Start/Finish Penmachno, SH785497 Total distance 26km (16.2miles) Time 1.5 hours + Maps Harvey’s British Mountain Map: Snowdonia Garmin GB Discoverer 1:25k Snowdonia National Park (GPS) Summary Typical trail centre challenges – lots of stiff fire road climbs, loose surfaces, rock slabs and duckboard. Start at the parking layby just outside Penmachno village. Head almost due north up very steep fire road climb. Continue to contour around the hill as path undulates and becomes singletrack. After a sustained section of singletrack through trees, bear right up the fire road, climbing gently before beginning to descend gently. The trail is marked in the trees below to your right; follow this or stick to the fire road as the two rejoin several times. Follow the markers left and climb on steep switchbacks before contouring again to meet the road. At minor road which leads to Ty Mawr, go straight across and continue on the marked trail, at first on fire road and then on singletrack as you head north-east and then double back on yourself to ride south-west, returning to the minor road at the end of loop two. At crossing, go straight over on fire road and look out for trail as it leaves on left, bearing up and back towards the road before running parallel to it in the trees. Cross the wide, rough track in the clearing which comes in from Bwlch y Groes, then continue along singletrack, not losing much height and exiting onto fire road. After climbing briefly, join very clearly defined singletrack across open hillside; the path you’re travelling is barely visible on the hillside opposite and gives a great sense of scale to this section. At high point of singletrack, descend sharply to fire road. Stay with the marked trail and follow it on a brief fire road before entering the final few kilometres of ups and downs.by Matt_Skinner
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