Dirty Weekender SNOWDONIA, NORTH WALES

Wales is made for mountain biking. With a great selection of manmade trails, it offers rides of specific difficulty levels for all weather conditions. That’s handy because Snowdonia has one of the wettest climates in the UK (Capel Curig has over 250cm of rain a year!). There are plenty of natural trails too, bringing some wild and remote rides containing epic views. With lots of facilities for outdoor lovers, it makes an ideal getaway destination, which is why we find ourselves in Snowdonia National Park for our summer Dirty Weekender. The area is arguably the best-known region of Wales, thanks largely to Snowdon itself. Volcanic and glacial activity created this stunning landscape with deep glacial valleys, high peaks and mountain lakes. Much of it is well-draining volcanic and sedimentary rock, although the high flatlands can have soft peaty soil that gets boggy.

RIDE #1: SNOWDON

The highest peak in Wales, at 1,085m (3,560ft), Snowdon has three bridleways to the summit, which makes it an attractive prospect for MTBers wanting to put a real mountain into their riding.