This is the middle route of three way marked mountain bike rides south of Machynlleth. This route is 15 miles long, scenic, with a fair amount of tarmac to help on the fairly serious climbs and to make the surface an all weather route.3 hours or so should do it. Get a route leaflet from the local bike shop- Greenstiles (near the impressive clock tower) or the TIC. Phone 01654 702401 or e-mail mactic@Powys.gov.uk The leaflet which includes colour OS map extracts shows all three routes and is essential.
All the routes start in the car park off the High street, it has a good clean toilet 10p a go. Turn right along the High street away from the clock tower and turn right at the first road signed Llanidloes with a Sustrans National cycle route 8 on it. Go along here past the caravan site until you get to the cattle grid by the Golf course and you will pick up the distinctive signs. Orange for this route and red for Mach 3, four miles longer, a lot steeper and more technical.
Continue past the Forge and on a bend Mach 3 goes along the road and Mach 2 goes left off road steeply up a double stony track. The sunken bridleway gets covered in gorse which forces you right and goes along to Henllan where you turn right up the tarmac road. The farmer here was pleasant and helpful and have all agreed to these routes, lets keep them on our side by good behaviour!
You soon come to a white cottage where you join up with Mach 3 and take a sharp turn left off road onto a good climb. This takes you on the lovely Glyndwrs way with great views. After passing through a few gates, Mach 2 dives off to the left down a grassy track and then onto a broad stony rapid descent. I was sorely tempted to carry on the high ridge here on Mach 3 and pick up Mach 2 later but I shot down the descent and paid for it with a climb up a tarmac road.
The route dives off right here and goes steeply and slitherly down to a ford. Send someone down first to open the gate and go for the right edge. The left side is much deeper then it looks. Now you enter the woods and start a long gradual climb past some spectacular cascades on your left. By the way there is a chicken option of a footbridge by the ford.
You now go up some switchbacks and meet Mach 3 again. However you turn right and follow the tarmac road past Llwyn Gwyn farm and descend rapidly. When you see the telephone box slow down or you will miss the turn off left and will end up in Machynlleth missing the best bit of the ride!
Get steeled up for a long climb up Lon Las Cymru and eventually you will emerge out of the wood at a wonderful viewpoint, Bwlch y Groeson. Join up with Mach 3 and follow the wood edge and signs on a marvellous bit of undulating singletrack. Watch out for the narrow ruts! You will come to a monster three-part puddle. The first bit looks evil but is OK, the second bit looks evil but is also OK, the third bit is evil and..... It is fortunate that Shimano shoes have a good mesh to let out water!
You will come to a junction. Mach 3 ahead with a sign No Vehicles and Mach2 and Mach1 goes off to the right and follows a sunken path next to the fence. However I found a route slightly left and through some rock outcrops was better. A sharp climb and then a humdinger of a road decent back to near the forge and then back through the golf course to town
While in Machynlleth it is recommended you pay a visit to Greenstiles cycle shop, sponsors of the series of routes. Buy something small, a bottle of lube or something-it is important that we support small bike shops like this, especially ones that set up routes for us. Rendezvous in a good cafe in the High street and a very good breakfast can be had in the Caravan cafe, one mile out of town of the main Aberystwyth road.
Last Updated 28-08-2001
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