Gwynedd
If you are not a member of a cycling club, but would like to ride your bike, Gwynedd has a wealth of attractive, safe and accessible cycling routes. Richard Glynne Jones is Gwynedd Council's Green Transport and Cycling Development Officer and he tells us about some cycle routes in the Gwynedd area.

The Network comprises mostly off-road cycling and walking routes that utilise former railway track beds. They provide access into the beautiful Gwynedd countryside.

Lôn Las Ogwen: Starting from Port Penrhyn, Bangor, this stunning route travels up the Ogwen Valley to the foot of Tryfan at Ogwen Cottage. It passes the world's largest slate quarry, Penrhyn Quarry.

Lôn Las Peris: This smaller route hugs the western shore of Lake Padarn, near Llanberis.

Lôn Las Menai: This mostly off-road shared-use track has recently been improved. The route travels from the waterfront in Y Felinheli to near the Victoria Dock in Caernarfon. As its name suggests its line runs parallel with the Menai Strait.

Lôn Eifion: This is the jewel in the crown, travelling off-road from St. Helen's Road Caernarfon to Bryncir. The aim is to extend the route to Criccieth using the lane network.

It is worth remembering that all these routes are mostly off-road, with minor highway interfaces and sections on public highway. Care is needed at these points.

There are other routes within the County, and the following are recommended:

Lôn Llyn Trawsfynydd uses a verge path to pass from the outskirts of Trawsfynydd to link to a beautiful off-road section around the southern shores of the lake. It continues through a stunning landscape, again off road, to terminate at Gellilydan.

Lôn Mawddach has been rightly described as one of the most beautiful off-road cycle tracks in the UK. It is owned and maintained by the Snowdonia National Park and offers a uniquely beautiful natural environment as it follows the River Mawddach Estuary to the sea.

Other cycling routes are available. Whilst these have been subjected to the "Cycle Review" process they offer a more challenging cycling experience. These routes include:

Lôn Ardudwy: Starting at the Cob at Porthmadog the route adopts the hinterland along the Ardudwy coast, linking to key villages where artworks can be located.

Lôn Dysynni: This route starts in Tywyn and enters the stunning Dysynni Valley at Bryncrug and Llanegryn to take the rider to Castell-y-Bere and Abergynolwyn.

Bala Cycling Network: Based around the famous lake, a selection of challenging routes take the cyclist into the famous landscape above the lake. All these routes have promotional leaflets and the routes are signed. I can be contacted on 01286-679455 for further information.

It is worth noting that Visit Wales, formerly the Wales Tourist Board, has produced a Cycling Tourism Strategy entitled "Moving Up A Gear". In partnership and under the Cycling Holiday Breaks section, a series of cycling centres or hubs have been created throughout Wales. Each hub is served by a specially designed all-weather booklet with individual routes maps. Each centre seeks to attract the recreational/family cyclist desiring a brief cycling holiday with facilities and an attractive set of routes. The Gwynedd hubs at Dolgellau and within the Llŷn Peninsula are proving very popular. The booklets can be purchased from 'Visit Wales' and local tourist information centres.

In Gwynedd, the National Cycle Network has two major routes. Route 5 passes through Bangor into Anglesey along the northern coastline. Its more famous cousin, Route 8 or Lôn Las Cymru, starts in Holyhead and passes through Gwynedd en route for Cardiff. After Porthmadog the route divides, taking an inland route and a coastal course. This pattern is repeated at Dolgellau before the route crosses the River Dyfi leaving Gwynedd.

Maps are available for Route 8 from Sustrans and Route 5, whilst mostly signed still awaits a map.

Conwy
Conwy has the mountain biking facilities in Gwydir Forest - the single-track routes there are very technical and for experienced mountain bikers.

There is also work being done on the Marin route, at the Penmachno end of Gwydir Forest. You can get more information on this from the tourist board or from Beics Betws, Betws-y-coed.

Route 5 also goes through Conwy. There's a substantial bit of off-road route from the Clwyd river, Rhyl along the seafront past Abergele and Old Colwyn to the prom in Rhos-on-sea. The newer section continues along through Penrhyn Bay, past the Little Orme to Llandudno's promenade.

The council are also developing Route 5 along the Conwy estuary from Llandudno's Westshore, through Deganwy to Glan Conwy, Conwy Morfa and Penmaenbach.

Pen y Clip is a problem for route 5. There isn't a safe way across the dual carriageway yet.

Anglesey
Route 8 of the National Cycling Routes goes straight through Llangaffo on the west side of the island.

Route 5 goes along the northern side of the island, through Penmynydd to Valley and Holyhead.

The circular 'rural cycle tours' have been sign-posted by Menter Môn. All named after birds, they include:

Telor: from Beaumaris through Llanddona and Penmon
Giach: from Aberffraw though Llangristiolus and Malltraeth
Nico: from Llyn Alaw visitors centre, through Llannerchymedd and Llanfaethant
Hebog: from Benllech via the Cefni reservoir, Moelfre Reservoir

You can get a leaflet of these tours, called 'Rural Cycling on the Isle of Anglesey', from the island's tourist information centres.