Where’s good at this time of year (i.e. when there’s snow in the mountains and the trails are wet)? Or are the trail centres a better bet until Spring?

Pont Scethin loop is pretty reliable. Goes up to around 400m but is coastal so rarely snowy. Exposed but rides fine in the wet. Telegraph valley is another all year option, not quite the quality of Pont Scethin though.

Would that be this one?

Looks right – but you don’t have to do the estuary loop bit (don’t think it’s that special), you park in Tal-y-bont and do a loop from there in either direction. It’s a really decent ride.

EDIT – also might be worth looking at routes in the Dyfi valley/forest.

Cheers faustus. A look at the OS map seems to confirm that the estuary part probably isn’t worth adding on. So, clockwise or anticlockwise? Route linked above suggests anticlockwise, but impossible to call based on contours alone.

Clockwise would be best in my opinion, it’s a featured ride in issue 87 of Singletrack so worth looking in the archive.

Most of the hills in North Wales will be soggy until spring (and longer sometimes). I used to ride the Clwydian range a fair bit, but in winter you can put a dry route together around Nercwys Forest linking in the local bridleways . http://flattyres-mtb.co.uk/route-guides/north-wales-mtb-routes/the-clwyds-and-nercwys-forest/
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Colin has some great routes at http://flattyres-mtb.co.uk/route-guides/ if you want to explore the area.

I went clockwise, and followed issue 87 route. I think it’s good either way round to be honest, and it is basically two hills and only about 9 miles long, but takes a while and feels remote.

Will have to do it both ways at some point and decide for myself, but CW sounds like a good first option. Might leave it for next year though – that STW article suggests it’s pretty slippy at this time of year.

Cheers for the links monkeys feet – looks like a good resource.

Clockwise is the better way I’d say, starting in Tal y Bont. It’ll be wet and slippy but no less fun for it 😀