I’m up in Wales at our caravan, for the weekend and so I got out for a good long ride, on a route that included some of Coed y Brenin, which I haven’t done for a couple of years.
I set out down the busy main road to Barmouth, utilising the bad cycle lane for the section that it’s there for, then dropping down to the promenade and along there, where it was already getting busy with holidaymakers. I then crossed Barmouth Bridge, which was a slow plod around the walkers, but my Knog Oi bell seems to get noticed quite well.
I then joined the Mawddach Trail, up the estuary, which was very pleasant, with a tail wind, the only annoyance being one pillock on a bike, who was riding 3 abreast with mates and not looking where he was going, to the point that me and his mate had to shout to avoid a head on collision. Prat.
Estuary view
At the end of the trail, I left Dolgellau and joined the lanes that climb up towards Coed y Brenin forest. There are some lovely views down into the valley, marred a little by the network of pylons that criss cross below, but I found a spot where they disappear a bit, to take a photo.
I arrived at the forest and paused for some of my lunch at Tyn y Groes, before beginning the steep climb up alongside the Afon Wen. There has been some massive deforestation going on in parts, which have opened the landscape up to the point when you wonder if you’re on the same road you followed last time you did this route, but the 2 very steep sections soon remind you that you are!!
I was happy to make it all the way up to the summit, without stopping though, for the first time, with the benefit of the Genesis being lighter than the previous bike I’d ridden up there. There is short and fast descent, before heading back down the other side of the river, where I found road closed signs……Decided to give it a go and see what I found, as there really aren’t any alternatives.
It’s a nice fast descent and there was nothing to be found until I came across concrete blocks barring the way, enough room for a bike to get through though
. The road had clearly been closed for a while, as there is mulch over a good part of the road, but I came out the other end of the closure, wondering why it’s closed
I can only assume that possible the road is being undermined somewhere and isn’t safe for cars?
I then climbed to and paused at the Forest Garden, which is a lovely spot and I sat at one of the picnic tables to have the rest of my lunch.
There is then some steep climbing again, in the direction of Llanfacreath and the Bobbin Mill, where beautiful Precipice Walk starts. Views over the mountains are Lovely.
The next section is fabulous fun, with fast descents down to Nannau and then Dolgellau. I managed 38mph on the straight section where you can just let the bike go
I went through the town centre and then out onto the Tywyn road. I decided to take the main A road, instead of the Mawddach Trail, for the first time and for a bit of variation. The road is fairly wide for a good while, through Penmaenpool, but it’s a long climb, pretty much all the way to Arthog, where it finally descends. It wasn’t too busy, but there were still 3 people who don’t know how to drive and passed way too closely.
I turned off at Morfa Mawddach and retraced my route over the bridge, quieter than earlier, then through Barmouth, which was absolutely heaving. The promenade did have a funny moment (must be my bad sense of humour) possibly not for the chap involved though, who was carrying four ice creams and missed to see there was a kerb to step off, so lost all of them into the road!! I really shouldn’t have laughed, but he wasn’t hurt, apart from his pride.
It was then back along the main road to Talybont, which wasn’t any fun with masses of traffic, including one absolute w****r in a Fiesta who came so close I could have touched the side of the car.
I arrived back at the caravan with 44.36 miles on the clock, at bang on 11mph avg speed.
