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Dragon's Back

Grade: Red

Distance: 31.1km (3-5 hours)

The Dragon’s Back is a classic, technical cross country mountain bike trail, which has matured well. Formerly the Karrimor trail, it has had some fine additions over the years. Challenging climbs, tight singletrack and long fast descents have made this ride into one of the most revered throughout Europe.

A long trail that takes you to the top of Moel Hafod Owen, for amazing views over the park and the mountains of Snowdonia, before dropping you down the Adam’s family; a series of descents that will have you whooping with delight! First, the swooping curves of Gomez, Morticia and Pugsley, then the stone pitched corkscrew of Lurch and finally the ballistic speed of Uncle Fester.

Be Prepared

One of Coed y Brenin's longer trails, Dragon's Back is a significant challenge that takes you far from the visitor centre and away from any welcome cafe/shop stops so preparation is the name of the game.. Be sure to carry spares, extra clothing layers and plenty to fule & hydrate yourself on the ride. You're on your own!!

 

               

  

trail grade suitable for trail & surface type gradients & technical trail features (TTFs) suggested fitness level
FOREST ROAD A wide range of cyclists. Most bikes and hybrids. Ability to use maps helpful. Routes may or may not be way marked. Relatively flat and wide. The trail surface may be loose, uneven or muddy at times. These roads may be used by vehicles and other users, including Horse riders and dog walkers. Relatively flat and wide. The trail surface may be loose, uneven or muddy at times. These roads may be used by vehicles and other users, including Horse riders and dog walkers. A good standard of fitness can help.
Beginner/novice cyclists. Basic Bike Skills required. Most bikes and hybrids. Some green routes can take trailers. Relatively flat and wide. The trail surface may be loose, uneven or muddy at times. May include short flowing singletrack style sections. Climbs and descents are mostly shallow. No challenging features Suitable for most people in good health.
Intermediate cyclist/mountain bikers with basic offroad riding skills. Mountain bikes or hybrids. As ‘Green’ plus specially constructed single track. Trail surface may include small obstacles of roots and rock. Most gradients are moderate but may include short steep sections. Includes small technical features. A good standard of fitness can help.
Proficient mountain bikers with good off-road riding skills. Suitable for better quality off-road mountain bikes. Steeper and tougher, mostly singletrack with technical sections. Expect very variable surface types. A wide range of climbs and descents of a challenging nature will be present. Expect boardwalks, berms, large rocks, medium steps, drop-offs, cambers, water crossings. A wide range of climbs and descents of a challenging nature will be present. Expect boardwalks, berms, large rocks, medium steps, drop-offs, cambers, water crossings.
Expert mountain bike users, used to physically demanding routes. Quality off-road mountain bikes. As ‘Red’ but with an expectation of greater challenge and continuous difficulty. Can include any useable trail and may include exposed open hill sections. Expect large, committing and unavoidable TTFs. Sections will be challenging and variable. May also have ‘downhill’ style sections. Suitable for very active people used to prolonged effort.
Riders aspiring to athlete level of technical ability, incorporates everything from full on downhill riding to big-air jumps Severe constructed trails and/or natural features. All sections will be challenging. Includes extreme levels of exposure and or risk. Jumping ability obligatory. Will include a range of small medium and large TTFs, including downhill trails, free ride sections and mandatory jumps A good standard of fitness, but technical skills more important.

TRAIL GRADE NAME DISTANCE/TIME TIPS DOWNLOAD
YR AFON 10.8km / 1-3 hours Suitable for novices and less confident riders. Mainly open forest road that contours the hill to take in a view of the waterfalls. Take care to control your speed when descending on forest roads.
MINOR TAUR 12km 0.5-2 hours If you are already confident on a bike then the MinorTaur offers the perfect introduction to mountain biking. Graded blue the trail offers a reasonably flat and wide (no narrower than around 1.5m). You'll find a little climbing and descending, some fun berms and bumps but no really major climbs or descents. The trail is in 4 loops (3, 5, 9 or 12km) so can be easily shortened to suit rider ability. Great for kids but still great fun for experienced riders the, the MinorTaur is a good place to start your Coed y Brenin adventure.
CYFLYM COCH 11.2km / 1.5-3 hours Looking for the next step up from the MinorTaur, Cyflym Coch (Fast Red) is our easiest red. The trail increases in challenge as it progresses and includes some fine trail sections like Dreamtime and Uncle Fester. A great trail for those with thewir sights on tougher terrain who are looking for somewhere to progress their skills.
TEMTIWR 8.7km / 0.5-1 hour A short route with a challenging final descent. Temtiwr is a tougher read that contains black graded TTFs (Technical Trail Features). An undulating travers followed by a long fire road climb, finishing on a fast trio of 'The beginning of the end', 'Glide' and 'Seven Sisters'. Rocky and demanding in places, you'll need to keep your nerve and pick a good line for a smooth ride.
DRAGON'S BACK 31.1km / 3-5 hours Our longest red, a classic technical cross country mtb trail which had been challenging and delighting riders for years. The route holds a few tough climbs and some long fast descents. The highlight is a top-to-bottom of the Adam's Family descents: Gomez, Morticia, Pugsley, Lurch and Uncle Fester.
MBR 18.4km / 1.5-3 hours MBR packs highlights from both the Dragon's Back and Beast trails into 18km of demanding but thoroughly enjoyable trail riding. Highlights include the modernised 'Able' with its rocky fly-offs and a recently updated 'false teeth'. In you want to pack a large ammount of quality, challenging trails into the shortest possible route then MBR is a great choice.
TARW DU 20.2km / 1.5-3 hours Coed y Brenin's oldest trail yet containing its newest 'must-ride' trail feature, the iconic 'Y Slab' rock slab sections. A Coed y Brenin classic featuring many old favourites. Rocky, retro, twisty and technical in places but still an absolute blast.
THE BEAST 38.2km / 3-5 hours Coed y Brenin's biggest challenge, it's got the lot, fast open, tight technical, flowing singletrack and bone shaking rocky sections. A real test of nerve and physical ability, The Beast is not for the faint-hearted or easily spooked but for those who are up to the challenge this is a major MTB milestone to tick off the list. Can you face the beast?

