Cadair Idris – Where to start??

Evening all,

With all the talk of ‘Big Mountains’ I’ve finally sat down and planned a route up Cadair Idris.

Logically it makes sense to start at the car park in Llanfihangel-y-pennant and then just plod on up the bridleway, but just wondering if any of you folk can suggest an alternative starting/finish point in case i’m missing something epic??? 😆

Pretty sure that’s where I parked up. Can’t remember a car park though, seemed to be a random spot near some outbuildings.

Cheers fella. Out of interest how long did it take you and bar the last section of hauling the bike up to the summit is there anything to watch out for?

Image was meant to be:

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Cadair Idris[/url] by windydave13[/url], on Flickr

2hrs or so to the top. Seem to recall parking nr a church??

Tip: take a lil hexy stove and have a brew or a noodle thing at the top. Sets you up for the drop in – lovely 😀

When are you planning on doing this , I may be biking it on sat ?

Not a bad idea on the stove front!

Thinking of giving it a crack on Monday although if it’s still a bit Windy Miller it may have to wait for another day

That’s the route I did. It’s all rideable down but I pushed a bit at the top. It’s proper grin inducing. Just watch out for the odd bit where it narrows between big boulders. I did it in July, wouldn’t fancy it now.

Llanfihangel y pennant is the place to start.

Lots of farm/ grant roads to climb before the technical stuff, take care at the top if it’s misty or windy in winter, could be your last ride.

Dolgellau? I ran up and back from there in under 2 hours

Dolgellau? I ran up and back from there in under 2 hours

I went up from Abergynolwyn when I did it with a mate. There’s a car park in the centre of the village and it’s fairly straight forward from there.

The climb is OK without being great, but the descent is great. I think it took us something like 2.5hrs to get up & then only about 25 mins to get back down.

Good idea about a stove or a flask to take up with you. Definitely take an extra layer with you for the top.

I’ve done it. It’s rubbish as a ride. Boring bridleway, a bit of “Welsh Singletrack” and then an unrideable uphill to the summit with a 100 metre scramble that you’ll never do with the bike on your back. Boots and feet only.

LL36 9TU is the postcode for the “car park” if anyone’s interested. This will take you a little way past it but you’ll see it opposite the church. There are toilets there too.

Helicopter drop on the summit?

It’s all rideable down

Anyone here done the uber rocky bit at the (everso nearly) very top?

This I mean

I think that guy’s a loon I couldn’t see the point of dragging a bike up that bit as I figured I wouldn’t be riding down it! Saw the clip once home and I’m inspired now – it could be scary though.

FWIW I’m not going back up there unless it’s dry – the rocky stuff doesn’t last long (enough) on the way down and the grassy bits are either very pedally or a bit treacherous when wet.

Mr Woppit – Member

I’ve done it. It’s rubbish as a ride. Boring bridleway, a bit of “Welsh Singletrack” and then an unrideable uphill to the summit with a 100 metre scramble that you’ll never do with the bike on your back. Boots and feet only.

Did you not ride back down again? Not still up there are you?? 😯

Here’s a bike at the summit (yes yes I’ve got a limp wrist etc):-

Not a chance would I have ridden down the very top bit.

That vid makes the top bit look a lot easier than it actually is too. It’s hard enough just climbing up / down without taking the bike with you.

I thought it was a great descent and none of the Snowdon hordes of bikes/walkers either 🙂

And respect to that fella in the vid for riding the top section in XC stylee kit 😯