I am looking to do a natural ride near Capel on Friday.
MBR have a feature about a nice bit of singletrack from Llyn Crafnant down to Capel.
I have been told the rest of their route is not that inspiring so was looking at a circuit up past Llyn Cowlyd then towards Trefriw and then pick up the descent at Llyn Crafnant.
There are however two bridleways off the A5, one more westerly and one closer to the village; both reach Llyn Cowlyd.
Which would be the best to take as an ascent?
Or any other ideas…..

thanks in advance John

The Sarn Helen is ok.
What about the old A5 route. It was a Rupp but god knows now the Crow act screwed things. Up as far as the road down from the dam on the other side of the road, or even to Tryfan then back track to Heleg.
Up the tarmac the either back towards CC on the leat or up to the ridge and back along that. bit rougher that as no path in places. either used to be a damn goo lunch time run from CC

The way that I did it was to start up from the Rear of Joe Brown Shop in CC then up the old A5 up to a campsite. Ride down the A5 to a track leading through a farm, push ride up to the Leat which feeds cowlyd.
It’s a nice technical ride past the lake.
Once at the dam you have to go up a tarmac road and unfortunately loose a whole load of height down almost to trefriw.

Ride up to crafnant to the end of the lake past a cafe and pick up the path at the end bearing left. It’s a small hike to to top but you will be rewarded with a superb downhill back to CC

Thanks for the advice.

From Capel go up the Rupp to the campsite then up alongside Afon y Bedol to the leat, along there and into llyn Colwyd. Out up the road, the woods at the bottom of the descent out of Llyn Colwyd have some nice cheeky trails. If you then head round to do the 1st climb and last descent of the Marin before heading over llyn geirionydd. Cross over to llyn crafnant and then back to Capel.

Gives a good bit of technical riding and a fair bit of climbing.