That's right people, we can now stop referring to 'Ian's Route' as Ian's Route and call it by its proper title of 'Cambrian Trail' ... in my opinion it's by far the best Welsh C2C route and delivers maximum bang for your buck. Don't expect it to be easy but pick a few clear days and savour

https://cambriantrail.wordpress.com/

Some great photos in the gallery, interesting to see what the route looks like when the weather's nice, rode the top part last August and couldn't see more than 50m ahead with the rain/fog...!

Has there been any alterations to the route from the group start last year (a yes/no will suffice and I'll just delete the old GPX)?

No significant changes, but the new track is more accurate.

Nice website, and i think it is a definitive route,

Looks good Ian. One to add to the list I've done bits of the route here and there like the Doethie Valley but a lot to look forward to.

Hmmm this could be one to do in Oct when I'm off then...anyone fancy it. Will be a midweek trip

It's a great route, and one I have yet to finish (after two attempts) so I have a bone to pick with it. I'd like to have a go at it later in the year too.

Thinking about doing this next month, but logistically it would be easier for me to go from South to North. Would the route be as good ridden back to front?

Bard wrote:Thinking about doing this next month, but logistically it would be easier for me to go from South to North. Would the route be as good ridden back to front?

It's doable, but some parts use trail centre trails, from memory, Penmachno, Nant Y Arian, Afan... They are one-way singletrack sections. You may find you end up riding up the fun stuff and down roads a lot more if you go northbound.

Ian will know more.

If south to north suits, go for it, but as Gabe says, you'll need to bypass the relevant bits of way marked trails (though other different way marked trail options are available in the other direction).

For recorded completions, only north to south efforts will be recorded, in much the same way as HTR times are only given to anti-clockwise attempts

I've ridden (walked) the northern part of this, it's seriously hard going.

mountainbaker wrote:It's doable, but some parts use trail centre trails, from memory, Penmachno, Nant Y Arian, Afan... They are one-way singletrack sections. You may find you end up riding up the fun stuff and down roads a lot more if you go northbound.

Ian wrote:For recorded completions, only north to south efforts will be recorded, in much the same way as HTR times are only given to anti-clockwise attempts

Thanks for the responses folks, most helpful

Don't want to be pushing up one-way singletrack & would definitely want a recorded completion for the effort!

Planning on doing this some time next year, probably April or May. Am looking forward to it. :)

If anyone needs any advice on the last sections of the route, Glynneath to Swansea, this is my "home turf" so to speak.

Though luckily it all gets pretty flat from neath/port talbort, much needed it seems looking at that topography

And to anyone taking this route at a more relaxed pace, (not ITT rules) there's plenty of needed calories on offer at my place

I was more broken after riding this route than the HT550.

Purty wrote:I was more broken after riding this route than the HT550.

Thanks for the reminder Chris; the Cambrian Trail is also a qualifying route for the HT550*



* easier qualifying routes are available

Thanks for the reminder Chris; the Cambrian Trail is also a qualifying route for the HT550

What's the time cut-off on that Ian?

Bearbonesnorm wrote:

Thanks for the reminder Chris; the Cambrian Trail is also a qualifying route for the HT550

What's the time cut-off on that Ian?

Good point. Let's say 100 hours or quicker to qualify for the HTR.

This is in keeping with the cut offs for Cairngorms Loop and the HTR550. This basically means if you're outside of 100 hours on the Cambrian Trail you'll struggle to make the cut off on the HTR550 and the CL300.

Note, any full and compliant completion of the Cambrian Trail gets an entry on the completion list. The intention is to showcase Wales' longest and bestest Bikepacking route so I don't really mind how long you take to record a completion. You'll just need to get a crack on if you want to qualify for the HTR