Day 1 - Monday 23rd September
Day 1 will be will be the shortest of the days in terms of distance. Monday will see us travel from Llandudno to Betws y Coed. The day is 30.92 miles and will see us climb 4,661 feet.
The route for the day follows around the coast from Llandudno to Conwy, before heading south overlooking Afon Conwy to near Llanrwst. Just outside of Llanrwst we join up with the "Marin Trail" at the Gwydyr Forest, following the purpose built mountain biking trail centre route down to Betws-y-Coed and our first overnight stopover at The Vagabond Hostel .
Day2 - Tuesday 24th September
Day2 is a longer day in mileage at 39.50 the total climb also increases considerably to 5,480, meaning a tougher day on the legs all round. The route takes us from our overnight base in Betws-y-Coed to Dolgellau.
We drop south out of Betws-y-coed and follow tracks down to the waymarked mountain bike trail centre at Penmachno . The trail circles around the mountainside, heading back north-east to the village of Penmachno to pick up a series of bridleways and roads to take us south west towards Llyn Trawsfyndd. At the reservoir we carry on over a mixture of roads and tracks due south towards Coed-y-Brenin where we link up with the "Beast" and "Dragons Back" mountain bike trails. Following these purpose built routes, we drop down towards the end of the Mawddach Estuary and our overnight stay at Dolgan Uchaf Bunkhouse, just outside of Dolgellau.
Day 3 - Wednesday 25th September
Day 3 is the killer day, at 43.06 miles and with 6,552 feet of climbs, we are really going to have to tough this day out as we ride from Dolgellau to Devils Bridge.
The day starts by skirting the foothills of the Cadair Idris mountain and into the Dyfi Forest near Corris. It's here we join up with the "Mach" and "Cli-Mach" series of mountain bike trails which take us through the forest and towards the town of Machynlleth. From Machynlleth we join up with a series of bridleways which link us to the "Syfydrin Trail" at the Nant yr Arian trail centre. The man made mountain bike trails lead us past the Nant-y-moch reservoir to the village of Llywernog. At this point we join up with a series of bridle paths over some hilly terrain, with a final sharp ascent into Devils Bridge and our most luxuriant (and well deserved) nights rest at the Hafod Hotel.
Day 4 - Thursday 26th September
Day 4 is a slightly shorter day at 38.35 miles and has less climbing, seeing us ascent 5.092 feet. It is also the only day in which we do not ride any mountain bike trail centres, so our journey from Devils Bridge to Llanwrtyd Wells has more of an old school feel to it.
The days riding sees us tackle a series of tracks and roads, taking us towards down towards the ruins of the Strata Florida Abbey, it's at this point we pick up a long cycle route taking us South through the Tyw Forest and to the northern shores of the Llyn Brianne reservoir. At Llyn Brianne we take a short detour due west to hit the head of the Doethie Valley, one of the finest natural sections of mountain biking in the country. We follow the valley south for several miles before taking a sharp turn east , following the south banks of Llyn Brianne towards a sharp ascent up and over Cwm Henog and down into our nest stopover at Stonecroft Lodge in Llanwrytd Wells.
Day 5 - Friday 27th September
Day 5 is a similar kind of day to day 4, 37.51 miles and a total climb of 5,026 feet means a very similar amount of effort to the previous day will be required. The one difference is that, we do take advantage of the purpose built trail centre at Cwm Rhyader. The day sees us travel from our overnight stopover at Llanwrytd Wells to the village of Glyntawe.
We start the day by climbing steadily along a section of road towards the trail centre at Cwm Rhyader to do a quick lap of the stunning singletrack there. Following our slight detour we head directly south towards the town of Llandovery to stock up on supplies. At Llandovery we pick up a series of bridleways and trails which take us for a long spin over the Black Mountains and towards the Craig-y-Nos Country park where we will be staying in the old nurses block of the castle overnight.
Day 6 - Saturday 28th September
The final leg of our epic journey takes us from Glyntawe, down to the coast at Port Talbot, before turning back on ourselves and heading back up to Bryn Bettws Lodge near Pontrhydyfen for a well earned pint. At 39.24 mile and with 5,084 feet of climbing, we won't be able to slack off as we head towards the finish line.
Heading south we aim for the village of Coelbren and its here we join up with the Sarn Helen, an old Roman road and our inspiration for the route of the ride. The road overlooks the Vale of Neath as we follow it down to Resolven. At Resolven we cross the valley and follow the St Illtyd's walk bridleway up to Afan forest, where we meet up with the "W2" mountain bike trail. WE follow the flowing singletrack of "W2" near to its conclusion at the Afan Forest Park visitor centre, and it's here we hit a long series of road descents towards the coast at Port Talbot and the "official" finish line.
