We rode this route anticlockwise last September. I enjoyed it, but it was an ‘experience’ as much as a ride.
I’m more a fan of ‘natural’ rides than trail centres – we’d been a Coed Y Brenin on the Saturday – and whilst riding the ‘Beast’ was excellent, I looked forward to Pont Scethin on the Sunday.
The weather was pretty dreadful – that sort of drizzle that doesn’t seem much, but you are soaked after a couple of minutes, combined with low cloud and ‘inside of ping pong ball views’.
One short descending section was so deep in water that I was forced to look for eddys in the water to indicate submerged rocks!
I imagine the views are stupendous, but we didn’t see any until we were almost back at sea level.
For me it was a great laugh and an experience that none of the people who rode it will forget. The initial climb is a right slog and ends with the only bit of the trail that would be best ridden the other way around. If you’re feeling needy by that point, you could ride that steep rocky bit quickly as a descent and re-climb it…..