Coed - y - Brenin Forest trails |
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| The original man made
waymarked trail centre that started the ball rolling. Three established trails and many others, great central cafe, parking area and another great tea, cake stop out on the Karimmor trail too. |
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| Location From the M6: join the M54 and follow untill it becomes the A5 Follow around Shrewsbury untill the roundabout with the A458, (next one after services). Right here and follow signs for Welshpool then A458 then Dolgellau A494. Stay on A494/A470 which bypasses Dolgellau (pronounced dol-geth-ow) and effectively just follow this road untill it passes the forest visitor car park entrance on the left after about 3 miles you just follow the signs. Pay £3 for a days car parking, which goes towards trail upkeep, and have a cuppa in the cafe (open 10am weekends and school hols only) before riding. Routes are fully marked, be prepared for some serious climbing. Numplumz recommends nice big chunky treaded tyres for the most fun as the routes are very rocky, and there is very little mud even in deepest winter. |
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| Routes close
by There are some great trails on your doorstep here in the foothills of Cadair Idris, follow the signs for the Mawddach trail from Dolgellau's main carpark, (pay and display £5 a day) by the river, for a nice scenic seafront ride within minutes too. This flat old railway track will take you to a scenic steam train ride, or up into some serious of road hills if you wish. Cadair Idris itself. Its about 75-80% ridable going up (but bloody steep) and about 99% ridable going down (the only bit tricky to ride was the last (or first) 200yd scramble upto the summit itself. The big rocky gullies can look very intimidating but aren't actually bad.Great Days riding - one of the few real mountains you can legally ride to the top of . . see below for another... There's a bunk house 5 min drive west of Dolgellau, called Cabin Cader Idris, contact 01766 762 588 or 07887 954 301. No idea what it's like, got the details from the tourist office in Dolgellau (said it was bike-friendly, though). Details here as well While there why not try the nearby Machynlleth routes to the south. By all accounts the Mach3 route is a bit of a natural beauty. It's 20 miles long. While you'r in the area how about a crack at Snowdon one fine summer evening, its only an hours drive away. Due to a voluntary ban, mountainbikes can't ride Snowdon until after 5 pm. Ride up to the 1000 metre summit which takes about 1.5 hours and the descent is well worth doing at least once ! |
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| Acommodation
Recently we have used the Cross Foxes Hotel in Trawsfyndd, 01766 540204. About 6 miles North of the forrest, infact its easier to drive to than Dolgellau. Locked bike Storage, good food and its own bar to suit. EAsy to find - just head for the big bright yellow building, you can't miss it. Recommended, tell them we sent you. Numplumz has also stayed at a farmhouse B&B in nearby Dolgellau and recommend this. Good breakfasts and Tv lounge relaxing area. Just try and stop them from washing your dirty kit, they will insist and even dry it out overnight if its wet too. Try: Mrs C.E. Skeel Jones phone 01341 422 355 Arosfyr, Penycefn Road,Dolgellau,Gwynedd, LL40 2YP. Static caravans are also available at Ferndale, who also have a range of more permananent cottages and rooms. They are friendly and flexible. The contact details are: P Wood Ferndale Ganllwyd Dolgellau Gwynedd, LL40 2HS Tel: 01341 440247 They are right inside the forest and it's great to just get up and ride from the door to the great trails. |
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| Camping Recommended by the locals is a site here - map As you turn into the campsite turn left and then left again just after the phone box. Campsite fees where £4.50 per person per night. For your money you get the usual facilities including immaculate showers (20p required) and toilets as well as several taps for filling water carriers. Food-wise eat at Coed y Brenin or in local pubs. Bring some insect repellant (Jungle Formula is particularly effective) in order to deter the midges. A torch would also be useful as the campsite is pitch black once dark. There are NO lights As you drive in from the directions above, you pass little chef as the road opens out into the valley. There is a sign on the left pointing to Dolgellau - follow a brown campsite sign. Go down that for a 1/2 - 3/4 of a mile, and there is a house on the left . From the village, you head over the bridge from the kebab shop going east, past the ambulance station, and it's on the right. Another good pitch is: Tanyfron Caravan & Camping Dolgellau Gwynedd LL40 2AA Tel: 01341 422638 |
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| Nightlife Dolgellau is buzzing at the weekend, plenty of pubs, the fun is trying to get in them as they get packed. The town has a Chinese, a Kebab and Chipshop takeaway and now even a Indian. We recommend the Unicorn Pub for food, top nosh and nice beer too. There's a bus that pics up locally for a nightclub in Barmouth too, just look for the queue in town of locals, they'll help you out. |
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| You'll be needing a local weather forecast too | |
| This help page contains
stuff we've found out on our visits, or from other sites web pages. This information and the links will probably become outdated, time moves on. We haven't got the spare time to keep up. - Numplumz.com |