The Town of Machynlleth is a small but bustling town in one of the most beautiful areas of mid-Wales, surrounded by the colourful rolling hills and mountains on the Dovey estuary and is fast becoming the focal point for “real” mountain biking in mid-Wales. After the runaway success of the waymarked trails in Coed-y-Brenin over the past few years, it wasn’t going to be long before existing classic rides were going to be waymarked to draw in the mountain biking public and Machynlleth has done just that.
Locals, who know exactly where the best riding in the area can be found, have devised three waymarked trails, all of which exist on current rights of way. There are three routes, all of varying difficulty and length, although even the 10 miler has some fairly tough climbs. The three routes named Mach 1, Mach 2 and Mach 3 take in some of the best riding to be found to the south of this town, some of which is also covered on the “South of the Dovey Valley” and “Wales Coast to Coast” rides on this site.
The routes have had input from a number of parties within the Machynlleth local area but have had considerable support from the local tourist office, Greenstiles Cycles in the town and from the Millennium Commission.
A leaflet has been produced which includes a map of the routes and a guide to what Machynlleth has to offer is invaluable if you are visiting the area for the first time and helpful to take as a route guide anyway. The leaflet entitled “Machynlleth Mountain Biking” can be picked up from the local tourist information office, Greenstiles Cycles or by contacting the TIC on 01654 702401 or by e-mail mactic@Powys.gov.uk. Further Information can also be found on the Machynlleth Mountiain Biking website: www.mach-off-road.org.uk.
Knowing that the Machynlleth area had plenty to offer mountain bikers after several visits in the past, I had to go to ride the three machs. I foolishly chose a weekend in late October after a long period of rain, so I was expecting a wet weekend. Thankfully the weather held and it remained warm and dry for much of my visit but the trails were very wet and I think you will find that if you ride any of these routes you should expect to get wet if you visit between September and June.
As I was fairly familiar with the area, I decided to take on the toughest route first. So on a sunny Saturday morning I unpacked the bike and set off, full of energy on the Mach 3, closely followed byt the Mach 1.
After completing the Mach 3 in the morning, I felt like making the most of the good weather and headed out on the Mach 1, the shortest of the three waymarked routes around Machynlleth.
The Mach 1 is a ten-mile route and offers a great taster to what the area has to offer the mountain biker. The route starts off in the town centre as all the routes do, and begins by heading out on the A487 towards the coast. You follow this fairly quiet A-road for just over 2 miles before you will find the first claming of the route on a minor road at Derwenlas. After winding your way up on to a plain, the road drops quickly to the first section of off road riding. The track you join drops further into the river valley and skirts a farm and some grazing land, before entering the forest for a long, tedious climb.
By this stage you will probably have encountered the wet trails that this area seems to suffer with and if you are not prepared to get wet, the best times to visit are between May and September.
By the time I was nearing the top of the long climb, I was beginning to wish I hadn't embarked on this route, straight after completing the Mach 3, however, I knew I was just going to have to endure it. Thankfully the climb gave way to a quick descent, mainly on minor roads, until Glaspwll where another huge climb was to begin. This 150 Metre altitude gain was to be made over just 1 km of fireroads and was way more than I was feeling up to at this late stage of the day.
At the summit, I was greeted with a familiar pile of logs with a Mach 3 waymarking on it. Time for a rest and a quick snack, before heading back down into Machynlleth.
From here it was a quick and rough descent before skirting a field and coming to a halt alongside a farmhouse, once through the gate, the descent we had all been waiting for! The descent is on a metalled road, but still, nearly a whole mile of high speed downhill without any interruption, except a couple of gates at the bottom if I remember correctly. A final dash across the golf course, before returning to the town and the troops of Saturday afternoon shoppers and tourists. A quick visit to the Spar for some energy replacement while covered from head to toe in local mud provided some amusement for the locals.
So, another good ride, perhaps best tackled on a different day to the Mach 3, unless you are super fit. Despite being only 10 miles, it should still challenge the average mountain biker and give you a taster of what there is to be ridden in the area.
Last Updated 01-01-2002
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