Eryri, near Betws-y-Coed
Access note: The Reid Rydd section of Gwydir Mawr and Bach is closed: follow the signed diversion during hazardous tree felling. All Sawbench walking trails are currently closed.
Gwydir Mawr and Bach offer a pedal-powered forest day above the Conwy Valley, with Llanrwst close to the main Sawbench start. Both are red-graded rides: the choice is between a substantial longer circuit and a shorter concentration of climbing and descending, rather than between difficult and easy. Expect to earn the singletrack through your own climbing, and choose the route around the whole group’s stamina.
The landscape has a particular character beyond the trail names. Gwydir Forest surrounds Betws-y-coed within Eryri, and its mining past remains visible in reservoirs, ruins and worked hillsides. The riding alternates broader connections with narrower descents, creating a different rhythm from repeated uplift laps. Give the route enough time for climbing, stops and navigation, rather than judging the day only by how quickly you descend.
Red · 9.1 km · 350 m
Two substantial climbs lead to a compact selection of descents. It is the shorter choice for a first visit or a limited riding window, but its difficult grade remains important. The published figures describe the standard route; follow the current diversion where the Reid Rydd section is closed.
Official route information →Red · 24.8 km · 800 m
The longer circuit combines major climbs, singletrack descents and a newer two-kilometre section mixing hand-built riding with flow features. It can start from Sawbench or Hafna. Choose it for a full forest outing with enough energy for the later sections, rather than treating it as Bach with a small optional extension.
Official route information →Use Gwydir Bach, Gwydir Mawr as distinct route choices, matching each grade and climbing commitment to the group. Follow current signs and closures, even where an older map shows a continuous connection.
For a first visit, Bach is the more manageable way to learn Gwydir’s riding rhythm if red trails are already within your ability. Read the start panel, identify the signed diversion and keep enough time for the climbs. Shorter distance does not eliminate the technical or fitness requirement; choose another destination if your group needs a gentle beginner circuit rather than a difficult mountain-bike trail.
Experienced riders can make Mawr the main outing and pace the earlier climbing to preserve concentration for the descents. The land manager estimates two to four hours for the standard route, before your extra stops. Download the official guide and agree the chosen start with companions. Sawbench and Hafna are alternative starts, so an imprecise meeting instruction can leave members of the group at different car parks.
Sawbench is approximately a mile west of Llanrwst. Official directions →
Sawbench is approximately a mile west of Llanrwst. From the B5106, follow the Gwydir Castle turn and then the minor road to the signed Mainc Llifio/Sawbench forest entrance. Use the actual map pin: LL26 0PN covers a wider area. Parking is free and overnight parking is not permitted. Arrive prepared to ride from the car rather than assuming a staffed reception will handle equipment or route questions.
Llanrwst is the nearest railway station identified by Natural Resources Wales for these starts; Transport for Wales publishes station and service information. Arrange the road connection to Sawbench or Hafna and check bicycle carriage before selecting a train. A rail journey to town does not finish at the trail panel, so allow time for that final leg and the return after a tiring ride.
Find the planning area on a map →This is an unstaffed forest start. Sawbench’s published facilities are free parking, walking trails and mountain-bike trails, with the current walking closure affecting that list. Carry water, food and the repair equipment you need on the circuit. Keep a downloaded map available even though the bike trails are waymarked, particularly when a temporary diversion changes the line you expected to follow.
Plan meals and any essential services in Llanrwst rather than depending on trailhead facilities that are not listed. If companions want a village visit instead of riding, agree a realistic finish time and contact plan. A shorter Bach session can fit that arrangement more comfortably than promising an exact arrival time after Mawr’s longer climbs and descents.
Plan this ride with your own mountain bike. The official visitor information describes rider facilities and access.
Sawbench parking is free and overnight parking is prohibited. Follow the current Reid Rydd diversion and all forestry barriers; the normal mapped loop does not override a closure.
Forest shade, rough singletrack and a sizeable climbing total make daylight and conditions meaningful parts of the plan. Wet weather can increase the effort and attention required on a route you know in dry conditions. In shorter days, choose Bach or an earlier start rather than rushing Mawr’s later sections. Forestry operations are an additional access issue here: the current Reid Rydd closure has a signed diversion, and staff instructions take precedence over a saved route.
Llanrwst is the close town base for the Sawbench side of the forest. The Eagles Hotel in Ancaster Square publishes lunch, children’s and evening menus, giving a mixed group a concrete meal option away from the trailhead. Confirm service and reserve where appropriate before tying the end of the ride to a table. Carry a snack regardless, so a late finish does not become a hungry rush through the final descent.
For non-riders, choose a different start while Sawbench’s walking trails are closed. In Betws-y-coed, Natural Resources Wales describes the 1.2-kilometre Coed Tan Dinas walk from opposite Pont y Pair car park, beginning along a boardwalk beside the Afon Llugwy beneath large Douglas firs. The walk includes a woodland climb and return, so it is more than an entirely level boardwalk. Meet in town afterward rather than expecting the cycling and walking starts to coincide.
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Displayed distances are straight-line estimates using OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), not road journeys. Ask the property about secure bike storage and wet-kit arrangements before booking.
RIDE PREPARATION
Consider what suits the route, forecast and your own experience.
It is red graded, despite being shorter than Mawr. Its standard 9.1-kilometre route includes 350 metres of climbing and two substantial climbs, so it still needs established riding skills and enough fitness.
The published standard routes are 24.8 kilometres for Mawr and 9.1 for Bach. Mawr’s listed climb is 800 metres. Allow time for stops and the current signed diversion beyond those standard planning figures.
Yes, the land manager lists Hafna as an alternative start to Sawbench. Agree the car park before meeting friends, and read the current information panel and diversion signs before leaving.
The current notice identifies the Reid Rydd section as closed and directs riders onto a diversion. Hazardous tree felling is underway, so use the signed route and obey instructions rather than bypassing barriers.
Its walking trails are currently closed. Plan another non-riding outing, such as the Coed Tan Dinas walk in Betws-y-coed, with separate transport and meeting arrangements.
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Build mountain-bike endurance, strength and confidence with practical food, hydration and recovery planning, including an individual return after injury.
Validate GPX routes, prepare offline maps and power, protect shared ride data and plan safe decisions and emergency contact away from the trailhead.
Plan mountain-bike rides around UK rain, ice, wind and heat, with seasonal trail care, tick precautions and conservative decisions at water crossings.
Trail conditions change — check the official page before you travel.
Open official site →