With a days work with British Cycling in North Wales also meant an opportunity to have a day riding some of the North Wales MTB Trails.   So after a bit of research for routes around Betws y Coed a days ride with Penmachno and Marin Trail on my list to ride.

The Marin Trail is an old trail by todays standards built many years ago and one of first purpose built trails its about 25km in length.  Whilst the Penmachno route just a few miles down the road is a newer trail consisting of two loops both each about 11kms.

It was a cold start on Friday morning as I commenced loop 1 at Penmachno.  The trail had a lot of single track climbs and descents with stunning views over the North Wales Mountains. The track was as ex pected in North Wales rocky and one small flint of rock punctured my rear tyre , soon sorted thank god for air canisters on high volume tyres.  The route did hold an amount of water - which was cold on the feet after the sub zero night. My choice of summer shoes was becoming more uncomfortable and after a fast descent to the car after loop 1 - I decided to get warm in a local cafe with welsh cakes and a coffee in Betws y Coed.   

A chnage of shoes to winter shimano boots and a quick enquiry in Planet Fear to find the start of the Marin Trail - 1 mile to the start of the Marin Trail from the village he said well - more accurate would have been only a bit shorter than 2 miles up a steep single road.  Soon on the route though and the Marin trail was good better than I remember (i had rode it some years ago).  The Marin had slightly more climbing than Penmachno  which took place on forest trails.  However the route was fast in places and a great descent down to one of the car parks which gave you a grin - well at least until the ascent back up another forest track.  Again some fantastic views to the mountains of Ogwen Valley in places.

Overall the Marin Trails was well signposted a good trail with some lung busting climbs but very enjoyable and drier than Penmachno.  Penmachno has a more wild feel.  No cafes or bike washes just some forest layby and the trail a bit more rugged and rocky than Marin trail.       

A good days riding though with a cold start blues skys and I saw 5 riders on the Marin trail and just 1 local on the Penmachno.  On the cycling Course local riders also told me that a lot of the Coed Y Brenin trails had been altered or upgraded and recommended a visit.

Anyone for a club trip??