1) Anyone know of a decent spot close to Dolgellau where I can stealth camp in my camper van

2) Any recommendations for a cafe open in or near Bala on a Sunday?

3) Is the road round Llyn Efyrnwy worth riding on me road bike?

1) No Idea
2) No Idea
3) Doubt you're missing much

1/ SH 730234 ... toilets are usually open as well.

2/ There's 2 reasonable cafes a few doors apart on the main drag through. About 100 yards up from the co-op on the opposite side of the road to the Spar. I'm sure one if not both will be open.

3/ It's nice enough for a pootle. Pretty much 100% flat but always seems to take longer than you imagine. The cafe near the dam does nice cake and sausage butties.

Bearbonesnorm wrote:The cafe near the dam does nice cake and sausage butties.

Now I'm quite partial to mixing sweet and savoury flavours but that just seems damn weird.

Dave I can vouche for the car park stu mentioned iv stayed there in my car before and we camped on the grass last yr at wrt. It quiet and yes the toilets are open all night and hot water on tap.
If u want a great view then drive down the Barmouth road halfway to bontddu 657202ish. It's on the bb route and is the best place ever views of cadair are great and the cafe/bar in Barmouth next to the chippy is spot on for food!!

Or you could just tell the Helen your going to Scotland with me for a week of riding ;0)

Thanks all, hopefully be up there Saturday night.

Mike it's tempting, these days she'd be wanting to come with. I cooked tea tonight whilst she was out with her club getting the hills in.

the cafe/bar in Barmouth next to the chippy is spot on for food!!

This is true. It's a few doors up from the Last Inn.

The cafe at the Traws visitor centre is also very good. 'Tis run by a lovely woman who usually gives me a bigger piece of cake than she does Mike

Dave, we are located just up the road from the location Stuart posted. We have no guests booked in this weekend so you are welcome to park up on our drive and use the loo etc in the house. Details at www.mostyncottage.co.uk. Our GR is SH734266. I can send the directions that we send to guests to help locate us if you want them.
Sounds like you have a few cafes sorted, there is also the visitors centre at Coed y Brenin near here, but not open to early on a Sunday. I have ridden a few road rides around here so happy to give a couple of suggestions if the Bala route is not looking to inspiring.
Keith

Morebikes wrote:Dave, we are located just up the road from the location Stuart posted. We have no guests booked in this weekend so you are welcome to park up on our drive and use the loo etc in the house. Details at http://www.mostyncottage.co.uk. Our GR is SH734266. I can send the directions that we send to guests to help locate us if you want them.
Sounds like you have a few cafes sorted, there is also the visitors centre at Coed y Brenin near here, but not open to early on a Sunday. I have ridden a few road rides around here so happy to give a couple of suggestions if the Bala route is not looking to inspiring.
Keith

Thanks Keith that is very generous. It is all a bit last minute so I suspect I'll be arriving really late hence the "wild camping" need. Bala is halfway round the route I am thinking of and after the Bwlch-y-groes I'll be in need of a rest! I've bookmarked you for the next MTB trip though ;-)

No problem, have a good trip, and you know where to find us if you are in the area.

Its a nice spot at Llyn Cregennen
SH 65749 14321

Weather permitting sunset would be vaguely exciting from there...

Whilst we're on this area(ish), what's Blue Lake like to camp? Last ten I was there was over 20 years ago, so all a bit vauge but remember how stunning it was

Which blue lake? There's lots of places called Glaslyn or Glas-llyn.

Possibly the one below Panteinion Hall, nr Fairbourne?

there's a small quiet car park at SH718192 just out of Dollgellau right near Vanner camp site, ive been known to sneak the 100mtrs in to the toilets/showers of occasion

also stayed on the site quite a few times over the years too, Lovely round there

This is beginning to sound like the BBB Confessional Box... 'toilet'....'showers'....'car park'.... C'mon.. let's get all those sins out in the open, we're all pals here, nobody will judge, who knows what skeletons there are in those cupboards once the door's ajar :). Three Hail Marys and I'll clean my bike for 3 hours...

If you want to call in for a brew Dave, you're very welcome.

Can you reserve any of these spots, say if you arrived early but then wanted to go off and have some fun nearby? Possibly putting down a spare tyre or something?

All I need now is a 14mm Allen key to do up this Campagnolo chainset. Hen's teeth anyone?

Dave Barter wrote:All I need now is a 14mm Allen key to do up this Campagnolo chainset.

I have one

Wera too.

If you're struggling to find a 14mm allen key, try using a longish bolt with a 14mm head with 2 nuts locked up against one another. Then it can be used to tighten the bolt in the middle of the chainset with an open ended or ring spanner. If I remember, the thread on this nut is a fine thread so won't need an enormous amount of torque to work.

All I need now is a 14mm Allen key to do up this Campagnolo chainset. Hen's teeth anyone?

Or just buy a 9/16" which I think you will find is the same as a 14mm

In the end I bodged it with a 10mm plus 4mm

Glad I did as I rode what was one of the best Road rides ever in Wales. And also got to see Mike "Nigella Lawson" and his van full of condiments.

And also got to see Mike "Nigella Lawson" and his van full of condiments.

I offered to give him his tea but he was too excited about the prospect of cooking his steak in the back of his new van

Bwlch y groes then Dave?

Yes Stu it hurts a bit doesn't it. Almost as much as £9.20 in the cafe for coffee coke and a cheese sarnie.

Was hoping to drop the WRT books in on the way back but I finished too late and needed to get home.