LEJoG to Congleton

Short off-road sections but mainly on quiet country roads. Some steep ascents. Only technical part is a short steep off-road descent to the Monsal Trail on the River Wye. Can be avoided by detour south on tarmac at Wormhill to intersect the Monsal trail at Millers Dale

Mostly Green

Red descent to Monsal. Can walk or avoid.

Congleton to Natwich

Route entirely on canal tow path. Beware of risk of falling into the canal: Not suitable for young children. The path is of variable make-up from good to muddy singletrack. Good tyres needed. Some stretches are away from villages for some miles so food and water are needed.

Blue

Nantwich to Whitchurch

Route entirely on canal tow path. Beware of risk of falling into the canal: Not suitable for young children. When the route turns east on the Llangollen canal the quality of the path deteriorates. Long stretches are on grass with little or no path. Going is hard requiring a good level of fitness and endurance, especially in adverse weather.

Blue - Red

Whitchurch to Llangollen

Cycle canal towpath from Grindley Brook to Llangollen out the other side of Llangollen to Horseshoe Falls. All along canal towpath which can be rough in places. Risk of falling in the water. There are two tunnels and two long bridges where it is necessary to dismount and push (or seek alternative road route) and the tunnels in particular may not be suitable for trailers.

Blue - Red

Llangollen to Bryneglwys

From E of Horseshoe Falls, B5103 N to uncl road NW to Rhewl.:

2.5km to chapel turn right up uncl road very steep, becomes unsurfaced track at gate. Continue up to pass through range of hills. Keep straight on then down to field gate. Through/over gate then down field to bridle path. Turn left then turn right (gate) sunken lane and then to road at Plas Newydd. Keep straight on across road then next left then left at T junction then next right down to A5104.

An alternative route is: 3km to where road splits either side of PH (Sun Inn). Take left road and then uphill, then right to Wern Ddu Farm. Pass farm then left and follow zig-zag route to Glyndyfrdwy to Brynegwlys Road. Right uphill then down to Bryneglwys and the A5104.

Red, not suitable for trailers due to gates which may be locked and steep climbs.

Alternative route also steep but no locked gates.

Bryneglwys to Bod Petryal

East along A5104 approx 100m then right up steep hill. Follow the road to an unmade road right past a farm then several lanes to Bryn Saith Marchog. Cross A494 and then down to river bridge, up hill to Derwen then follow lanes to B5105 left along it for 500m to Bod Petryal

Mostly Blue as almost all on road or good unmade surface but hills are steep and long – Red.

Bod Petryal to Alwen Res

Leave B5105 opp Bod Petryal on Cyffylliog Road. Turn left at 0.6km and follow that trail for 6km to jct left. Turn right after 200m and follow trail down to Llyn Brenig. Go north along unmade road to B4501. Turn left along cycle track parallel to main road and then left around Llyn Brenig.

At no entry sign at north of visitor centre car park turn right. Cross B4501 and enter forest trail to Alwen Res. Follow trails to and along the reservoir back to B4501.

Mostly off road on good standard forest trails. Some quiet unclassified roads. Blue/Red some long climbs albeit nothing too steep.

Alwen Res. To Rhydlydan

Turn right along forest trail at bottom of hill on B4501 then follow trails until they come out of the forest and down across moorland/farmland to minor roads leading to Glasfryn. West alongside A5 to left turn along minor roads to Rhydlydan

Long fairly steep climbs and descents red otherwise blue along small roads.

Rhydlydan to Betws y Coed

Cross A5 going north following route publicised on Ride North Wales Website as Her Hiraethog. Small roads which become tracks then roads until joining the A543. Go north on that road for short distance then left along farm access road and then unmade track for several kms to join B5113. Go north west to turn left along uncl roads at Nebo and follow route which becomes track to Gwninger onto road, right then left to Gallt y Rhug and down through forest track (Rhyd y Creua Plantation) to A470. Left at A470 to A5. Follow A5 to where it meets Sarn Helen west of Betws y Coed.

An alternative is to follow the southern arm of the Her Hiraethog route through Ysbyty Ifan and Penmachno and then via forest trails to Dolwyddelan.

Red/Black Very rough tracks in places with small stream fords and a steep descents to Gwninger and to A470 (or push if going east up the same trail). (The southern alternative route has some very steep climbs and some very rough tracks.)