockwise but we couldn’t find the path over the top from the big farm

Cloud came down as well so we had to cut over to the breich with a fair bit of hike- a-bike

Came back to find Strava had given us a segment automatically cos the hike a bike was so high. I’m KOM on it 🙂

Not done the Wayfarer since the mid 90s, but that always seemed pretty epic.
Mind you, the top of Ruabon mountain can feel epic and remote if it’s pissing it down & blowing a gale…

Ditto on Pont Scethin near Barmouth. Amazing views. Take an OS map though, it was needed lots of times for route checking, and that was on a sunny day. I can see it being a difficult ride in bad weather. Also I thought I was reasonably fit, (for that, read trail centre fit) but the two main climbs totally slayed me! Pushing involved..

Knighton to Rhayader is a beautiful ride and very quiet.

I did that wayfarer route today that Ton posted above – thks, just what the doctor ordered. Clockwise from LDC and saw nae one aside from one other rider (twice) doing it the other way round. Seemed like a good introduction to the area; plenty of climbing, nice feeling of being ‘out there’ – legs are toast atm.

Not the best day to do it really in pure mountain bike terms – torrential rain and v strong winds at the start looked like it was going to be seriously character-building. Quietened down a lot, though, and even had some blue skies in the middle. Trails were very wet; be good to get back when it’s drier and work in some variations.

Good stuff. Looks like you had fun

nice one mate
I hope to do it again myself one day, health permitting……. 8)

Used the ride the wayfarer loads. There’s also loads of great riding round Lake Vyrnwy – up towards Bala, or at the other end around Hirnant.

Round the Clwyds in midweek out of summer is nice and quiet. Don’t see many others, sheep excepted.