Dulyn bothy from the north?

[AndyTheBikeGuy]

I've got a few days off at the end of the week and I'm visiting the parents in Llandudno. I spied Dulyn Bothy and was planning no riding in. I've ridden a lot around Conwy Mountain and Drum, but never gone that far south. Is there a way to ride from the Drum direction down to the bothy?

I've got the choice of taking the Ramin 3+ or my cross bike, I'd prefer to slog my way over the hills on the plus bike than ride down the valley road on the cross to Tal-Y-Bont, but I'm not sure how much hike a bike there'll be over the hills? Anyone have any experience?

Cheers,

Andy

[Bearbonesnorm]

Just follow the crowds 40+ there on NYE by all accounts.

Sorry, can't help on the route - Mike or Jeff are likely the men to ask.

[AndyTheBikeGuy]

Cheers, I saw the closeness of the car park and number of youtube videos and was a little worried, hopefully a Thursday night will mean it won't be so busy...

[voodoo_simon]

It’s haunted don’t you know

I’ve done it from the north, small hike a bike at the end as I avoided the last marshy bit at the end, so swerved south west to the outcrop and looped back up

[AndyTheBikeGuy]

Cheers, So I've heard, I'm planning on taking an early 2000's video camera and film everything in night mode for someone to find later...

Which outcrop is that Simon? South West of the lake?

Cheers, Andy

[Mike]

I went frw yrs ago in the feb or march and had it to myself. Was bloody creepy that one some right weird noises through the night... i think there are mice under the floor

[voodoo_simon]

Cheers, So I've heard, I'm planning on taking an early 2000's video camera and film everything in night mode for someone to find later...

Which outcrop is that Simon? South West of the lake?

Cheers, Andy

I remember the north east of the bothy being soggy, so coming from the east, I opted to head for the car park, crossing over the small dam and followed the track around Clogwynreyr and down to Melynillyn and then it was a short, steep section of hike a bike to the Dulyn reservoir and the headed back to the bothy. Think the track is labelled as Clogwyn Maldy on the OS map.

Drop me a PM and I’ll send over an image if needs be

[summittoppler]

You should be OK on a Thursday night...
If coming from Drum summit, head east straight from the cairn. A bit boggy to start with but there's a bit of a track close to the fence. A steep bit follows and then easy going. Go over the stile and turn west following the double track to the river crossing at Afon Ddu. If it too swollen, walk through the bush's 100 yards down stream and there's a footbridge. Turn left (wet again) and take the track all the way to Melynllyn. From there its a wee bit steep down to the feed from Llyn Dylun. When leaving don't be tempted on heading east down the valley, its doable on a fat bike in the summer (if you know what I mean).
If the weather is poor for Drum, then take the lane down from Cae Coch and take the right turn up to Pen y Gadier. You can follow the double track to Afon Ddu or follow the leat, be warned though the last 200 yards in a bramble fest!
Also if you don't take any fuel for the fire, then you're snookered!
If them words don't make sense, have a look below (black from Drum, Red from Cae Coch):

[voodoo_simon]

That’s spot on S’toppler, that’s the route I meant

[summittoppler]

That’s spot on S’toppler, that’s the route I meant

No probs mate.

These old posts of mine might give you an idea of what to expect:

http://northwalesmtb.proboards.com/thre ... hy-18-9-10

And this one...

http://northwalesmtb.proboards.com/thre ... 17th-march

[AndyTheBikeGuy]

Gents, thank you both very much. That's greatly appreciated, I'd looked at the black route as a potential from Simon's post, looks like it's the way to go should the weather be suitable. I'll make sure I pack some fuel.

Thanks!

[AndyTheBikeGuy]

Back from my short overnight stay at Dulyn bothy.

I rode the coastal path from Conwy to Abergwyngregyn and then climbed up and over drum from there. Lovely ride up the until I reached the crossroads at the base of Drum. From there the weather was atrocious, despite a tailwind, it was so gusty I had to hike a bike the whole way up (10 kilos of coal didn't help). When I reached the top there were 40+mph winds and it was completely snow covered, almost impossible to ride down the other side, there was a lot of outrigger fully locking up the back to crash my way down with a couple of surprise bogs appearing. Then I hiked my way over to Dulyn just before nightfall to find it empty.

Sometime after attempting to light the fire and sorting all my dripping clothes out, 7 military types turned up on their Mountain Leader Training, great company, very civilized and good conversation.

This morning I shouldered the (now considerably lighter) bike up the climb from Llyn Dulyn and then couldn't face the climb back to Drum so rode the lovely double track back to Rowen (avoiding the culverts all the way) joined the road and took the back way to avoid the climb back tout of Tyn-Y-Groes.

A lot more hike a bike than I was expecting, but crossing raging torrents was great adventure making stuff.

Cheers for the advice all.

Andy

[summittoppler]

*dons cap
Well done for getting out there, the weather was rough!