Cycling Wales - The Mawddach Trail in Pictures

The trail following the line of the old railway track along the southern shore of the Mawddach Estuary from Dolgellau to Barmouth, known as the Mawddach Trail, surely ranks among the best bike rides in Wales and is all the more appealing on account of its ease. If you ride all the way from Dolgellau it's 9.5 miles or 15km each way but as our party included an eight year old and a five year old who had not long learned to ride; I figured that the 13 mile return trip from Penmaenpool on the A493 was plenty and both handled this easily. The main appeal of this route is the variety of views throughout which take in woodland, mountain and sea shore and finish with a spectacular crossing of the estuary on the wooden boards of the Barmouth Bridge.

The bridge at Penmaenpool where we started the Mawddach Trail

The trail is suitable for all ages and the smallest one led most of the way

The trail passes through patches of woodland as it heads west

Across the estuary are the southern slopes of the Rhinog mountain range

Looking back in the direction of Dolgellau

Distant views of the Barmouth Bridge

Spurred on by the thought of the Bridge over the Sea

A rest stop not far from the Barmouth Bridge

The Barmouth Bridge in sight -  the surface is wooden boards - easy to ride on

View of Cadair Idris from the Barmouth Bridge crossing

Looking up the estuary towards Dolgellau from the bridge

Boatsin Barmouth Harbour and views to Cardigan Bay with Fairbourne ahead

Coming into Barmouth on the far side of the bridge