Buy the OS Route Map and instructions for this route

If you thought North Wales’ mtb’ing was all centred on Snowdonia, think again. Although the National Park houses the biggest mountains in Wales, it doesn’t have a monopoly on the best trails, and there are plenty to get your teeth into in the north-east, particularly in the Clwydian Hills — made all the more appealing by their easy access from the Midlands and the North-West.
Unlike the riding in the Snowdonian mountains, which is characterised by long ups followed by long downs; the going in the Clwydians is more undulating; with short, sharp pulls; shorter, sharper descents; and plenty of delightful, contouring tracks linking them all together. Although the highlights tend to be short-lived, they come thick and fast, keeping interest levels high throughout.
The best descents of this outing are fast and furious; firstly down through the woods in the Moel Famau Country Park, and later on a rough track down to Cimwch; then there’s a long, die-straight lane from Moel Llys-y-coed to the road near Cilcain. The climbs are tough ones, though totally doable, with the majority of the height gain actually on forest track or tarmac. Singletrack junkies can get their fix on a fine traverse of the flanks of Ffrith Mountain early on; and then top it up later on a peachy little section that slips sweetly through the woods near Llangwyfan.
The scenery gets better the further you get from the start, with the most spectacular sections coming high on the heather-covered flanks of Moel Famau; and also along the veranda-like trail that contours around the tabletop summit of Penycloddiau, offering superb views to the north and west.