There are cycling routes for every ability
Last updated: 13 July 2023
Previously: 9 June 2021
Corwen and its region of Denbighshire has many cycle routes from which to choose from.
Whether you're an experienced road cyclist, prefer off-road and mountain biking or are looking for family friendly routes, catering for all abilities, we've included a variety of routes which will hopefully pique your interest. We've also included coastal routes as well as inland treks (look at Ride North Wales for some inspiration) so you can enjoy all the stunning landscapes that this area has to offer. A summary of the cycle routes available can be found on the Denbighshire Countryside Service website.
We would always advise you to check a route online before embarking on a ride - routes do change over time; certainly off-road trails will be subject to wear and tear.
Choose routes suggested for your ability and fitness too! Search parties are not part of the holiday package!
Around the Lake Trail
The Around the Lake Trail in Alwen, Cerrigydrudian, Corwen is a scenic ride around the Llyn Brenig reservoir. Starting from the main car park (the post code is LL21 9TT) the route is around 15.2 kilometres long and climbs approximately 50 metres. It's suitable for beginners and families and takes about an hour to complete.
The Alwen reservoir also has cycle route - so if you've mastered Around the Lake, then why not try this route too?
Serving both trails, is the Llyn Brenig visitor centre which has a cafe serving refreshments - and bike hire is also available here. We would suggest you check with the venue before heading out, to keep abreast of any current restrictions.
More family friendly cycling routes
Our part of the beautiful welsh countryside offers a varied landscape, with hill climbs and the odd mountain range thrown in for good measure!
We're sticking with our family orientated theme for now but please check your route first to ensure your children are able to complete the trip before you set off.
If you base yourself in Wrexham for the day, why not try the Acton Park cycle route - perfect for little ones as it's flat and short. The Alyn Water Country Park is also a short distance (2 miles) and has other activities for your family to enjoy.
There's also a coastal trail from Sealand to Gronant (part of the route between Chester and Connah's Quay) which enjoys 8 miles of cycleway and is very popular with families. Why not visit the Cyclosprog website for more recommendations and suggestions for route planning.
North Wales coastal route (part of the NCN 5)
The National Cycle Network Route 5 stretches from Reading to North Wales - the part we're interested in starts in Chester and finishes at Bangor Pier. The route is 75 miles long and will take 2 to 3 days depending on your ability. The good news is, there's a railway line that runs parallel so some of the stages can be taken by rail if you want to give your legs a rest!
It's estimated that approximately 31.5 miles of the coastal route is traffic free. The scenery is glorious and there's plenty of cafes to stop at for refreshments along the way. Coastal resorts including Rhyl, Colwyn Bay and Llandudno offer pleasant diversions en route to your destination. There are several websites which provide you with route guides - this stage-by-stage plan on the cycle.travel website is particularly useful and suggests detours to avoid climbs (useful to know!).
Mountain biking routes close to Hafannedd
If enjoying the rugged off-roading and mountain climbs on two wheels is more your activity, then there are several routes around the Corwen area that might be of interest. The routes we've included here are no shorter than 25 kilometres so we're expecting you to know what you're doing!
The Wayfarer's Route is 41 km in length and starts from Corwen. Llangollen is termed a 'ramble' with 3 climbs and 3 descents and is slightly less demanding with only 25.5 km to traverse. Tregeiriog is an enjoyable ride across grass, rock, rut and roads (only minor ones) can be mostly avoided. For more adventurous riders, Llandrillo and Llangynnog is around 30 km long and best avoided by inexperienced cyclists. Clwydian South is a great way of exploring the Clywdian mountain range and starts from Moel Famau car park. It's around 29 km in length and will enable you to truly appreciate the stunning scenery.
The North Wales Mountain Bike Guide website includes many more routes which are further afield - each trail is graded and given an overview so you know what you're letting yourself in for!
There's also the Trailforks website to use as a reference which includes other activities such as hiking and running.
For the serious road cyclist, Corwen has plenty to offer
We can't list every cycle route in the region but can signpost useful websites which have helpful route planners and indicate how much traffic you might encounter. Visit Routeyou.com for route suggestions; you can search on criteria such as recreational, gravel or race cycle routes to select the best match for your ability.
A top 20 list of road biking routes is a handy guide - and caters more for the accomplished cyclist. If you consider yourself to be as good as Geraint Thomas then use Hafannedd as your base and hit the mountains!
And remind yourself of cycling's codes of conduct
When mountain biking, we want visitors to enjoy the splendid terrain and stunning countryside but please remember that in order to preserve the landscape for the next generation we should:
Respect – Protect – Enjoy
- Be Safe – plan ahead and follow any signs
- Leave gates and property as you find them
- Protect plants and animals, and take your litter home
- Keep dogs under close control
- Consider other people
More information about how to plan your ride and to do so safely can be found on the Ride North Wales website.
If you're sharing your route with hikers and walkers then please adhere to Code of Conduct endorsed by Cycling UK.
