A mixed bag of Cross-Country and Trail RCC riders took up an epic Traws Eryri challenge last week. Our route devised by expert guides, Mountain Bike Wales, takes in the very best of Mid to North Wales – a four day ride of 140 miles with 22,000 feet of climbing.
Led and supported by Polly and Phil of MBW, we started from Machynlleth with a big ascent to the ClimachX slatey trail to Corris. Two more big climbs took us to a windy, wooded drop and miles of a lovely dash along the Mawddach estuary to Dolgellau.
The MTB trail centre Coed Y Brenin and the ‘Slab’ was our first challenge on Day 2 – not for the faint-hearted. Phil led us up the climb to the ancient Sarn Helen Roman road, finally descending to Trawsfynydd Lake. Skirting the waters, we found ourselves climbing again to the tiny mining village of Llan Ffestinog, set amongst a green and lush landscape carved by the weather.
Day 3 promised to be our toughest. A long Alpine-like road climb summited at the historic Manod Quarry and a hair-raising grassy chute down to the long deserted sheds and chimneys below. A tricky slate-strewn descent followed and then on to the joys of Penmachno MTB trail centre and several red trails through the forest. After a remote moorland stretch and our most technical descent littered with baby-head boulders, we caught our first sight of Snowdon as we rode into Capel Curig.
Our final day had us traversing the most glorious glacial valleys of Snowdonia. Northwards the debris of past Bethesda slate mines towered above us. At last we climbed again on smooth narrow lanes to be wowed by the stunning views of the Menai Straits with Anglesey beyond. Staying on the high moorland pass we reached Conwy Mountain and an exhilarating descent to the estuary where we finished at the seaside idyll of Conwy.
Our adventure had been truly challenging in the most spectacular of landscapes, so of course we celebrated with lashings of ice cream (sadly no ginger beer to be had).
Mountain Bike Wales offer other trans-Wales MTB challenges and weekend retreats. Highly recommended, they can be found here: www.mtb.wales