Chocolate Log

I've finally got round to getting the route map sorted and marked up with this classic loop from Talybont in Welshest Wales. Including the mighty Gap Road.

Map

This may take a little while to download as it's higher res than it looks so it should print nicely (@ 300kb).

Image produced from the Ordnance Survey Get-a-map service. Image reproduced with kind permission of Ordnance Survey and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland.

Ride Details

Distance:	Around 27 miles
Grade:	Hard A long hard climb to start. The route culminates in a trip down the rocky and fast Gap Road, with a nice easy road pootle to finish!
Time taken:	3 - 5 hrs
Summary:	This route takes you around and up the valley surrounding the Talybont Resevoir in Wales. From there, you cross the hilltops and head back down the awesome Gap Road. We rode this in poor weather, but the view fromt he Gap is still absolutely spectacular.

Route Info

• Start at Talybont, or at the pub in the village just north of there. Ask the landlord if you can park there though, he should be cool unless it's mid-summer.
• Head up the hill on the Taff Trail until you come to a fork. Follow the Bryn Tramroad all the way up, a nice steady climb. Keep heading up through the pine forest (recently cleared and almost completely blocked on our latest visit). Don't be tempted by the singletrack bridleway ducking off right as you join the forestry track... we were once and it's not as good as the next bit...
• Exit the forestry track right onto a wide farm track. Follow this track straight until you crest the sweet rocky and technical climb that then takes you onto Bryniau Gleision.
• In the wet this'll probably be a bit of a slog, but in the dry it's a rutted fast jumpy rocky traverse that takes you into a cracking superfast rockfest descent to Dolygaer. Outstanding.
• Cross the Pentwyn Reservior by the road, turn right (north) at the first road junction and follow the Taff Trail north on the smooth road. Keep going north on the byway at the point the Taff trail heads back south east. This takes you onto Tor Glas, into the impossible dip/climb that is the start of the Gap road descent. I simply don't believe anyone has ever ridden up this in one!
• Nail the Gap Road climb, it's a peach
• Nail the descent as fast as you can - watch the rocky dropoffs on the first big left hander, and be careful you don't slam into the gates near the end as it's hard to slow down here! Stop smiling and/or clear up the blood, then make your way back through the country lanes to the start: Head east and follow signs to Llanfrynach and then to Talybont if you're unsure.
• if you go too far north, you aren't actually supposed to ride the Canal towpaths but we did cos we we're knackered, wet, cold, and my map had dissolved!