 

Y Ffowndri Skills Area

AREA GRADE INFORMATION DOWNLOAD

VARIOUS GRADES With short sections of each grade of trail along with a individual trail feature challenges Y Ffowndri (The Foundry) is Coed y Brenin's dedicated skills area. Head here to get a taste of what you'll meet out on the graded trails and to brush up your mtb skills. Trail sections for all ability levels.

Dragon's Back

Grade: Red

Distance: 31.1km (3-5 hours)

The Dragon’s Back is a classic, technical cross country mountain bike trail, which has matured well. Formerly the Karrimor trail, it has had some fine additions over the years. Challenging climbs, tight singletrack and long fast descents have made this ride into one of the most revered throughout Europe.

A long trail that takes you to the top of Moel Hafod Owen, for amazing views over the park and the mountains of Snowdonia, before dropping you down the Adam’s family; a series of descents that will have you whooping with delight! First, the swooping curves of Gomez, Morticia and Pugsley, then the stone pitched corkscrew of Lurch and finally the ballistic speed of Uncle Fester.

Be Prepared

One of Coed y Brenin's longer trails, Dragon's Back is a significant challenge that takes you far from the visitor centre and away from any welcome cafe/shop stops so preparation is the name of the game.. Be sure to carry spares, extra clothing layers and plenty to fule & hydrate yourself on the ride. You're on your own!!

 

               

TRAIL GRADE MORE DIST. DOWNLOAD
YR AFON 10.8km / 1-3 hours
MINOR TAUR 12km 0.5-2 hours
CYFLYM COCH 11.2km / 1.5-3 hours
TEMTIWR 8.7km / 0.5-1 hour
DRAGON'S BACK 31.1km / 3-5 hours
MBR 18.4km / 1.5-3 hours
TARW DU 20.2km / 1.5-3 hours
THE BEAST 38.2km / 3-5 hours

Which trail is right for you?

trail grade suitable for trail & surface type gradients & technical trail features (TTFs) suggested fitness level
FOREST ROAD A wide range of cyclists. Most bikes and hybrids. Ability to use maps helpful. Routes may or may not be way marked. Relatively flat and wide. The trail surface may be loose, uneven or muddy at times. These roads may be used by vehicles and other users, including Horse riders and dog walkers. Relatively flat and wide. The trail surface may be loose, uneven or muddy at times. These roads may be used by vehicles and other users, including Horse riders and dog walkers. A good standard of fitness can help.
Beginner/novice cyclists. Basic Bike Skills required. Most bikes and hybrids. Some green routes can take trailers. Relatively flat and wide. The trail surface may be loose, uneven or muddy at times. May include short flowing singletrack style sections. Climbs and descents are mostly shallow. No challenging features Suitable for most people in good health.
Intermediate cyclist/mountain bikers with basic offroad riding skills. Mountain bikes or hybrids. As ‘Green’ plus specially constructed single track. Trail surface may include small obstacles of roots and rock. Most gradients are moderate but may include short steep sections. Includes small technical features. A good standard of fitness can help.
Proficient mountain bikers with good off-road riding skills. Suitable for better quality off-road mountain bikes. Steeper and tougher, mostly singletrack with technical sections. Expect very variable surface types. A wide range of climbs and descents of a challenging nature will be present. Expect boardwalks, berms, large rocks, medium steps, drop-offs, cambers, water crossings. A wide range of climbs and descents of a challenging nature will be present. Expect boardwalks, berms, large rocks, medium steps, drop-offs, cambers, water crossings.
Expert mountain bike users, used to physically demanding routes. Quality off-road mountain bikes. As ‘Red’ but with an expectation of greater challenge and continuous difficulty. Can include any useable trail and may include exposed open hill sections. Expect large, committing and unavoidable TTFs. Sections will be challenging and variable. May also have ‘downhill’ style sections. Suitable for very active people used to prolonged effort.
Riders aspiring to athlete level of technical ability, incorporates everything from full on downhill riding to big-air jumps Severe constructed trails and/or natural features. All sections will be challenging. Includes extreme levels of exposure and or risk. Jumping ability obligatory. Will include a range of small medium and large TTFs, including downhill trails, free ride sections and mandatory jumps A good standard of fitness, but technical skills more important.

Y Ffowndri Skills Area

AREA GRADE INFORMATION DOWNLOAD

VARIOUS GRADES With short sections of each grade of trail along with a individual trail feature challenges Y Ffowndri (The Foundry) is Coed y Brenin's dedicated skills area. Head here to get a taste of what you'll meet out on the graded trails and to brush up your mtb skills. Trail sections for all ability levels.