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Hi All
Spending the next few days in Caernarfon, North Wales and will have half a day for a road ride.
Looking at Google Maps there seems to be an obvious route beckoning which would head through Snowdonia and simply be the A road East through Llanberris then the A470 south through Blaenau Ffestiniog and then pick up a B-road and some others north west back to Caernarfon.
I live in Manchester and spend most of my time when plotting routes avoiding A-Roads as much as possible but I sense the roads around Snowdonia are probably well cycled and I'm assuming (hoping) they will be pleasant enough to ride?
Just wondering mainly if anyone has any thoughts on must-do's or must-avoids given that I'm only there for a short period?
Cheers in advance for any thoughts! Any non-cycling info welcome too.
Sounds like you will be very close to the Stwlan Dam, traffic free climb, if heading south of Blaenau.
Might be a bit far for you, but I climbed The Road To Hell from Denbigh up to Llyn Brenig on Saturday, then heading to Abergele before returning to outskirts of Prestatyn along the flat.
Yep, those A roads aren't too bad. The stretch of the A470 you mention over to Blaenau is a main road but it's wide so vehicles can pass easily. Views are amazing too, which will hopefully take your mind off the climb! On your return leg, plan it so you come back through Beddgelert and Rhyd Dhu. Really nice views, with cake stop in Beddgelert if needed/wanted.
Why not head west? Some really nice lanes on the Llŷn Peninsula, and they're pretty quiet at any time as the traffic tends to stick to the coastal hotspots.
Cheers all.
Why not head west? Some really nice lanes on the Llŷn Peninsula, and they’re pretty quiet at any time as the traffic tends to stick to the coastal hotspots
Yeah I'm not averse to this at all, I think I just assumed that with one day I should "tick off" riding around Snowdonia but it doesn't have to be...will take a look here too 👍
OP im v near Llanberis....have sent you a PM
Ian
My alternate suggestion is to head to Anglesey via the Menai Bridge (a fantastic bridge to cycle over). Once on Anglesey head east towards Beaumaris and ultimately Penmon point using the Lon Ganol road to avoid the traffic on the main road, once through Beaumaris its a quiet rd through to the point. That would take you all the way along and over the straights and there are quiet alternatives to main roads for most of it.
There is/was a waymarked route inspired by and called the Brailsford Way which uses those roads. Not sure if it's still going, but it was a good, stress- free route when I did it a couple of years ago. Having to pedal DOWN Llanberis pass in to a stiff headwind was a bit disappointing though.
There used to be an annual snowdonia etape that started in Caernarfon. The canol (middle) distance is 76 miles and takes in the main climbs. See if you can find it on inter web. There is also the shorter Bach route at about 45 miles.
Hi All
Cheers for all the replies they’ve been really helpful. I think I’ll do the Brailsford Way route but do the short version which will then allow me to come back towards Caernarfon and take in some of the alternative suggestions above too, like riding some of the quieter roads to the west and even bagging a quick dip into Anglesey over the Menai Bridge to do a final little loop to Beaumaris and back. This should also reduce the risk of being late and annoying my wife 🤔
Also special thanks to Breninbeener for the help too 👍
I’ll try and post some photos up when I’m back but I’m usually terrible at remembering to take them when riding.