Snowdon Ranger

About trip

This Snowdon Ranger route is an 11.5 mile mountain bike route on the largest mountain in Wales. It's a big step up in technical difficulty from the Llanberis Path route with lots of steep, loose riding on big rocks with lots of switchbacks. It also gets you away from the hordes of walkers so you can really concentrate on pushing your limits.

Snowdon Voluntary Cycling Agreement
During the summer months Snowdon is very busy with walkers and tourists. To avoid accidents and incidents with cyclists a voluntary agreement has been agreed, limiting the times bikes are allowed on Snowdon. To avoid an outright ban please adhere to the times of this agreement - available here.

1. Start from the car park by Llyn Padarn in Llanberis (GR577605). Turn left onto the main road and follow it straight on, past the Snowdon Mountain Railway at the far side of Llanberis. Climb straight on after the railway to the mini roundabout junction just after (GR583596). Turn right and follow the lane over the traffic calming past the line of houses on the left. At the junction near the end of the houses go straight on. After crossing the cattle grid at the end of the houses engage a very low gear for the first short climb where the road becomes very steep. At the top of the climb go past Pen-y-Ceunant tea house on the left. After the tea house continue along the lane to a gate where the lane turns right. Once through the gate follow the lane right, up a short climb, to the signposted junction with the start of the Llanberis Path on the left(GR581589).

2. Turn left and follow the trail through a gate then up a few rocky sections that give a good indication of what is to come. What follows is a very challenging mixture of boulders, loose scree and the occasional bit of flatter rocky hardpack. There are some sections that are always a push, mainly in the top third, but in good conditions the trail is about 70% ridable (if you are very good at climbing). The bonus though is when it gets too much you can rest and take in the awesome scenery. If it's open the Halfway House is a great place to stop for a cup of tea and a cake. Continue following the Llanberis Path all the way to the summit(GR610544).

3. After the obligatory summit photos, taking in the views, and fighting past the crowds for a coffee the mountain has to be descended. Return back down the Llanberis Path to the standing stone at the view point near the top of the Pyg Track on the right (GR607549). At the standing stone turn left down the start of the Snowdon Ranger Path and descend to the railway. Turn right and follow the track for a few 10s of meters then turn left and cross the rails. After crossing the rails turn right and descend the fast, loose and rocky track through a long left hand bend for first third of the Ranger. At the end of the left hand bend the trail comes to a steep section where things start to get really technical. The rocks get increasingly larger and this is combined with chutes, steps and tight switchbacks, proper pick your way down stuff. This ends with a section of about 30m of big rocks that I've not had the bottle to attempt yet. When the big rocks finish the trail flattens out for a fast gravel trail, with a great view of Snowdon on the left, that soon comes to a gate (GR585555).

4. After the gate the trail becomes boggy in sections. After a while the trail comes to another gate at a stream crossing. After the gate climb the trail off to the left. The trail soon bears right and starts descending again over some slate water bars. Don't go too fast as a short distnce after the descent start is a bridleway signed to Llanberis on the right, up a steep grassy slope (GR573553). Turn right and climb the calf crampingly steep carry (or push) that is thankfully not too long. Continue straight on when the trail becomes rideable again and follow the trail towards the saddle to the gate at the top (GR572558).

5. Go through the gate and follow the rocky track that descends down the left hand side of the valley ahead. This trail is great fun, even with the amount of water bars on it. Towards the bottom of the descent the trail bears left. Keep following the trail to where it turns into a lane. Continue ahead along the lane to a junction with a gate straight on and the road turns right (GR573591). Turn right and descend the lane, past Llanberis YHA, all the way to the junction with the main road in Llanberis (GR578601). Turn left and ride to the junction with Pete’s Eats on the corner. Turn right and return to the car park to complete the ride.

Gallery Page: The Edge Cycleworks 'Big' Snowdon Shop Ride - Oct '10. A ride provided by Flattyres-MTB.