Sarn Helen
Moderators: Bearbonesnorm, Taylor, Chew
Sarn Helen
Anyone ridden this route? Any good? Any tips?
http://www.mbruk.co.uk/mbruk_SarnHelenTrail_details.htm
http://www.mbruk.co.uk/mbruk_SarnHelenTrail_details.htm
- Bearbonesnorm
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Re: Sarn Helen
Most of it until Brecon in one form or another over the years. There's probably better ways of riding N-S Wales but it's generally okay.
*Very far removed from what little we actually know about the Sarn Helen road.
*Very far removed from what little we actually know about the Sarn Helen road.
May the bridges you burn light your way
Re: Sarn Helen
Yes, but the version Aiden put together. Did it a few years ago over a nice leisurely weekend. 60 hours or so IIRC.
Bits of it are great, bits are awful. That’s what makes it memorable
EDIT: enjoy the Monks Trod .... best done about 2am
Bits of it are great, bits are awful. That’s what makes it memorable
EDIT: enjoy the Monks Trod .... best done about 2am
Re: Sarn Helen
I tried googling the Aidan Harding route but drew a blank
Re: Sarn Helen
If you look up Mountain Bike Wales, they did a coast to coast using Sarn Helen this summer. I'm sure they'd be happy to share some intel.
Re: Sarn Helen
Your Google-fu is weak :) http://www.aidanharding.com/2010/12/an- ... len-trail/
- Bearbonesnorm
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- Joined: Sun Jun 05, 2011 8:53 pm
- Location: my own little world
Re: Sarn Helen
It's weird - you pull off the main Claerwen track and everything looks great for 200 yards then out of nowhere, it vanishesI once tried riding this above Strata Florida as it exits off the track to Claerwen... interesting. Best called a Bog Trod.
May the bridges you burn light your way
Re: Sarn Helen
I think of how far along I got before turning around and giving up and often think, what if a good track was just a few hundred metres away. Normally things like this would have me back to attempt it again, but not this one
Re: Sarn Helen
Did it in 2014, never been back on that trail since!
Re: Sarn Helen
I did it in the middle of the summer before last - didn’t even get my feet damp
Re: Sarn Helen
Have an idea to ride bottom-to-top-to-bottom of wales over a week in September.Bearbonesnorm wrote: ↑Sun Nov 22, 2020 4:33 pm Most of it until Brecon in one form or another over the years. There's probably better ways of riding N-S Wales but it's generally okay.
*Very far removed from what little we actually know about the Sarn Helen road.
Thinking Sarn Helen on the way up, then a different route on the way down.
Searching, found your post here.
Would appreciate suggestions for route ideas.
Ta.
- Bearbonesnorm
- Posts: 23968
- Joined: Sun Jun 05, 2011 8:53 pm
- Location: my own little world
Re: Sarn Helen
Midweek - it can be very, very busy at the weekend.
- Bearbonesnorm
- Posts: 23968
- Joined: Sun Jun 05, 2011 8:53 pm
- Location: my own little world
Re: Sarn Helen
Ref Offa's Byke - the off-road cycle trail from Tintern to Chepstow is now open Stu. Goes through an old railway tunnel which is locked at night ( private, permissive bike path).
Ref Monks Trod - don't know what you mean, I've driven that in a Series I Land Rover a couple of times (back in the 80s before the TRO, there were even marker posts along the way although most were missing. It was a lot like people say the Somme was like!).
Ref Sarn Helen - that name seems to apply to a number of alternate historical routes through Wales when you look at old maps rather than a single road. Below Brecon to Neath is a good mostly off-road track Stu.
Ref Monks Trod - don't know what you mean, I've driven that in a Series I Land Rover a couple of times (back in the 80s before the TRO, there were even marker posts along the way although most were missing. It was a lot like people say the Somme was like!).
Ref Sarn Helen - that name seems to apply to a number of alternate historical routes through Wales when you look at old maps rather than a single road. Below Brecon to Neath is a good mostly off-road track Stu.
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.
Re: Sarn Helen
Ahh! Roger that. Used to live in Llandyrnog so rode up there a lot.
Re: Sarn Helen
Monks Trod is particularly nice in the pitch black into driving snow. Also done it both ways in the blazing sun and stayed perfectly dry. Happy days.
Re: Sarn Helen
Oh the Monks Trod... Attempted once. Never again.