Hello,

me and the Mrs have a week in a cottage very near CYB. Will be taking bikes, she’ll have a go at Blue routes but not bothered about anything trickier. I’ll get a few of the other trails in early morning or afternoons. Think we’re going to wander up Cader Idris, and probably go to Barmouth.

Anyone have any recommendations for other stuff in the area? Places to eat/visit?

Cheers

The newish Minotaur blue trail is a hoot, whatever your ability.

King George III pub on the Mawdacch is a very picturesque spot (S side of the river, beside the toll bridge). It’s also on the Mawdacch trail, which is a disused railway cycle path running all the way from Dolgellau to the coast.

Cader Idris is magnificent, particularly if you get a clear day, also try the short precipice walk and torrent walk, both within two or three miles of Dolgellau.

the beach further north of Barmouth at Tal-y-Bont is a real cracker. Obviously the big 4 castles of Harlech, Conwy, Caernarfon and Beaumaris. Walk up Snowdon.

For food also try http://www.dylanwad.co.uk/ bistro stuff, poshish eats in Dolgellau, although you can’t beat fish & chips from the chippy near the railway in Barmouth, then go and sit on the sea front and watch the sunset.

You can link up a longer walk on the ‘new’ Precipice walk north of estuary then across the tollbridge to the pub above ^^^. Plenty of walks within the forest itself too, maps & guides at the visitor centre if you need them.

I found King George III pub to be expensive and the food really wasn’t that good. It’s okay for a swift pint if you’re riding along the Mawddach trail with the family.

TH Coffee shop in Dolgellau is very good
Quarry Cafe in Mach is a very good veggie cafe.
Centre for alternative technology for a rainy day?
Portmeirion for another rainy day
Cader via Minffordd Hotel path is a cracking walk. (If you’re both confident scramblers/climbers the Cywfry Arete is just amazing)
Bala Lake for a spot of sailing
Aberdyfi beach is beautiful
Have a BBQ on the beach near Tonfanau – abandoned air base once featured on BBC’s Coast
Walk up the Roman Steps or up to Cwm Bychan
Avoid the northern Rhinog mountains if you don’t like knee deep heather with rocks and holes underfoot – it’s tricky terrain to walk on but worth the effort as you’ll be on your own looking west to the sea
The Tarren Hills are lovely too
The Dysini valley is an nice place – good walk up Bird Rock

Go Ape at the C-y-B visitor centre. Great fun for an hour or two.

Cheers all, keep ’em coming!

if you want to do a 40% downhill in a car go to Harlech, up hill at S end of castle, turn L at shops then down smal one way, don’t brake on the gravel

Portmeirion, awesome, drink in hotel, stroll on the prom etc, tour village

Barmouth (*fyi, the Last inn is about £14 for ham+eggs), second King George III , dinner there last Thu – cracking visit the Panorma viewpoint (up hill on RHS)

train – Barmouth/Aberdovey (for lunch and back, Aberdovey is nice, linear town,worth an hour)

cracking drives/viewpoints, purple haze of bluebells on Fri/sat – truly stunning
here – http://www.streetmap.co.uk/idld.srf?x=263288&y=337578&z=120&sv=263288,337578&st=4&ar=y&mapp=idld.srf&searchp=ids.srf&dn=710&ax=263288&ay=337578&lm=0 – picnic at lake just bewlo if weather like this then over narrow road below

pass of the Cross, then canoe hire at lake Vyrnwy – http://www.cyclingnorthwales.co.uk/pages/rte_bala.htm

Bump for the morning shift!

Ride up Cadair Idris
Go to Towyn on the Abergynolwyn railway
Good food at The Railway in Aber

Where’s the cottage ?
Been thinking of doing this in the summer too.

rocketman – Member
Ride up Cadair Idris + 1

Never heard of the mountain before but ended up climbing it last Monday. Fantastic views – better than Snowdon and one of the best & most technical downhills i’ve ever done

Loved it!!

King George III pub on Mawdacch Trail was not great food last year. In fact finding any decent place over a w/e over Easter was a struggle. We did eat at the curry house in Dolgellau, but the Jalfrezi did give me a bit of gut ache. However, it wasn’t bad as a last resort. If your Mrs isn’t keen on the red and blacks at CYB (like mine) then do the Mawdacch from Dolgellau to Barmouth – it’s quite scenic.