Cycle Routes
There are extensive and varied opportunities for cycling either in the Bala and Penllyn area or nearby. These opportunities include quiet local roads for cycling, car-free routes and challenging hill-climbs with passes over 1,000 feet high. Note that in mountainous areas roads may be steep, narrow and with drops to the side.
Download Bike Routes around Bala »
Tegid Trail: bikes are permitted on this all-ability trail which is shared with pedestrians. The Trail follows the A494 trunk road and has great views of Lake Bala (Llyn Tegid). It is intended to extend this trail to Llanuwchllyn.
Traws Lake: A circular trail of 8 miles around the lake on car free or quiet roads. Visitor Centre with parking and cafe. Part of the trail is steep with a loose surface - hybrid or mountain bikes are best.
Mawddach Trail: The trail is car free and runs from Dolgellau to Barmouth (18 km, 11 miles one-way). The Mawddach estuary is considered to be one of the most beautiful in the country and is also a bird sanctuary. The trail (tarmac/gravel) was previously a railway line and is therefore flat! CTC Cycling North Wales guide.
Mawddach Trail Guide. Bike hire available in Dolgellau.
Southern Snowdonia Greenway: a 43 kilometre walking and cycling route which makes use of quiet roads and cycle-tracks to journey the open moorland, forests and estuary shores between Llyn Trawsfynydd and Barmouth in Southern Gwynedd.
Cycle Trails for hybrid bikes are available from the following Centres:
- Coed-y-Brenin: extensive forest trails, café & bike hire,
- Hiraethog: a range of family trails, café & bike hire
- Coed Llandegla Forest: family trail, café & bike hire