Anglesey and Gwynedd September 2020
Thursday 17th September 2020
Holmes Chapel to Chester, then coast road 116 miles.
An early start driving from home to Chester then the A55 coast road as far as Bangor where I took a coffee and toilet break then drove on over the wider Menai Bridge and followed the main road into Holyhead, turning off just at the approach to the town and parked up at Llaingoch on South Stacks Road at a small car park behind a bus stop at the edge of the village and cycled the country road, gorse and heather lined and took the first right and began the steep climb to the headland. It’s so different this side of the island to the buzz of the port terminal. It’s not too steep a road and soon reached the white lighthouse standing on a separate rock away from the main island and far below it. Due to the 2020 pandemic visiting the lighthouse wasn’t possible. 351 South Stack From South Stack Road head north west
From there, back to the car then a 20 mile drive from Holyhead to Amlwch
352 Parys Mountain. From Pen Cei Road and parking on the free car park to the east of Amlwch estuary. It’s not a difficult route but slightly confusing without mobile phone mapping. On to Quay Street then right at T junction on to Machine Road at The Liverpool Arms. Heading west then south west over A5025, now on B5111 to top. There’s an old mine working at the top, now disused. A car park at the top and an outdoor café. There was much quarry working here in the past. From the south (which I didn’t cycle) start at City Dulas on A5025 head NW to Llan Ddulas cottages, Llanruddog then head west. From here driving 20 miles Amlwch to Llanddona and parked in the village and freewheeled down to the coast for the climb back up again through a covering of trees to an eventual clearing nearer to the top. Very quiet beach and narrow lane to the village to 353 Llanddona . From the coast headed north. Top at Owain Glyndwer Inn
From here to Beaumaris for a lunch stop of pasta and wine in my car with a view over the Menai Straits towards Snowdonia Mountains beckoning and my next climb 15 miles away from Llanddana over the other Menai bridge to the head of Llyn Padarn just short of Llanberis. Parking on the lip road at Pen-y-llyn at the head of the lake just before the Caernarvon road, headed over the bridge for Brynrefail then to the right on a narrow road skirting the north shore of the lake. The road leaves the lake and climbs away through Fachwen and becomes steeper. Through Dinorwig village
367 Marchlyn Mawr Reservoir 8km heading south east from Brynrefail at north end of Lynn Padarn, Llanberis. Through Dinorwig to reach the reservoir. Parked at the loop road by the old cridge off the Caernarvon to Llanberis road. Cycled along the north shore of Llyn Padern and past the end of the Llanberis Lake Railway then as the road begins to leave the shore it’s a sudden steep rise through Fachwen to Dinorwig village then headed north on a lesser climb to Tan-y-foel. From here a right turn and the start of serious climbing and open wild country. There’s a metal gate barrier at Talywaen crossroads then a private unfenced road belonging to Welsh Water. No cars allowed along here but fine for cyclists. It’s a long drag up for a mile to where the road bends begin. Two sweeping bends to the reservoir dam below Pillar of Elider rock escarpment. Great view across the lake and north west over the Menai Straits to Anglesey, over Parys Mountain and Holyhead, on a clear day like today the distinct greyish shape of the Isle of Man on the horizon. Later back down via Deiniolen and to the main road at Bryn Rhydd and south to the car. Full road detail on map:Yellow Outdoor Leisure number 17 Snowdon and Conway Valley areas
20 miles Llyn Padarn to Penygroes
369 Rhyd Ddu not cycled from Penygroes. Road B4418 from Nantile. Parked up in Nantile at the west end of the village and cycled out east past Llyn Nantile Uchaf then a gradual up most of the way until the final kilometre or half mile to reach the top at Bryn Gwyn. I turned around from Llyn Dywarchen reservoir and headed back into the sun, now low in the sky showing fantastic shades of colours on the hills Garn and Craig-y-Bera either side of the road. Full road detail on map:Yellow Outdoor Leisure number 17 Snowdon and Conway Valley areas. From here I headed for Nefyn.
15 miles Penygroes to Llithfaen near Nefyn. Parked up for the night on the car park at the top of Nant Gwrtheyrn.
