A NEW long-distance, off-road cycle route in Eryri is due to be opened by the charity Cycling UK at the end of the summer.

Called “Traws Eryri” or “Trans Snowdonia”, the route runs for 130 miles through some of Wales’ most beautiful and remote countryside as it connects Machynlleth to Conwy.

The charity estimates it will take competent adventurous riders four to five days to complete the off-road route which has 4595m of ascent.

With Yr Wyddfa having an altitude of 1065m, it is equivalent to riding up Wales’ famous mountain from sea level more than four times.

The route takes you into the wilds of Wales, and aims to show riders that there is more to Eryri than its mountain.

It takes in the Mawddach estuary, the forests of Coed y Brenin and Gwydir, and remnants of North Wales’ slate mining heritage.

Sophie Gordon, Cycling UK campaigns officer behind the creation of the Traws Eryri, said: “Cycling UK has a pedigree of creating exciting long distance off-road cycling routes which allow riders to dive into the culture and wilderness of the lands they pass through.

“Working with Natural Resource Wales (NRW), this has been our first foray into creating a route that goes through some of Wales’ wildest and arguably best landscapes.

“The Traws Eryri is unashamedly an adventure route, which Cycling UK hopes will soon be on the must-ride lists of local, national and international visitors.”

The route’s creation was funded by NRW, and put together by the cycling charity across three years.

Cycling UK engaged with communities and off-road riders to get their views on the best possible route, and negotiated with landowners to agree new cycling access on suitable sections of trail to link the route together.

John Taylor, NRW’s North West Wales team leader for recreation, said: “This is a fantastic, collaborative project between ourselves and Cycling UK using local knowledge to shape a really great, sustainable tourism project.

“The route will connect existing mountain bike trail centres with an off-road cycle route, blending the best of public rights of way and existing tracks to offer a longer-distance, wilder-feeling cycling route.

“This will build on the existing cycle tourism product, support local businesses, and provide a low carbon cycle attraction, offering an alternative to car dependent tourism.

“This type of project fits in with our wider work to tackle the climate and nature emergencies.”

Christopher Frost, chair of North Wales Tourism / Go North Wales, added: “The brand new Traws Eryri cycle route is another great adventure here in north Wales which enhances the fantastic product for sports tourism.

“The route passes through off-the-beaten track locations which offer great views and landscapes for cyclists as well as well-trodden destinations that really offers something new for the region.

“This is a welcome addition to the new routes that Cycling UK has presented in recent years and as the ‘adventure capital for Europe’, we at North Wales Tourism are extremely excited to see it launched.”