Snowdonia, North & South

Snowdonia

Conwy to Pontlyfni & Llanystumdwy to Phenrhyndeudreath

DATE:	19th – 20th April 2022
DISTANCE:	105 Miles
ASCENT:	6375ft
LIGHTHOUSES:	None
RIDERS:	Jane & Me

“Lets do a 2 day circular tour, then we don’t need to use trains, then we can get a big crew together”. things got in the way of the plan and just the 2 of us drove through the Castle Walls at 10am and parked up next to the estuary.

Conwy is a remarkable place, even more so in spring sunshine. With laden bikes we headed along the harbour and out of town. The peace of the first few miles was replaced by a relentless roar as we stitched our way over, under and in between the A55. Its here where the Snowdonia mountains meet the sea. The road builders had two options, either tunnel through the mountains or take the cars around the coast between the towns that overlooked the ocean. The houses now look at concrete and cars, brutally separated from the shore.

We found a beautiful back lane and the peace returned. Into Bangor and along the Menai Strait thinking of bowls of local mussels from the ropes that hang in sea here. An amazing sustainable food source. On to Caernarfon, around the castle and onto a stunning lane that stays tight to the waters edge, long views towards the sand dunes at the very tip of Anglesea.

We turned south over the shoulder of the Lynn Peninsula and down to its south coast. Into Criccieth for bowls of Seafood Chowder overlooking the bay, it was here we learnt that the mussel farm had closed due the extra cost and admin caused by flipping Brexit. They didn’t put that on the side of a bus.

The last five, wine fuelled, miles got us to out camp at dusk, we didn’t stay up late!

A pan of tea (I forgot the cups) on the beach in the sun. This is a stunning place, I just wish it wasn’t used as a car park. We upped sticks and left before it got too busy. Over the Cob (a causeway) and onto Port Merrion. The weather was turning as we pedalled up the Vale of Ffestiniog. The road was really busy as we stopped for breakfast, only to realise it was lunch, its easy to loose time with a brew on a beach. Pie & Mash fuelled we pedalled and pushed thorough mountains of slate spoil to the summit of the Crimea Pass. A fizz down into the Lledr valley and off the busy road. We took a track along the river, peace had returned along with the sun.

Another climb, this time on a track, took us over the hill and down a rough boulder strewn track into Betws y Coed. A quick can of pop to pep us up and 17miles of evening sunshine to see us back to Conwy. We were properly pooped.