Gwydyr Forest: Gravel Cycling in Stunning Snowdonia
Having done our fair share of road cycling and bike touring, some of our more off-road-inclined cycling friends suggested we give gravel cycling a go.
We were definitely up for the challenge - the only issue was that we don’t own mountain bikes and our road bikes are more suited to touring.
Not wanting to splash out on completely new bikes, we decided to adapt our current bikes and try out some easy(ish) gravel trails in the stunning woodland landscapes of Gwydyr Forest Park, Snowdonia. It turned out to be the perfect introduction to gravel cycling and we’re already planning more gravel adventures for 2021.
If you’re looking to give gravel a go, why not dive straight in with this 19-mile route that mixes wide gravel tracks and rural mountain roads?
About Gwydyr Forest Park
Ancient woodland, expansive lakes and rugged mountains make up Gwydyr Forest Park, with a series of wide gravel fire roads and more technical single-track trails winding through the trees. The area’s elevation provides awesome views out towards the Glyderau and Carneddau mountain ranges, so all your effort on the ascents will be rewarded with a truly unique vision of Snowdonia.
Route overview
Where: North Snowdonia, Wales (near Betws-y-Coed)
Length: under 20 miles, but can easily be shortened or lengthened
Surfaces: roads, hard-packed rural tracks, some loose gravel
You can view, save and edit the route from our Komoot page. This is our adaptation of a gravel cycling route recommended by Red Bull.
Our suggested route starts and ends in the village of Betws-y-Coed, the ‘Gateway to Snowdonia’.
From the Pont-y-Pair bridge in Betws-y-Coed, you venture up into the wooded hills on fairly quiet B-roads, loosely following the River Conwy until you reach the old timber-shipping village of Trefriw. After the cafe, a left-turn takes you up a sudden steep hill, so a quick downward gear change is vital! It’s a tough climb but thankfully it doesn’t last too long.
From there, stick to the rural lanes as you head towards the picturesque Llyn Crafnant, the park’s biggest lake, with epic views of the surrounding mountains. A detour for a coffee and cake at the lakeside cafe will keep you fueled for the second half of the ride.
Heading up into the Gwydyr Forest is where the fun really starts, with pretty much uninterrupted gravel tracks (mostly hard-packed fire roads) all the way back to Betws-y-Coed via Llyn Elsi. However, there is a short section of riding on the main road (A5) that can be busy with fast traffic.
Note: The final section of gravel track down into Betws-y-Coed gets very steep and rocky towards the bottom. We opted to push our bikes, but you may be comfortable with this section depending on your technical ability, type of bike, or type of tyres.
What to pack
Spare tubes
Tyre leavers
Puncture repair kit
Pump
Waterproof and warm layer (it can get wet and cold up in the hills)
Snacks or energy gels
Water
Do I need a gravel bike?
If you’re considering buying a brand-new gravel bike just for this ride, then hold on a second. With some slight adaptations, your existing bike - whether it’s a road bike, mountain bike or hybrid - may be fine.
We wanted to see if our current bikes could do the job, with minimal changes. If not, we agreed to make further adjustments for next time. And if they really failed - ie we kept falling off - then we would consider buying new parts or even new bikes entirely.
Josie rides a B’Twin Triban 500 (a road bike suitable for touring) and opted to swap her road slicks for some grippier Schwalbe Marathon tyres, which served her well on the ride. I ride a steel Genesis Croix De Fer (which can be setup as a gravel bike) but chose to stick with my existing Schwalbe One tubeless tyres to see how they faired on the gravel. We both lowered our tyre pressure to approx 55-60psi for added grip and comfort on the gravel. These setups served us well on our first gravel ride, though the conditions were dry and we took the gravel sections at a slow pace.
Useful info
Nearest towns: Betws-y-Coed, Trefiw, Penmachno
Public transport: Train station in Betws-y-Coed
Car parking: Betws-y-Coed or Gwydyr Forest car parks (various)