This ride is in the "Lake District" of Mid-Wales and follows an Ancient trod over bleak wild moors used by Monks to travel from Strata Florida to other monasteries. The ride is 21 miles, mostly off-road, far from help and requires stamina and navigation skills. It is not a bad weather route! It goes without saying that bike and owner should be in reasonable nick.
The start is at Elan Valley visitor centre where there is an excellent cafe and extensive parking. This is 3 miles west of the nearest village of Rhayader, where there is a small bike shop run by Clive Powell of Dirty Weekend fame (the mountain bike kind). The cafe is not open in winter. Allow at least 5 hours for the ride and take waterproofs.
| Physical | Technical | Fun | Scenery | Singletrack | Rideability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| **** | *** | **** | **** | *** | *** |
There is nothing whilst you are on the route however there is an excellent cafe at the start point which is open during the summer months only.
Get out a highlighter, and Landranger no.147, and mark out the following waypoints.
| Location | Grid Ref | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Caban Coch reservoir | 923645 | ||
| Claerwen Dam | 872636 | ||
| Claerwen Farm | 823672 | ||
| Carn Ricet | 872709 | ||
| Pen y Garreg car park | 915673 | ||
| Caban Coch reservoir | 923645 | ||
| Total distance 21 miles | Riding time 5 hours | ||
Go out of the centre and turn left towards the cascades down Caban Coch reservoir. This leads you on road to the top of the dam opposite a quarry. Go through the gate to the information board by the dam and ride pleasantly off road on the old railway line, just below the tarmac road, around to the first bridge with a fine green copper cupola and turn left onto the road over the bridge. You are now following an enjoyable road along the north side of Caban Coch reservoir, past a lonely telephone box and a big farm on the right.
Shortly after the farm take the steeper road on the right to the top of Claerwen dam and a noticeboard. Take the obvious wide stony track straight ahead, with only a few easy undulations, to the end of the reservoir. The going has been easy so far, the legs are nicely warmed up and the scenery has been fabulous. Payback time!
At the end of the reservoir is a very lonely farmstead, and just before you get to the farm there is a gate. Reverse your route for 200metres and if the weather is bad with poor visibility go back now. On the hillside on your left (remember you headed back) there is a very indistinct track, which is a push up a steep hillside. Head for the highest point, the slope relents and a grassy bit lets you ride for some brief moments. Carry on in the same direction across 400 metres of unreadable tussocks/bog until you come to a wide clear grassy track at right angles to you. This will come as a surprise.
This is the Ancient trod. Get back on your bike and ride. It drops down and then around the crags of Cnapyn Blaendrawsffos with a few technical bits. A short sharp rise and the track curves around through some water splashes (some are very deep). The direction is roughly north east and on a clear day will present no problem.
You will come to the side of a bluff where the track seems to go straight on up a short rise; the way to go is left where there is a sunken path with some landrover ruts in it. This path is grassy and boggy. You are following the ridge of Clawdd du bach a little way down from the ridge of the moor. In the far distance you will see a wind farm, head for this. The track comes and goes, there is a major kink, but most of it is surprisingly rideable.
Just before the end of the ridge you will see a weather station on the right near Carn Ricet and the track becomes stony, clear and wide. You will now enjoy a sweeping fast and somewhat technical downhill, keep on the right near the bottom, you will see Craig Goch reservoir and when you are near the road plunge right for 100m to a wooden fence on the minor road.
Congratulations the hard bit is over, the last seven miles have been committing and a sense of relief will be felt. Turn right along the road. Those wheels will soon pass the farm of Hirnant and onto the top of the spectacular Pen y Garreg dam. Go along the dam road to an excellent picnic site and toilets. If the reservoir is full the white cascading sheets of overflow water are great. Carry on through the gate at the end of the toilets down the old railway line, through a rock cutting and down to the road and Carreg Ddu reservoir. Cross the road and follow the off road railway line by the side of the water until you see that green cupola again and join the route at the bridge which you passed earlier on in the day and quickly back to the car park and a cup of tea and Bara Brith cake
In poor weather you will need a compass and good navigational skills to survive this ride, it is very easy to get lost on a bad day.
Last Updated 26-09-2000
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