ABR Issue 41 Route Files: Snowdonia Discovery Route

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Bryn
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ABR Issue 41 Route Files: Snowdonia Discovery Route

Post by Bryn »

Located in the north-west of Wales and home to the country's highest mountain, Snowdon, Snowdonia is a land fraught with legends, myths and incredible scenery. From the stomping grounds of the legendary King Arthur and his knights to some of the UK's most beautiful valleys, the national park is full of intrigue.
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Fortunately for us, dissecting the 823 square miles of Wales' first national park is a network of roads that transport over 3.6 million tourists a year across the mountainous terrain. With figures like this, you can expect the main thoroughfares to be heaving with traffic in peak times, but venture off the beaten track and you can find mile upon mile of deserted, lonely mountain roads which the majority of vistors don't know about, or don't care to drive down (their loss).

The 200-mile long route that we have plotted here takes us on a circuit of Snowdonia, starting and finishing on the enchanting shores of Lake Vyrnwy. Along the way we'll visit the ancient capital of Wales, Machynlleth (pronounced Mack-un-cleth), the legendary Beddgelert and, of course, the route takes you around Snowdon, providing you with stunning views of the imposing peak.
snowdonia2.jpg
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The route has been designed to be ridden in a single day, though there's no denying it'll be a long one, and to make the most of it you'll want to be at the start point early in the morning. There's a fantastic hotel right on the shores of Lake Vyrnway and the route's start/end point, called the Lake Vyrnwy Hotel & Spa, which makes for an excellent base when riding this route.
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The route
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The route is available to download below, so that you can stick it in your SatNav and be on your way. Simply right click on the attachment below called 'Snowdonia-route-files.gpx' and choose 'Save Line As'. Once you've saved it to your computer, load it into your SatNav as per the manufacturer's instructions and get riding!
Snowdonia-route-files.gpx
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Last edited by Bryn on Fri Aug 04, 2017 3:42 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Andi_Archer
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Re: ABR Issue 40 Route Files: Snowdonia Discovery Route

Post by Andi_Archer »

Looks an excellent route and a nice selection of bike freindly roads.You could extend it slightly to include the stunning views on Anglesey at the A5 Car park [ Menai Bridge Viewpoint Ffordd Caergybi, Llanfairpwllgwyngyll LL61 5YH ] by going across the Menai Bridge onto the A5 and back over the Expressway

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Re: ABR Issue 41 Route Files: Snowdonia Discovery Route

Post by Redmurty »

hopefully doing this route tomorrow to give the Tiger a good run out (thumbs)
cheers Spud ;)
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Re: ABR Issue 41 Route Files: Snowdonia Discovery Route

Post by TomBoyNI »

Is this the same route as used in the Wales in a weekend route?
Heading over in September and was going to do that route again.
But if this is different I might incorporate this into that?
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Re: ABR Issue 41 Route Files: Snowdonia Discovery Route

Post by TomBoyNI »

In fact I see this is very different than the Wales in a Weekend route.
Here is the big question. Which route through Snowdonia is best? This one, or the Wales in a Weekend one?
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Re: ABR Issue 41 Route Files: Snowdonia Discovery Route

Post by Bryn »

TomBoyNI wrote:In fact I see this is very different than the Wales in a Weekend route.

Here is the big question. Which route through Snowdonia is best? This one, or the Wales in a Weekend one?
Yep, different route (thumbs)

If you want to see more of Snowdonia then this one for sure, the Wales Weekender Route does some of the same roads, but this one adds quite a few more and you get to explore the whole of the national park. So, if you're looking for a route through Snowdonia, I'd say this one definitely.
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Re: ABR Issue 41 Route Files: Snowdonia Discovery Route

Post by TomBoyNI »

Thanks for that.
I am leaving Aberystwyth in the early morning then have to be in Liverpool for the same evening for the boat home.
The ABR route got me to Liverpool for about 6pm. How much longer would this Snowdonia section be?
Thanks again.
Boo :-p

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Re: ABR Issue 41 Route Files: Snowdonia Discovery Route

Post by Tink »

Any way of getting this route to work on Google maps on my android phone???
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Re: ABR Issue 41 Route Files: Snowdonia Discovery Route

Post by daveuprite »

And if you have already visited the northern parts of that route and need to return to Aberdyfi, try to take in the mid-Wales / Southern Snowdonia Nat Park route on the way back south, to include Dolgellau and Cader Idris, maybe Barmouth estuary, Tywyn etc. It's a stunning bit of Wales.

If you can get parked up safely at the base of Cader Idris, put on some walking boots and hike up to the tarn - it's one of the best walks in Britain IMO with a stunning view at the lake.

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Re: ABR Issue 41 Route Files: Snowdonia Discovery Route

Post by Bryn »

Tink wrote: Wed Apr 24, 2019 12:12 pm Any way of getting this route to work on Google maps on my android phone???
These are the waypoints you'll need to add to Google Maps to create the route:
Llanwddyn
Dinas Mawddwy
Machynlleth
Aberdyfi
Beddgelert
Capel Curig
Bethesda
Caernarfon
Llanberris
Betws-y-Coed
Bronaber
Bala
Llanwddyn
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