[Closed] Coed-y-Brenin to Marin Trail off road- Sarn Helen?

You have 1.5 days to cycle from CYB to Llandudno Junction, including Penmachno and Marin? That's some going.

Near point 24 on the map turn right onto a quarry incline/track that takes you into Cwm Penmachno. After riding Penmachno, head over the hill towards Dolwyddelan, then take the Sarn Helen towards Ty Hyll, and start the Marin from Ty Hyll. From the Marin it is a B road (towards Trefriw) all the way up to Conwy and then onto Llandudno Junction.

You have 1.5 days to cycle from CYB to Llandudno Junction, including Penmachno and Marin? That’s some going.

And if your 1.5 days is from the start point at Machynlleth then it really is some going!

Thanks dyls. At worst I can bash some sections out on the roads if my legs aren't good on the day, or it's hammering down with rain.

I also found an alternative https://cambriantrail.wordpress.com/, which goes round the western (coastal) side before cutting into Penmachno.

Don't be fooled by the times posted for the Cambrian Trail, those riders are serious long distance riders used to consecutive 100+ mile days off-road (Alan Goldsmith came up with the Highland Trail as training for American races like the Colorado Trail).

As for the Sarn Helen Route - most of the route to Dolgellau is on road. From there to Betws y Coed is about 50% road. It might be worth tracing the route on something like Streetmap to confirm that and to see possible short cuts, etc.

And take flippers n snorkle if your riding Penmachno, its without a doubt the Wettest trail in the whole wide Wales 🤣 im serious, its Wet!

I wouldn't go around the coast as that's even longer.

You can always get the train from Betws y Coed to Llandudno Junction.

The Marin and Penmachno in one day, including joining them up is some going, not including the cycle from CYB and onto Llandudno Junction!!

Yes those are impressive times (which I don't aspire to ;)). I'm starting this 1.5 day jolly at YHA Kings near Dolgellau with a good breakfast at 8am and it's a good 0.5 day (train 13:39). I'll be on a pretty light 29er hardtail that is OK at munching road miles at worst. There's also the option of hopping on the train at ByC if things go really badly!

Edit: sorry didn't see your reply dyls- yes there's a convenient train that would allow me a leisurely lunch in Conwy.

Have a look at GMBN on YouTube. Neil Donoghue rode the longest night and did CyB Beast, Penmachno, and Marin in one hit at night. Took him about 16 hours including riding on the road from CyB to Penmachno.

Thanks Chrisdw looks like fun!

For reference: route https://www.instagram.com/neildonoghue/p/BqiO_yRgPiZ/?hl=bnI
and GMBN YT

130km

Agree with Dyls, from point 24 head down the Steep Quarry Inclinde down to Cwm Penmachno, It's a superb downhill. It's also shown in the video for the new Wales 360 from( 10 Seconds ) onwards.

https://wales360.com/event/

Thanks beicmynydd - it was actually the Wales360 thread that prompted me to book this trip! Not been to Penmachno before and looking forward to it.

I'd say it's do-able. Did the other direction on a stag a few years ago, so pub lunches etc, moving time was about 8.5 hrs averaging about 9mph with plenty of non-road. Did about half of Penmachno and 2/3 of Marin trail en-route - using them as part of the route rather than lapping them. Llandudno Junc to Marin trail was all road as I recall - pretty much the same as your Sarn Helen route in fact.

You could save a bit of time,with a different route to Penmachno,and avoiding the Bwlch climb up to the quarry.Also avoid the Tomen y Mur section.
Here you go
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Coed+y+Brenin+Forest+Park,+Coed+Y+Brenin+Visitor+Centre+Dolgefeiliau,+Ganllwyd,+Dolgellau+LL40+2HZ,+UK/52°5 2'11.3%22N+3°53'52.8%22W/penmachno+mtb/@52.8460753,-3.8980799,13z/data=!3m1!1e3!4m10!4m9!1m2!1m1!1s0x48656fffe13faea7:0x40207c89bee7e4a4!1m3!2m2!1d-3.898!2d52.8698056!1m0!3e1?hl=en

Thanks Branes and beiciwr64

Plan now is to stay the Penrhos bothy.
1) Any views on whether it would be safe to leave sleeping bag and thermarest there in the morning while I go ride?
2) Is there a significant risk it will be full on a Saturday night around the end of March?
3) Anything else I should consider?

Did it this weekend. Great weather. Skipped the Cli-Machx which made it relatively leisurely. The quarry descent was indeed fun although I got a pinch flat.

Good effort. Stats and pics please!

Thanks @martinhutch!

Day 1: 61km / 1340m climbing. I missed around 6km of the CyB beast (started at the southern end then went round to cafe then continued around and eventually joined the NCN82 gravel road). After CyB I went down to Trawsfynydd then did ~2km on the A4212 ascending back up to the old Roman road. I reckon it should be possible to get to the Roman Road more directly (i.e. avoiding the main road altogether) but I hadn't planned in too much detail. Stayed in Llan Ffestiniog.

Day 2: ~48km, 1150m climb (phone died a couple of times). After the quarry descent I got on the Machno trail just above Cwm Penmachno. Followed it round till the end then did the first few km and forked off to the Eryri trail. Nipped down to Conwy Falls Cafe for lunch then climbed back up and carried on round till near where the trails merge. I liked the views and trail features but parts were wet (like Lawmanmx said) and this dampened my enthusiasm for doing the full loop. If you wanted to make this day longer doing the full combined loop would be the obvious choice. Stayed in Betws y Coed.

Day 3 (1/2): 35km, 670m climb (+12km back home). Climbed up from Betws and joined the trail around 14km in. A true accomplishment of laziness!

Internet bravado aside I was glad to do it at a relaxed pace- lie ins, big cooked breakfasts, cafe stops and sitting in the sun 🙂 Already plotting to get back in the summer and do full loops when I'm fitter!

A few snaps.

Nice one!

Very well done 🙂

Nice route, well done! @twowheels

Do you have a .gpx of the route or a Strava account to have a look a bit closer at the route itself?

Thanks @tillydog and @philb88!

Here are the Strava links
Day 1: https://strava.app.link/7rfkhH68zV

Day 2 (slightly dodgy):
https://strava.app.link/GAUIGSe9zV

Day 3:
https://strava.app.link/iKfk43j9zV

If you make any improvements please let me know for when I do it again in the summer 🙂

Fitter?! Mate I'm bollocks'd after a lap of cwm carn (9 miles), kudos to you.