A hidden jewel of North Wales — cycling Llyn Brenig

Often overshadowed by nearby Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park to the west and the Clwydian Range AONB to the east, Mynydd Hiraethog (Denbigh Hills) offer some spectacular remote riding in central North Wales. There are plenty of activities on offer from Llyn Brenig visitor centre, including watersports, fishing and hiking, but with no less than seven official waymarked cycle routes to explore, it’s a fantastic place to head with a bike.

The seven cycle routes vary in length and difficulty from a very easy and family-friendly 2.5 miles (4 km) on the Dam trail, right the way through to a remote and rugged 15 mile (24 km) ride up into the hills. All routes are predominantly traffic-free and stick to wide gravel roads, flowing doubletrack and exhilarating singletrack, some with stunning lakeside views, and others taking you much further away from civilisation into the heart of the surrounding moorland.

If you’re looking for dramatic and wild Welsh scenery without the crowds, this really is the place to head. I couldn’t believe that I’d passed by this area so many times without realising that there’s such a gravel treasure trove hidden in these woodlands, snaking around the reservoirs and over the moorland.

For keen birders, make sure you time your trip between April and August for your best chances of seeing a fish-eating osprey, who call Llyn Brenig their home during these months. They’ve nested here for nearly 10 years. Check out the live nest cam in the visitor centre for the latest up-close action.

Sited right on the shores of the large upland reservoir, the visitor centre not only features a great cafe with panoramic views over the water, but also has bike hire (including children’s bikes and trailers), as well as an osprey exhibition, gift shop, public toilets and a bike wash station.

While the routes are officially signposted as mountain biking routes, they’re a far cry from modern trail centre riding with technical features. Most routes will be perfectly rideable on a gravel bike, cyclocross bike, hybrid or tourer with wider tyres, though that depends on how spicy you enjoy your trails! Routes with steeper sections may be better suited to wider-ranging mountain bikes, as will those with rougher parts including the Two Lakes cycle route and the Elorgarreg cycle trail.

Set up in the hills away from civilization, accessing Llyn Brenig is not possible by public transport, so you’ll either need to arrive by car (pay and display parking is available) or ride there. Make sure you’ve packed plenty of snacks, or have a good feed at the visitor centre cafe before heading out, as there are no shops or cafes once you’re out on the routes, which may take you several hours. A picnic enjoyed responsibly by the lakeside could be fabulous – just remember to take home what you brought with you.

Another tip is to make sure you have a spare layer – preferably a waterproof – with you as you ride, as weather conditions up here are often unpredictable and can change rapidly. I started the longer Two Lakes trail in sunshine and blue skies and finished in mist and drizzle!

Find out the latest information and check out the osprey nest cam at llynbrenig.com