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Gwydir Forest Mountain Bike Trails

Gwydir Forest Mountain Bike Trails
Avg 3.41
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Number of Reviews (12)

*You can claim this trail if you are the trail owner

  • Information:
  • Type: Mtb Base
  • Distance(s): 21-30km
  • Country: Wales
  • County: Conwy
  • Website: Gwydir Forest
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Description

Gwydir Mawr is formerly known as the Marin with its smaller sibling the Gwydir Bach (incorporated within it) makes up the two trails in Gwydir Forest in the Snowdonia National Park, North Wales. Mawr is Welsh for big or large, bach means small. Gwydir is the name of the forest. It is a red-graded MTB trail for intermediate riders and is located just outside the town of Betws y Coed.

Like this?

It is just down the road from its sister trail the Penmachno which is another red trail well worth a visit. There is a new fun car park section that links the last Singletrack sections. There are multiple lines and a road right alongside so it's easy to session.

Gwydir Mawr

  • This is a 25km red route. It has an 800 metres climb and takes around 2-4 hours to complete. The course is fast and rocky with a mix of tight and technical as well as open and flowing sections. Views are great, the up's are mainly fire road and the descents all singletrack.
  • The trail starts at a small car park but remember there are no toilet or facilities so come prepared.

Gwydir Bach

  • Gwydir Bach (incorporated within the Gwydir Mawr trail above) is great for when you're short on time or just want a quick blast. It is red graded and 8.7km long with 350 metres of climbing between taking between 45 minutes to 1.5 hours to complete.

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  • If you have ridden the Gwydir Mawr or Gwydir Bach mountain bike trails then why not share your experiences with us and please write a review, post your pictures or videos.

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Mike:
Avg 3.41
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What do you like?

The first trail i rode, I still love the place as it's the closest to me so can pop over there in 20 mins and have a good couple of hours blast! The climbs are all on fire road and do go on a bit but not too bad. So really nice sections but pretty much all natural and not much man made stuff at all.

What could be improved?

No facilities as it's just a forest with a car park :) this is not really a bad point after you know what to expect. The trail is getting a bit cut up with people taking shortcuts etc and could do with some TLC in places.

Would you recommend?

Date written:

30/12/2013 - about 12 years ago

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2
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Bigmick:
Avg 3.49
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Marin Trail

One of the originals and a bit basic but certainly worth a ride if your in the area. Lots of fire road climbing, but it gives you chance to admire the stunning scenery. Trail has suffered from wear in a few places but given its rock base it seems to hold up well. No facilities as such just a free car park and that's it but there's plenty of things in the town down the road if you need anything. Don't go here if you like crowds ,as even on a Saturday in summer you will only see a handful of cars in the carpark,,,,,,,,,,,GREAT

What do you like?

Proper natural feel, with awesome scenery, very quiet

What could be improved?

no facilities.

Would you recommend?

Yes

Date written:

09/12/2013 - about 12 years ago

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2
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StupidMonkeyKev:
Avg 2.96
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Marin - Been around a while but still good

Ridden this twice now, the first time a shortened loop due to rally closures, and the second time the full loop. With a little studying of a map you can cut off sections if you want as the loop is quite big. You can also extend it. We rode from Betws-y-coed itself up the tarmac and joined the loop at the far end, doing the last 1/3rd first. We then did the last third again at the end and dropped back to Betws-y. The second time it was better, not sure if it was the order we did stuff but the fire road sections seemed shorter or maybe the better weather meant the singletrack was faster and more fun. Either way a good trail and better than Penmachno which we had ridden the day before.

What do you like?

Some really good sections. Plenty of singletrack descents to make you smile

What could be improved?

Some big fire road stretches, doesnt seem to change much. No facilities/cafe at the main car park. (But Betws-y-coed is close and a bit of map reading you can start from there)

Would you recommend?

Yes

Date written:

27/11/2013 - about 12 years ago

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2
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parky:
Avg 3.42
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A natural trail but a bit boring for the first 1 hour only finally gets going toward the end then its finished! nice views and nice and quiet unlike the busier trail centres full of amateurs and posers.

What do you like?

dragons tail

What could be improved?

fire road followed by more fire road..oh! a downhill section oh then more fire road.

Would you recommend?

No

Date written:

15/10/2013 - about 12 years ago

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0
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krisk:
Avg 3.38
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Off thr beaten track

A great hidden gem with lots of great singletrack. Once you get passed the initial climb, you get away from any road noise and really feel you are away from it all. This can be a bit eerie if on your own as it's not a busy place.

What do you like?

Well marked route with option halfway to do the second loop or head back. Mainly singletrack, fast in places with parts that are quite technical (more tyupical of Wales). Very uncrowded Ample parking

What could be improved?

Other than parking, no facilities on site, but the town is a mile or two down the road. Not many people around if you do get in to trouble.

Would you recommend?

Yes

Date written:

20/12/2012 - about 13 years ago

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5
^
Mark:
Avg 3.90
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The Marin Trail - Gwydyr Forest

Definately worth a ride. Go slower if you are not too sure but otherwise attack it and its great fun. Like most trails there is a big difference in the riding dynamics between dry and wet conditions but it is still a good ride when wet.

What do you like?

This is a great old trail that is without all the commercialisation of so many these days. Good finishing run and some interesting bits all through. Quite a good length with some demanding sections now due to the erosion. Good flow to certain sections that are a real blast. The rollercoasters towards the end are very good.

What could be improved?

There are no facilities at all. The climbs, especially at the begining are long and hard. If it rains hard then you will stay wet. Some muddy sections on switchbacks when wet.

Would you recommend?

Yes

Date written:

14/12/2012 - about 13 years ago

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17
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