Bit of Welsh insider knowledge

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Dave Barter
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Bit of Welsh insider knowledge

Post by Dave Barter »

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?
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Re: Bit of Welsh insider knowledge

Post by Chew »

1) No Idea
2) No Idea
3) Doubt you're missing much
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Bearbonesnorm
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Re: Bit of Welsh insider knowledge

Post by Bearbonesnorm »

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.
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ScotRoutes
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Re: Bit of Welsh insider knowledge

Post by ScotRoutes »

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.
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Mike
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Re: Bit of Welsh insider knowledge

Post by Mike »

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)
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Dave Barter
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Re: Bit of Welsh insider knowledge

Post by Dave Barter »

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.
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Bearbonesnorm
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Re: Bit of Welsh insider knowledge

Post by Bearbonesnorm »

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 :-bd
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Morebikes
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Re: Bit of Welsh insider knowledge

Post by Morebikes »

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.
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Dave Barter
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Re: Bit of Welsh insider knowledge

Post by Dave Barter »

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 ;-)
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Morebikes
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Re: Bit of Welsh insider knowledge

Post by Morebikes »

No problem, have a good trip, and you know where to find us if you are in the area.
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Re: Bit of Welsh insider knowledge

Post by summittoppler »

Its a nice spot at Llyn Cregennen
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Re: Bit of Welsh insider knowledge

Post by voodoo_simon »

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
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Re: Bit of Welsh insider knowledge

Post by Bearbonesnorm »

Which blue lake? There's lots of places called Glaslyn or Glas-llyn.
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voodoo_simon
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Re: Bit of Welsh insider knowledge

Post by voodoo_simon »

Possibly the one below Panteinion Hall, nr Fairbourne?
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Lawmanmx
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Re: Bit of Welsh insider knowledge

Post by Lawmanmx »

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 :cool:
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Re: Bit of Welsh insider knowledge

Post by RIP »

This is beginning to sound like the BBB Confessional Box... 'toilet'....'showers'....'car park'.... :wink: 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...
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Re: Bit of Welsh insider knowledge

Post by Bearbonesnorm »

If you want to call in for a brew Dave, you're very welcome.
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Re: Bit of Welsh insider knowledge

Post by psling »

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?
We go out into the hills to lose ourselves, not to get lost. You are only lost if you need to be somewhere else and if you really need to be somewhere else then you're probably in the wrong place to begin with.
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Dave Barter
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Re: Bit of Welsh insider knowledge

Post by Dave Barter »

All I need now is a 14mm Allen key to do up this Campagnolo chainset. Hen's teeth anyone?
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Zippy
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Re: Bit of Welsh insider knowledge

Post by Zippy »

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

Wera too.

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Re: Bit of Welsh insider knowledge

Post by pistonbroke »

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.
Last edited by pistonbroke on Sat Apr 01, 2017 8:50 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Bit of Welsh insider knowledge

Post by NorwayCalling »

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 :wink:
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Dave Barter
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Re: Bit of Welsh insider knowledge

Post by Dave Barter »

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.
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Bearbonesnorm
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Re: Bit of Welsh insider knowledge

Post by Bearbonesnorm »

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 :wink:

Bwlch y groes then Dave?
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Dave Barter
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Re: Bit of Welsh insider knowledge

Post by Dave Barter »

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.
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