Friday 18th September 2020
370 Nant Gwrtheyrn N 1.7km. SW 5.8km. North though shorter is more difficult. Top is just south of Llithfaen near Yr Eifl car park. Up from Nant Gwrtheyrn or from Nefyn. An early start at 07.00 and slowly descended the steep road to Vortigerns Valley and the coast cafe and walkers route along the coastal path. No one else there except a delivery van bringing in supplies to the cafe. I had a look around the area – so peaceful. Climbing back up it’s a 25% for sure, along a narrow but good surface road with bracken and woods but fortunately not on the coastal side so there’s great views looking back down into the valley and across to the heights of Yr Eifl, the extinct volcano shape that dominates the whole area. It was so steep down that thought there would be difficulty staying on the bike for the return but I did and surprised that it was shorter than thought. Perhaps my mind was occupied in taking in the glorious view on the way. At the top, back to the car, grabbed my wallet and mask and made off down the other side of the mountain for Nefyn in search of breakfast. I passed through Pistyll – a narrow road with parked cars blocking but OK cycling. On to Nefyn and Morfa Nefyn. I had in my mind a beach cafe I remember some years back but when I reached there it was closed, due to the virus. I tried another road, a long straight road uphill that led to the golf course and cafe there but again, this was closed. Back to Nefyn and found the only hotel there, Gwesty Nanhoren Arms, where I enjoyed a god fry up and plenty of coffee for a reasonable price – very reasonable considering I slept in the car last night! Revitalised I cycled back through Pistyll and the gradual climb back to Llithfaen. The section after Pistyll to Llithfaen is steep but not as steep as the short rise from the village up to the car park at the top of the climb. Reunited with the car and bundling the bike back in, I drove a good distance south west to Rhiw along the narrow B4417 then south from Four Crosses to Rhiw village.
18 miles Llithfaen to Rhiw
371 Rhiw Hill. 3km from coast through Rhiw top slightly to west of the hill
Cycling downhill steeply to the coast, left turn from the top then return from Hells Mouth back to the top on a steep, narrow road with high hedges. From there I continued on to Aberfaron on the direct minor road. Plenty of tourists milling around the small centre here so on with the mask. An interesting place that we’ve visited in the past and no doubt will again so about turn and back up the steep hill out of the village then an easier ride until reaching the lower slopes of Mynydd Rhiw. Continuing through the village past the car and took a left then a right turn up to the final left turn up to the transmitters on the top of Rhiw Mountain / Mynnydd Rhiw. From here great views looking across both coastlines, Aberdaron, Porthmadog area and Snowdonia in the distance. Back to the car for the next climb and heading east again for Porthmadog. Drove 26 miles Rhiw to Prenteg via busy Pwllheli.
372 Llyn Du.. From Pwllheli and Criccieth then through Tremadog to Prenteg on the A498 Beddgelert road. Situated north of Porthmadog and 2.2km From Prenteg heading west. It’s a steep climb from the start of the village, very steep and no respite. Mainly up through a line of woods and loose stone walls and emerging half way at a clearing. Two cattle grids to negotiate along the way which can be dangerous on a wet day as their on the steep gradient. Fortunately today was dry. Fantastic view from the top over Tramadog Bay along to Rhiw Mountain one way and to the south over Harlech towards Barmouth. Full road detail on map:Yellow Outdoor Leisure number 18 Harlech and Bala areas. Later back to the car and drove 12 miles to Blaenau Ffestiniog
373 Stwlan Dam 3.4km From Tanygrisiau at the top of the lake, at north west corner head north away from the lake, following river that’s on the right to reach Stwlan Dam. Today though this was a failure. I couldn’t find the correct road so I need to make a return visit. (Went again the following week – and eureka!) My road ended slightly north of where I should have been in Tanygrisiau. I asked a girl the way but she was high on drugs! “Shake my hand” she said” No, because of the Covid” I said “Well give me a kiss then” and she came towards me so backed off quickly. “Oh, OK then – has to be elbow touches” I agreed to that, but she sent me to the wrong place. I should have set my mobiles sat-nav but would it show a private road? I came to the end of the road above the village where a stoney path begins. This definitely wasn’t the way so turned back and steeply back down to village under the Ffestiniog line bridge and back to the car. Hairpins to top (on the correct route!). Barts map of North Wales. PART road detail on map: Yellow Outdoor Leisure number 18 Harlech and Bala areas. Drove south to Pengwern then A496 to Maentwrog then south on A497 to Trawsfynydd and filled up with petrol in the village for the final time on this trip then south again to Rhiw Goch 375
Blwch –Pen-y-Feidiog..
From WE 8.5km 2 miles south of Trawsfynyedd reservoir parked by a large group of wooden holiday homes for the final climb. The route took me over two junctions and turning left so had to remember because there was a possibility that I might be loosing daylight on the descent. This was a fantastic wild open country climb but it was a very lonely climb. Except for one mobile home parked up for the night halfway up to the top of the climb there wasn’t a soul. I thought part way up if I have a problem I’d have to call on them, but didn’t. The route took me over three cattle grids and at about a third of the way there are steep sections and again towards the top where the metal gate is reached and this is the only gate on the road from the west side. Back down again the same way with glorious views of the mountains in front and the setting sun so needed sunglasses as well as the jacket for the descent.
Back to the car just as night fell then headed out for Bala, north on A470 then east from Trawsfynyedd on A4212 past Llyn Celyn to Bala then headed for Corwen but at Ty’n-y-cefn headed north east on A5104 via Llandegla and Broughton to Chester then A54 home at 22.00