Traws Eryri: start and end logistics

I did it with a mate last summer. We drove to Shrewsbury, left the car there, then got the train to Machynthleth (spelling?) did the route over 3 days, then train back to Shrewsbury to get the car. The logistics of that worked really well for us.

It was a cracking good adventure, but a lot of road riding. There’s a good Facebook page with lots of feedback on it all which we got a lot of info from, and try to use the unofficial route additions which will make it much better!

I drove to Mach then got the train back via Shrewsbury. One thing to note is that North Wales coastal line was very busy and full when I tried to get on.

I thought I fancied this, but....

but a lot of road riding

Seems to defeat the whole ethos of what the route is supposed to be about surely?

Thanks.

The Shrewsbury rail option sounds like a plan as it’s kind of equidistant from both of us… sort of.

So, S to N the best direction to ride it?

South to north worked for us, and that’s the suggested route. In Shrewsbury we just found a residential street 5 mins from the station and left the car there which worked fine. Agree about the train being quite busy on the home leg, but we did get seats so was all good.

Re the road riding- it’s a good route, but there are additions that apparently make it substantially better. Our first day was really really wet, so the road ride actually made that a little better!

There is a facebook group with a chap that will sort out your return journey for you.

We had help from my wife and our campervan which made it easy.

If you have a look at threads on here you will find lots of info from me and Simon but if you add in the 'missing bits' along with a bit of trail centre and Conwy Ridgeline, you won't even remember the road sections, its certainly not my abiding memory 🙂

We looked at the amount of road riding on day 1 and decided to miss loads out. We started near Abergynolwyn and headed north on the official route but used some suggestions from Emma Kingston's book, 'Bikepacking Wales'. Her suggested route down to the Mawddach Estuary is far more fun (in my mind) than the suggested tarmac after coming over Cadair Idris' shoulder. I managed to lose MrsA in the bracken at one point, beware!

The unofficial quarry descent into Cwm Penmachno was one of the highlights for me. It's not in the official route due to uncertain access issues but is very well used. We missed a load of the forest tour around Betws Y Coed and opted for a more direct route to Capel Curig, again off road. There are loads of variations all along the route, we added a few favourite sections in CyB and elsewhere.

Last day was along the other major 'unofficial' variation from Aber Falls to Ro Wen and then lanes to get up to Conway Mountain via Sychnant.

All in all a great trip. If you are planning to do it at the weekend/ summer holidays I'd suggest booking accommodation ASAP, we had problems with logistics because we booked too late to get the places we initially wanted.

There's a transfer/ shuttle service offered by Ricky Bushell (see the Traws Eryri FB page) who seems to be very flexible. There's loads of quiet parking around Abergynolwyn/ Llanegryn/ Corris etc where I'd happily leave my car for a few days.

Thanks all. Some great info.

Sounds like we need to do some digging on FB. My riding buddy is all over that, I’m not, which works for me!

We went south north and left the route at Conwy, and cycled down to porthmadog. Then train back to machynllth. This meant it was a direct train, as we had to sneak the tandem on!!! Perhaps it was a shame to miss sychnant, but the route seemed to work. Btw 4 days is very gentle pace. It took us 4 days, but my 9 yo was on her own bike, and it was November ( humble brag!!!) I reckon if you've 4 days you could get back to Mach on the bikes

Thanks @nealc

It does indeed look like a very leisurely pace. However, my riding partner is as old as the hills  and so we’ll be in no hurry.

I'm planning on doing this in Feb, weather allowing (getting there and back by train as it's easier than driving from South London).

We will be bikepacking so I thought 4 days would be a good option, as 1000m of climbing per day with loaded bikes seems to be a sweet spot, but reading the comments seems we could do it in less?

Is there any place where I could find the GPX for the unnoficial additions?

I posted links in this thread to my Strava for the route me and Mugboo took last year, it includes the two "missing bits" and Conwy Mountain. You might be able to get the GPX file from the links.

https://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/traws-eryri-on-a-gravel-bike/

Failing that if you PM me your email I'll send stuff over to you.

The concept of the route is fantastic, and credit to Cycling UK for the effort in trying to piece together a coherent and legal line on the map. But it's obvious that the quality of the official route is severely compromised by our delightful access laws. I did it on a whim last summer, just lobbed the official GPX onto my garmin and went S-N.

Bits of it were fantastic, but the long road sections, particularly the descent into Penmachno, were very frustrating, and you could tell that they lobbed in extra forest loops to try to balance the % of road vs off-road.

Even without local knowledge, I've pulled up the maps and tried to trace different routes or alternatives to long road sections, but there are so many bridleway dead ends.

@Ambrose seems to have the best approach. Mach is a rational place to start for logistics, but it is then ENTIRELY road until Abergynolwyn. Is there any way to get through the forests to the north of Mach more directly to Abergynolwyn?

The alternative descent towards the Mawddach estuary suggested has to be worthwhile (big tarmac descent otherwise).

I was wondering whether it might be possible after that would to turn left and head into Barmouth, then onto Pont Scethin? - could you get across the Rhinogs via Bwlch Drws Ardudwy, or would that be horrendous?

