Off-Road MTB Cycle Rides up Drum

    The following describes two routes up Drum (pronounced Drim), one of the eastern-most hills on the Carneddau range of mountains in North Wales. Each route is out and back in nature, although if you wish you could link the routes to other rides and make them circular. The ascents are long and in places steep and rocky, so a certain amount of leg work is required. A dab free ascent is quite an achievement! The descents are tremendously fast, open and flowing with the odd rocky section thrown in for good measure.

NB Please be careful of other track users AND horses including mountain ponies. If you see horses with riders, slow down and holler well in advance.

Time: between 1-2 hours (depending on your level of fitness/enthusiasm for admiring the views)

Route 1 (from Llanfairfechan, just off the A55 expressway).

Distance: 16 km or 10 miles return

Ascent: 770m or 2540 ft

Park in Llanfairfechan on the seafront (there are two cafés here) Grid Ref: 679755 OS Snowdon 50,000 No 116.

Bike back up the road to the traffic lights.

Turn right then take the first turning left.

Ride up the hill, bearing right at the junction by a large pine furniture shop.

Pass the housing estate on your left then take the first turning on the left by a house on the corner.

Continue up the hill for about 100m to a style/gate on your right. Hop over this onto the track.

Continue on this track without turning left or right till you reach the top of Drum. A large cairn announces itself at the summit and can’t be missed. Strap on any protective clothing, point your steed downhill and blast back down to either Llanfairfechan, or Aber (see next route description).

Route 2 from Abergwyngregyn (or Aber for short)

Aber is 3 miles west of Llanfairfechan on the A55.  

Distance: 7 km or 4.5 miles

Ascent: 700 m or 2,300 ft

Arriving by car turn off the A55 to Aber. Continue through Aber following the signs to Coed Aber Nature Reserve. Go over the speed bumps, follow the narrow road for about ½ a mile to park by the small stone bridge (Bont Newydd). Grid Ref: 662720 Snowdon map.

Bike over the bridge, continuing up the steep, narrow lane to a road-head (limited parking here sometimes). 

Go through the gate then continue up the obvious track bearing left initially. 

Continue onwards, keeping the sea on your left and the hills on your right. 

After a mile or so, you will come to a finger post at an obvious path junction (just after a steep section). Turn right and continue to the top of Drum. See previous route description for what to do next.

Submitted by Matt Antoine, a keen local rider!  

Above Llanfairfechan Photo:  Russ Sheaf

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