We will be congregating at Port Talbot seafront and meeting up with family and friends for photos, but before we can rest, we have a steady 6 mile climb back up towards our final destination, Bryn Bettws Lodge.
Day2 is a longer day in mileage at 39.50 the total climb also increases considerably to 5,480, meaning a tougher day on the legs all round. The route takes us from our overnight base in Betws-y-Coed to Dolgellau.
We drop south out of Betws-y-coed and follow tracks down to the waymarked mountain bike trail centre at Penmachno . The trail circles around the mountainside, heading back north-east to the village of Penmachno to pick up a series of bridleways and roads to take us south west towards Llyn Trawsfyndd. At the reservoir we carry on over a mixture of roads and tracks due south towards Coed-y-Brenin where we link up with the "Beast" and "Dragons Back" mountain bike trails. Following these purpose built routes, we drop down towards the end of the Mawddach Estuary and our overnight stay at Dolgan Uchaf Bunkhouse, just outside of Dolgellau.
Day 3 - Wednesday 25th September
Day 3 is the killer day, at 43.06 miles and with 6,552 feet of climbs, we are really going to have to tough this day out as we ride from Dolgellau to Devils Bridge.
The day starts by skirting the foothills of the Cadair Idris mountain and into the Dyfi Forest near Corris. It's here we join up with the "Mach" and "Cli-Mach" series of mountain bike trails which take us through the forest and towards the town of Machynlleth. From Machynlleth we join up with a series of bridleways which link us to the "Syfydrin Trail" at the Nant yr Arian trail centre. The man made mountain bike trails lead us past the Nant-y-moch reservoir to the village of Llywernog. At this point we join up with a series of bridle paths over some hilly terrain, with a final sharp ascent into Devils Bridge and our most luxuriant (and well deserved) nights rest at the Hafod Hotel.
Day 4 - Thursday 26th September
Day 4 is a slightly shorter day at 38.35 miles and has less climbing, seeing us ascent 5.092 feet. It is also the only day in which we do not ride any mountain bike trail centres, so our journey from Devils Bridge to Llanwrtyd Wells has more of an old school feel to it.
The days riding sees us tackle a series of tracks and roads, taking us towards down towards the ruins of the Strata Florida Abbey, it's at this point we pick up a long cycle route taking us South through the Tyw Forest and to the northern shores of the Llyn Brianne reservoir. At Llyn Brianne we take a short detour due west to hit the head of the Doethie Valley, one of the finest natural sections of mountain biking in the country. We follow the valley south for several miles before taking a sharp turn east , following the south banks of Llyn Brianne towards a sharp ascent up and over Cwm Henog and down into our nest stopover at Stonecroft Lodge in Llanwrytd Wells.
Day 5 - Friday 27th September
Day 5 is a similar kind of day to day 4, 37.51 miles and a total climb of 5,026 feet means a very similar amount of effort to the previous day will be required. The one difference is that, we do take advantage of the purpose built trail centre at Cwm Rhyader. The day sees us travel from our overnight stopover at Llanwrytd Wells to the village of Glyntawe.
We start the day by climbing steadily along a section of road towards the trail centre at Cwm Rhyader to do a quick lap of the stunning singletrack there. Following our slight detour we head directly south towards the town of Llandovery to stock up on supplies. At Llandovery we pick up a series of bridleways and trails which take us for a long spin over the Black Mountains and towards the Craig-y-Nos Country park where we will be staying in the old nurses block of the castle overnight.
Day 6 - Saturday 28th September
The final leg of our epic journey takes us from Glyntawe, down to the coast at Port Talbot, before turning back on ourselves and heading back up to Bryn Bettws Lodge near Pontrhydyfen for a well earned pint. At 39.24 mile and with 5,084 feet of climbing, we won't be able to slack off as we head towards the finish line.
Heading south we aim for the village of Coelbren and its here we join up with the Sarn Helen, an old Roman road and our inspiration for the route of the ride. The road overlooks the Vale of Neath as we follow it down to Resolven. At Resolven we cross the valley and follow the St Illtyd's walk bridleway up to Afan forest, where we meet up with the "W2" mountain bike trail. WE follow the flowing singletrack of "W2" near to its conclusion at the Afan Forest Park visitor centre, and it's here we hit a long series of road descents towards the coast at Port Talbot and the "official" finish line.
We will be congregating at Port Talbot seafront and meeting up with family and friends for photos, but before we can rest, we have a steady 6 mile climb back up towards our final destination, Bryn Bettws Lodge.
Huge thanks to Viewranger for supplying the CCC2CC with maps and access to their software!!
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