After that, is there an alternative to the slog up from Trawsfynydd and road descent ? Certainly the Manod quarry route from Llan Ffestiniog rather than the road slog, then maybe miss out Betws entirely and go via Dolwyddelan directly to Capel Curig. The section between Capel and Ogwen Cottage is decent, but again a road descent mostly towards Bethesda. Then the other 'missing link' over Conwy Mountain.

https://www.cyclinguk.org/blog/traws-eryri-mysterious-missing-bits

The other issue with the route is resupply. With CyB's current woes, there may be nothing between Penmaenpool and Betws, unless you divert to Trawsfynydd village or Penmachno village. Going to Llan Ffestiniog solves that a little.

Hopefully someone can come up with the best possible version of the route, even if it involves some footpath sections or more climbing overall. I'd like to revisit it once it's been tweaked a bit.

I spent some time trying to work out going over the top from Mach as there are some interesting descents on that side by all accounts but it looked like a big start to your first day!

I suppose you could just get the Dyfi uplift and ride off in the opposite direction to the trails!

Suggest you ride north to south so that the route is mostly downhill

I've ridden the Tarren ridge line heading north into the forest from Pennal, hitting the ridge and then left towards the coast, reckon there would be a way of just popping over the top instead and linking forestry tracks both sides to get to Abergynolwyn without to much issue

Bwlch Drws Ardudwy - yep that really would be horrific.

Thanks, good to know! Is it just pushing, or horrendous boggy, rocky pushing?

Nightmare boggy uphill and downhill rock pushing horror show. Take a look at Geograph https://www.geograph.org.uk/mapper/combined.php#13/52.8410/-4.0057

I'm thinking as a person with two working legs now my hip is fixed. This opens up potential alternatives that I’d previously discounted.
From Machynlleth take the official route to Dyfi Bike Park and maybe get an uplift or ride up to the top . There are a bunch of old quarry tracks and paths in the area up to the quarry workings beneath Tarren Gesail at SH023056 ish. Then hop north-east to descend via Pont Llaeron and Bryneglwys Quarry to Abergynolwyn.
From Abergynolwyn there is a nice bit of singletrack on the south-west side of the Dysynni valley to Pont Ystumanner close to Craig Aderyn (Bird Rock).
Moving on to the far side of Cadair Idris...
The suggested road descent is fast and fun with stupendous views, as is pretty much the whole route. So instead, we took Emma Kingston’s off-road suggestion via Ty Nant and down past Kings YHA hostel to the main road and the Dollgellau- Barmouth Mawwdach Trail. Good lunch at the George III by the toll bridge in Penmaenpool.
There are loads of new gravel trails in CyB that some of which we used to drop down to our accommodation at Ty’n y Groes. I’d thoroughly recommend this place. Good beer, good food, great breakfast and excellent coffee. And spitting distance from CyB.
Loads of CyB trails to explore and then follow Sarn Helen North towards Trawsfynydd (more accommodation here, cafes too). We had a moment with a farmer when we missed the route, my Welsh is not very good but we parted as friends ?
Tomen y Mur is an amazing spot- the history behind the place is awe-inspiring. Follow the very frequent waymarking to the tarmac and then the first unofficial section decision needs to be made.
There isn’t a lot of fun to be had on the loooooong climb up Cwm Teigl. It’s a very quiet tarmac road that serves the slate quarry at the top. Great views behind you though, plus potential bouldering at Carreg y Fran. Fun Fact: my hearth is from that there quarry up at the top.
Go through the peculiar gate to follow the tramway to the top of the incline- there's a distinct horizon line that feels far too close and really rather steep. Get a grip, roll forwards and follow the inclines down through the forest and old workings to Cwm Penmachno. Absolutely wonderful; there’s a video of the descent in the link posted above.
The Betws y Coed section seems to be designed to make you visit the fleshpots of Wales’ Grasmere; best avoided. However, there’s an alternative over the top from Penmachno village (good bunkhouse at The Eagles pub btw) that will take you down to Dolwyddellan. I’ve not ridden it but now my hip works again I would definitely consider it because of what if offers. The tracks out of Dolwyddellan, up through the forest and then down towards Capel Curig are first rate, absolutely top fun; puddles and steep rocky bits all the way down to the valley. It’s then possible take off road trails from Plas Curig to Plas y Brenin. Telford’s road beckons, with perhaps the most iconic view on the entire route. I’ve been there many times, the silhouette of Tryfan to the south is phenomenal. Enjoy!
Tarmac follows- and more amazing views so at Ogwen Cottage grab a coffee before plunging down to Bethesda on the interlinked lanes and ‘Slate trails’. Keep your wits about you.
The final unofficial section of the route starts near the Aber Falls carpark, at the end of the tarmac. Just follow the track for miles and miles to Ro Wen youth hostel. Then very quiet lanes north to the Sychnant Pass. This gets you on to the final descent to Conwy.
Enjoy.

That's sounds good @Ambrose - now if you could just go and ride it this weekend and post up the GPX, that would be great, thanks

there’s an alternative over the top from Penmachno village

Bwlch y Groes? Is that decent? All the videos I've seen of it (from green laners, mostly), make it look like an absolute swamp.

As an aside I think the Mtb Wales trips take a detour around chapel curig to take in the crafnant bridleway.