Start/Finish Betws-y-Coed railway station, SH794568 Total distance 61km (38 miles) Time 5+ hours Maps Harvey’s British Mountain Map: Snowdonia. Or Garmin GB Discoverer 1:25k Snowdonia National Park (GPS). Summary Buff trail centre singletrack, rolling doubletrack, big hills, some quiet back lanes and a challenging bog section. From Betws-y-Coed railway station, turn right along the high street (A5), then right over the bridge. Take an immediate left opposite the gear shop and follow this quiet lane away from the town, parallel with the river but climbing. Turn right at next obvious junction. At the top of this ascent, turn right onto fire road at the crossroads with the Marin trail to follow marked route. At crossroads where outbound and inbound routes pass, turn left to take outbound route. Continue on marked trail until road crossing near the Ugly House. Turn left on road, cross river on A5, then turn right onto road to Pont Cyfyng. Take byway that climbs behind house to the left in the village and ascend on loose, rocky track. The path smooths at the top; stay on it to tree line, go through a gate and descend to Dolwyddellan. Turn right onto main road then left for railway station. Cross railway on bridge, then bear left and start to climb before picking up track to the right that climbs more steeply towards Bwlch y Groes. At sharp bend in track, bear left – look for marker in the heather. Don’t follow doubletrack further as it’s a dead end. At top of hill, go straight on to pick up singletrack, go through gate to wooded area. Follow it down towards Penmachno. At junction with manmade singletrack bear right for Penmachno loop one. At crossing of minor road, either bear left to shortcut or straight ahead for loop two. At end of loop two bear left down wide continuation of Bwlch y Groes track to road and then left towards Ty Mawr. Follow minor gated road past Ty Mawr and down into the valley. Turn left to join A470, then left again to rejoin minor road, which will return you to Betws-y-Coed. by Matt_Skinner
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