Pont Scethin

More unavailability meant another weekend of solo riding for Hedd.

After a spin around the Malverns on Friday evening, I headed to Tal-y-bont near Barmouth on the North Wales coast to tackle the Pont Scethin loop on Saturday. This is a bit of a classic, and the fact that we'd never riden it had always frustrated me.

The weather was fantastic and this meant that despite the early start, I got caught up in a fair bit of traffic heading for the coast.

Early in the ride the climbing is fairly easy on good surfaces, and it's not too long before you're away from it all and enjoying great views back towards the coast.

A right turn takes you down a boggy trail to Pont Scethin (a packhorse bridge on the old London to Harlech coach route).

Pont Scethin

From here, the trail heads up a difficult climb to the highest point on the ride. There are fantasic views over the Mawddach Estuary from the top.

The descent was great, it starts steep and then levels for a while (Braich) before plummiting down again. My favourite bits were the burmed grassy switchbacks, and a no risk grassy jump!

A right turn after an iron gate led to a farm track through some beautiful scenery.

A nice spot on the farm track

The second climb of the day was another tough one, a long singletrack trail with a number of switchbacks. The view from the top was stunning in both directions, back over the Mawddach Estuary, or ahead to Tal-y-bont with the Lleyn Peninsula beyond.

The view of the Mawddach Estuary from the top of the second climb

The view ahead to Tal-y-bont with the Lleyn peninsula beyond

The second big descent of the day had everything, narrow singletrack at the top gave way to a rocky section before the trail turned grassy with a variable gradient. As if this wasn't enough, the trail then dropped through woodland before ending at the car park.

My route can be viewed here: http://www.bikehike.co.uk/mapview.php?id=8866

The stats are: 12.6 miles (20.28km); 2648 feet (807m) of climbing

The Pont Scethin loop definately deserves it's classic status, but it isn't very long. This gave me time to head to Coed-y-brenin and do a quick blast around the Tarw trail (the trail formally know as Red Bull) before heading home (and making my 6pm deadline!).

The Tarw trail route (including a diversion due to forestry operations) can be viewed here: http://www.bikehike.co.uk/mapview.php?id=8867

The stats are: 9.68 miles (15.57km); 1412 feet (430m) of climbing