Thursday 1st October 2020
Drove Holmes Chapel, Chester, North Wales coast road, an early start from home via Chester then the A55 coast road to Llandudno Junction at the head of the Conwy Valley then headed south inland to Blaenau Ffestiniog 102 miles in 2.5 hours. From just south at Blaenau at Tanygrisiau parked up
UKD 373 Stwlan Dam, 3.4km from Tanygrisiau at the top of the lake and at the north west corner away from the lake, following the river that’s on the right to reach Stwlan Dam, Hairpins close to top under the wall of the dam. Great scenery looking back from the straight stretch in the middle of the climb. Taled to some walkers and asked them to photo me on the climb and send to my ‘Whatsapp’, which they did. It took an hour to reach the top. The reservoir is surrounded by hills rising sheer around the water. 10.15 to 12.00 Barts map of North Wales. Part of the road detail on map: Ordnance Survey Yellow Outdoor Leisure number 18, Harlech and Bala areas.
Drive 15 miles Tanygrisiau to Harlech road A496 to Maentwrog then continue on A496 to Harlech but keep right following the coast into Harlech at the foot of the castle. Car parking at Premier shop opposite Queens Hotel 45 minute drive
UKD 374 Fford Pen Llech Harlech 1.8km Start from A496 below Harlech Castle then take an acute left turn immediately after crossing the level crossing on to Hwylfar Nant Groes, soon a right turn then extremely steep up Fford Pen Llech and over main road in Harlech village and continue up on Strydd Fawr and along Pen Dref to top at crossroads at Rhiwgoch 1.5 hours. 12.30 to 13.15 From the foot by Harlech station the road rises abruptly and around the first bend the 43% gradient is encountered so it means dig in and head over the handlebars and struggle up. I managed a short section but soon had to get off the bike. In doing so I bust a shoe cleat but only discovered it on the way down later. From the higher part of Harlech the road is not as steep and later it eases off approaching the crossroads at the top by a chapel. Great views over Tremadog Bay to Porthmadog on the way back down. On the way there’s an old stone baptistry on the left. Full road details on map: Ordnance Survey Yellow Outdoor Leisure number 18, Harlech and Bala areas.
Drive 22 miles Harlech to Arthog 45 minutes via Barmouth then toll road £1.00 or via Dolgellau. Park at foot of next climb in a wider section of the main road
UKD 378 Llynnau Cregennen 3.3km heading south from Arthog from Afon Arthog east of the village then an acute right turn heading for Cregennan Lakes 45 minutes. 15.00 to 16.30 Full road details on map: Ordnance Survey Yellow Outdoor Leisure number 23 Cader Idris area. Car left near Arthog at the foot of the climb on the Dolgellau road. An interesting area of lakes that for me resembles Covadonga lake area in Asturias, Spain – but in miniature of course. Beyond the lakes rises Cadair Idris, this being the closest road to the mountain
Drive 14 miles Arthog to Cross Foxes south east of Dolgellau 30 minutes
UKD 379 Cwm Ratgoed From the north 3.6km from Cross Foxes Inn, parking there A470 east of Dolgellau then head south on Machynlleth road for 1.5km then follow Sustrans route, blue sign indication via metal gate on the left then climb. 2 hours. From the gate the narrow road rises steeply around the left side of the hill and continues up to reach a wooded area and another gate just before the top in the woods. From there, down the other side into a masive wooded area , down to Aberllefenni then back up again. From the south starting at Aberllefenni, head north to top 4.1km (harder route). 17.15 to 18.45 Full road details on map: Ordnance Survey Yellow Outdoor Leisure number 23 Cader Idris area. The car was parked at Cross Foxes pub car park which was open before the Welsh Covid lockdown From there it was a long straight mile cycling to the gate off the road for the climb. From the pub drove 20 miles to Machynlleth 30 minutes and a further 28 miles to Aberystwyth. Parked up for the night outside of town at a lay-by at Waun-fawr on Machynlleth road after first finding Cefn Lan climb for the morning and a brief walk in the dark along the waterfront and pier in Aberystwyth Total time = 12 hours
Friday 2nd October 2020
UKD 382 Cefn Lan From road Rhiw Brialli then left at fork on to Cefn Lan. Ignore road off to right that is also Cefn Lan but main section Cefn Lan continues to road coming from left at an angle – then to the top. Only 1km but extremely steep 30 minutes 08.30 to 09.30. Just in time to meet the university and schools drop off as Cefn Lan is lined with both places – and the road lined with traffic dropping off their little darlings. After a night in the car this short but very steep climb woke me up. The first part of the climb is at least 25% and no fun on a crowded road. From here back into the town to find a cafe for breakfast. I asked around and was directed to the best one called ‘Sophie’s’ and was given a table away from others but on the other side of the window and outside was a woman chain smoking so my breakfast although good didn’t help my enjoyment of it. Later away from the town along A487 to Talybont, halfway along to Machynlleth and parked up for the next climb
UKD 381 Nany-y-Moch 8.3km. Heading east just north of river bridge on main road in Talybont north of Aberystwyth. Following the Afon Coulan stream to its head with a long sweep to the right that ends at a col – steep rocks on either side. From here over to Nant-y-Moch Reservoir and returned back the same way. On approaching my car again I saw an incredible sight. A woman was crawling underneath my car! She explained to me when I asked her what she was doing “Oh, I was looking for my car key. I dropped it down here earlier” I backed up the car so she could retrieve it.
Barts map Mid Wales number 22 2 hours 10.45 to 12.00 at top, 12.30 at bottom and car.
From Talybont to Machynlleth then west along the north side of the Dovey estuary to Aberdovey.
UKD 380 Aberdovey Panorama Walk 2.5km from Aberdovey waterfront 1 hour.
Parked along the waterfront and cycled inland from the church on the front high up to a caravan and mobile home park then a right turn on to the Panorama Walk along to what’s signposted from the waterfront as ‘The Bearded Lake’. This is the view from the top of the Panorama Walk down into a valley of dense trees – the bearded lake. From the top there’s great views looking south along the coastlineFull road details on map: Ordnance Survey Yellow Outdoor Leisure number 23 Cader Idris area. 14.00 to 15.00. From here my intention was to drive 38 miles to Dinas Mawddwy 1 hour and cycle
UKD 377 Bwlch-y-Groes. Not cycled from south or north 8.7km from Llanuwchllyn B4403 south of Lake Bala / Llyn Tegid, heading east then first right after crossing the river, then follow the river upstream. From the south side at Dinas Mawddwy 5.6km extremely steep from Llanymawddwy. 3 hours. 15.00 to 18.00 Total 11.5 hours
The weather turned nasty – terrific storm on the way north of Machynlleth – so decided to continue on through Bala and head home via Corwen, Llangollen and Chester. Totaled 341 miles