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Hi all,
Staying in ByC soon and was wondering if there is a link to join the Marin direct from ByC rather than just cycling up the A470 to Llanwrst ?
Also same question for Penmachno ?
Cheers.
We used to ride up the B5106, but this suggests you could turn left over the bridge and ride up to the forest road for Gwydyr trail
https://www.trailforks.com/trails/map/?activitytype=1&z=14.9&lat=53.09625&lon=-3.81365
Penmachno is a bit more difficult, looking at that
Cross the river in Betws and then minor (probably steep) roads up to meet the trail about 2/3rds of the way through.
probably steep
If it's the road I'm thinking of, my lungs exploded on the way up, and I nearly got wiped out by a speeding saab on it's way down. Was fun, would reccommend.
This was years ago for reference.
an additional question on this thread, if i may, how does the Marin, sorry,Gwydir Bach compare to say, Follow the Dog or the Monkey trail - it terms of the "technical" bits?
(i am not the greatest when comes to such!)
Thanks,
Don't remember anything which made me pucker up on it, and I'm a total wimp. Have never ridden Cannock though, although word of its lethal braking bumps has travelled as far as Yorkshire.
Its only worth riding the last trail at Marin, the rest is average to poor at best. Won't make that mistake again.
And no its pretty tame. Barely even a red, bar the last trail.
I would agree. Unless its being changed the trail is a figure of 8 and the northern (car park end) loop has the best trails in it
+1 jhinwxm
Some one raved about it to us, we went the next day & couldn’t have been more bored for the first 2/3’s with fire road climbs & very short trails, then it turned brilliant.
Penmachno on the other hand is excellent, a hidden gem. We did the closed sections too, walking around the rotten board walks.
Regardless of the marmite on whether you like/dislike the trails (mainly down to not being fit enough for welsh fireroad climbs I find) I love 'em all.
You can get to the Marin from Betws. Machno's a bit tougher as you've a couple of big hills between you and the trad. start (although at the top of the second you'd be joining loop 2.) - easier to drive round to the start tbh.
In terms of tech, yeah there's way more interesting stuff than at Cannock. But it's a solid red trail - I like it on my hardtail. Same for 'machno.
Being fit makes them both loads better 🙂