[Closed] North Wales recommendations .

your right about 40 mins drive between coed y Brenin and Betws y Coed.

dragons back at Coed y Brenin is great, recommended

Out of the Trail Centres within an hour I would definantly pick Coed Y Brenin every time.

You will be extremely lucky to make it in 40 minutes though but shouldn't take more than an hour.

If you've only got one day's riding then deffo CyB. My choice is the Beast. The reason being that CyB has everything and lots of it. It's trail centre and "out there" XC too. None of the others tick ALL of the boxes, good though they are. If more than 1 day then do them all. I did Marin and Penmachno on the same day last year on my annual pilgrimage from Moray.

Where is the hotel? And where are you proposing to hire the bike from? Caernarvon to CyB in less than an hour is easily possible- but just as easily you could be held up by traffic/ stops etc. If you are only riding for one day I'd suggest Penmachno, hiring bikes in Bettws yr Coed. A couple of loops will satisfy most people. Loads of natural stuff to do as well. Or nip over to The Marin.

CyB has loads to do if you are heading that far, but if you are staying close to Caernarfon the drive to CyB will be eating into your biking time.

DeVs where about in Moray you from ?. Im originally from Elgin.

Ambrose its the "Black Boy" in Caernafron so maybe just get a bike in Betws and do Penmancho. Wasnt going to go to the wedding until i realised how close it was to some decent trails.

DeVs where about in Moray you from ?. Im originally from Elgin.

I'm in Elgin. Been here since 86 but sadly only mtb'ing since late 06!

I take it your in the RAF then.? Im originally from up there but left in 95 . Nice place though.

Dragons Back at Coed Y

Brilliant!

was at CyB all weekend, cant recommend it enough. good hire bikes too, specialized enduros i think, trek hardtails aswell.

TBH I'd hire in Betws y Coed and ride Penmachno (not as much forest as Marin). It is about a 20 mins drive away from Betws y Coed. Comparesd with CyB it saves a lot of fretting if stuck behind lorries, caravans etc.
Whatever you chose to do- have fun. All the possibilties in the area offer loads of alternatives- I'd suggest that you take a map too.

TBH I'd hire in Betws y Coed and ride Penmachno (not as much forest as Marin). It is about a 20 mins drive away from Betws y Coed.

I had my first visit of the year to Penmachno on Saturday. Did the full route ~30k, plus a ride back up the fire road to redo the final 3 sections :)) excellent!!

If you're hiring a bike I'd do cyb. Any may as well do the beast to get your moneys worth :). Bike hire place is on site (rather then having to hire in betws-y-coed and then cycling/driving to either marin or penmachno. If I remember correctly as well the hire bikes at cyb were a bit better. If you decide to do marin or penmachno though, id say do penmachno. Quite pedally in places but definietly better than marin.

I take it your in the RAF then.? Im originally from up there but left in 95 . Nice place though.

Left 4 years ago. Just before I took up mtb'ing. Oh how I wish I'd done it whilst in. I could have had a couple of weeks away doing it every year at the tax payers expense! Just like I did with skiing.

Just a wee follow up to this post . Just back from Wales and had a great weekend . Penmancho was brilliant , I really enjoyed it and the views from the top of loop 2 were stunning .Its was a great change from my usual Glentress and Pentlands riding and surprisingly tricky in parts. Also to any body planning a visit I can thoroughly recommend "The Black Boy" hotel in Carnaefon , great hotel with very friendly staff.