Ysbyty Ifan

Two interseting senic lanes running parrallel to the A5 and often included in the "A5 corridor" route from Corwen - Capel-Curig.

The one west of Ysbyty Ifan is nice and senic with a good hard surface however it often has deep ruts in winter caused by the rain runing off so watch out with small tyres as you often get grounded out, half way along there's an interseting narrow Iron gate. The west side now has been slated but can still be trickly in the wet in winter.

SH 804495 SH822488 raises to about 1297ft, from the east look for a bend after a bridge

The other one is "Foe Frech" and this is more trickly after wet weather or a wet season so don't recommend doing the whole route, however one can at least travel up to the bog at SH869468 and would recommend at least you get out and walk it before you try. It can get deep and badly clewed up, so look for a turn round place before you even try. Most groups go west - east bound up a nice senic valley stop before the bog then go down, then do lane to the west.

SH859480 -SH882472 raises to 1411 ft.

Afon Melau (The School Run)

Nice pleasant lane which is very easy and a nice sunday afternoon run which takes about 40 minutes and about 5 clicks long. Few gates and forms a loop round a kind of Cwm, with nice views of the Cwm itself and the valley Afon Melau flows into.

You should really use a map to find it as navigation can be differcult with the tarmaced UCR's leading to it, there are a few.

Called the School Run cause often its the first track if meeting at Bala and for many the novices first time they ever do a lane, but also cause of the Aran School which is half way up the hill, so its bit of "joke" lets go and do the "school run" in the 4x4.

If coming along the main road, look for the sign Aran School once you found that, navigation is easy up the hill but watch out there are a few tracks off to the east, you really need to follow the map.

The west part of the loop is more broken tarmac.

Grid refs west SH786218 : east Sh786218 both directions are easy, but anti-clockwise popular as easier to find.

Brithdir

Absolute classic, long over the moors lane, then though couple of forests and light wooded country with plenty of water and lots of gates as well, featured recently in a national mag has got very popular. Since close to the A494 and runs parallal to the Brithdir "rat run" which avoids Dolgellau plus on the route to other lanes as well, so expect this to be a morning or late afternoon run on the days out.

There is a series of lanes in the area, and as expected navigation is a nightmare, you'll cross many UCR's and forest tracks, its not to differcult, but not for wide trucks as the stone bridges will rip out your sides. Not too damaging however you might get a few straches as expected going though any forest.

It can be a long lane, about 4 "clicks", and can take about 1-2 hours, however the gates will slow you up as mentioned plenty of them and some narrow, north end starts @ SH813217, but you will need the "Knowledge" to know were to turn off, it heads west.

South side starts @ SH794172, again differcult to find its just a gate on the busy A470, its at the top of the hill , if coming from the west its hard to turn into the lane, if from the east easier but need to stop on the main road and cross. If doing south to north navigation is easier

link for the south end here

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=279475&y=317280&z=3&sv=279475,317280&st=4&ar=Y&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.srf

The Castle

Close to Moel Siabod and Sara Helen this is often included in the route, but please a word of caution it can get very muddy after wet weather and does not stand up to the hamming the other two can take. So try to use common sense and stick to it just in the dry spells.

Lovely little but interesting lane, good views from the top, it raises steeply at both ends, not one to do alone as can get muddy on the top, you might need to get out and walk to find the least damaging route. Non damaging

Navigation can be a bit hit and miss from the east side, look for the layby on the west side of Dolwyddelan, its on the north side of the main road, further to the west about 100 yards there's a gate on the north side @ SH727523. The lane joins a tarmac road for a bit the splits off to the left, when you go up the hill the castle should be on your left.

From the west its through the farm @ SH712519

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=271830&y=352160&z=3&sv=271830,352160&st=4&ar=Y&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.srf

Kings Road

Series Only please or something which is less wide, a 90, disco etc will not do it, part of the Barmouth loop, its not far from Bomber lane. A classic lane named after the YHA at the bottom on the west side, also here a nice little camp site, the owner is the farmer whose land you will wish to cross.

WARNING. The reason Series only is the gates. They are stone pillars are very narrow so expect damage, door mounted mirrors might have to come off, also expect problems with freewheel hubs, and any wide tyres a no no. The landowners can get a bit fed up of those who try in wider vechicles so don't, nor try and go round either, stick to he row. Nice lane otherwise west side through the farm stone track up on the right side of the hill, sorry cannot remember the other side it was dark.

West SH685159. East SH706166

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=269405&y=316300&z=3&sv=269405,316300&st=4&ar=Y&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.srf

If coming from Bomber heading east, then the UCR from the more major one has lots of gates on including the junction on the main road itself.

Penllyn Forest (Bala loop)

Included in this Blog rather then Corwenlanes.blogspot.com because its just in the National Park . Nice non damaging lane popular with commercial groups because to its length and ease. Takes about 1 hour, but since either way is possible as most groups turn round and go back. Being hard core, but not that rocky, a good lane for all seasons, since not effected by any bogs, even after heavy rain there is little water on the top. North Start point at SH952313, its up a forest track, however most prefer to join it at the top at SH946274 the first 100 yards is about the worse. Excellent views of both Snowdon and mid Wales. If going anti-clockwise ie. from the top about 800 yards into the forest take the left fork.

Note told might not be legal right of way, so check.

There was a gate put in at the bottom, last time there June 07 there was a lock on it, so looks like another lane lost. At the top still open and groups are using it to the forest and turning round, since the views are excellent, so a warning on this.

Happy Valley (Tywyn) (Bump Stop)

Absolute Classic hard rock Lane we come to expect in Wales steep climbs both ends on rock surfaces, plus on the top up and down though the rock formations, there also some water and steep side inclines with the expected drop. Excellent views of the Dovey and the coast. Worth the often long travel too. West end starts at SH623016. east at SN669998, either way is possible but east to west seems harder hence the name Bump stop. Expect light damage as well as light head injuries as you get thrown about the cab. This lane takes its fair share of breakdowns overheating is common as well as diffs, gearbox failures steering etc so be prepared. The west end you have to cross the Talyllyn Railway at Rhyd-yr-onen the railway workshop can do wonders in fixing broken drag links. The Series One club meets once a year here, to see them do this lane is a slight in itself. Happy valley is the valley below there is some boats in there I'll leave them for you to do.