Off to Wales for a weekend with the family – staying Betws-y-Coed area. After doing a bit of family riding plus a bit of indulgence for yours truly BUT don't really know the area at all. Default position would be to head for Coed y Brenin, which looks like it would work really well but wondered if anyone has any good info for penmachno/gwydyr forest which is basically where we're staying. Anyone know any family rides there – looking for around the 7/8 mile mark, easy to navigate, no big climbs etc. Kids all under 10 – ok on a bit of singletrack but nothing daft..
Thanks in advance!

Ride the Clwyds (.com)

http://www.ridetheclwyds.com/rideclwyds/the_routes1.asp

Around the Lake looks good…

…One Planet Adventure has a bike hire shop at Llyn Brenig visitor centre.

HTH

If you're near Dolgellau, the Mawddach trail out to Barmouth is great, not singletrack though, but nice to get to the coast for an ice cream, then stop at the pub on the way back. Views are fantastic.

Did around the lake in the summer and it would fit the bill nicely. Popular route with families it seemed.

Good suggestions – thanks for the help!

Try the Marin Trail in the Gwydyr Forest, not too technical and lovely views. The climb up from the official start is a bit demoralising for the youngsters so I would recommend driving up past Swallow Falls and take the lane up the side of the Ugly House (very steep and narrow) and park where you meet the trail for the second time, this means you can ride a couple of the loops and not loose too much height, when you come to the crossroads above Llanwrst, leave out the loop down to the carpark and this will keep you up in the forest. Trail map is downloadable from the FC website.

when I lived down there the family trails at Llandegla were always a favourite, the cafe is a good reward for the kids with a hot chocolate. Downside is a fairly busy climb but the descent is a nice swoopy trail for the kids.

RipperDipper, Check out the Alwen Trail at Llyn Brenig / Alwyn, it circuits the lake nothing likely to cause tears, good views the Denbigh Moors is a bit of a high plateau and undulating it has no hills. Unfortunately the cafe at LLyn Brenig closed this winter but it is only about a 20 minute drive from Betws