Conwy-Bangor

[Kate]

Does anyone know if it's possible to ride from Conwy to
Bangor along the coast? The main road goes through tunnels
which I don't know if it's possible to cycle through, and
there don't seem to be any minor roads that join up at all.
Judging by Sustrans website NCN 5 will be going along the
coast but isn't finished yet - anyone know where the route
is going to go?

Thanks,

Kate

[Iain Jones]

kate168@hotmail.com (kate) wrote in
news:84f200e3.0404030027.135c3cd@posting.google.com:

> Does anyone know if it's possible to ride from Conwy to
> Bangor along the coast? The main road goes through tunnels
> which I don't know if it's possible to cycle through, and
> there don't seem to be any minor roads that join up at
> all. Judging by Sustrans website NCN 5 will be going along
> the coast but isn't finished yet - anyone know where the
> route is going to go?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Kate

Brings back baaad memories from last summer. Following the
cycleway signposts from Conwy harbour, it takes you around a
badly potholed track past Bodlondeb woods and through the
Marina village. Then it takes you down the A55's eastbound
exit sliproad onto the narrow pavement for about a mile,
nothing between you and 60mph+ traffic, luckily I didn't
meet anyone coming the other way.

At the first tunnels it leaves the roadside on a separated
walkway (signs say dismount) and on the other side, stays on
a segregated cycleway down to Penmaenmawr promenade. Down
here you cross under the A55 & railway into Penmaenmawr town
(not signposted very well, I missed it and ended up back on
the A55 pavement), turn right on the old road back down to
the A55 at the second tunnels.

Now this is the horrible bit - the cycleway across the
headland goes between the two carriageways which means you
have to cross the westbound carriageway - no traffic lights,
no bridges. Across the headland (gets steep at times), down
the other side, then cross the westbound carriageway again,
this time as it leaves the tunnel on a bend making it harder
to see what's coming. Actually, the cycleway across this
headland is a route for horses too, it was bad enough
crossing the traffic on a bike, I'd hate to try on a horse.

Anyway, here you join the A55 for half a mile down to the
roundabout where you turn left into Llanfairfechan. Through
the town, back towards the A55 again but just as you get to
it, you're signposted off into a narrow lane to Aber, then
it climbs a fair bit, and it's narrow with tall hedges, and
a grassy/muddy/gravelly centre, which is annoying. After
this it drops back towards the coast, onto a proper road,
crosses the A55 again, on a bridge this time, and hey
presto, into Bangor.

In general - not nice! Trouble is, there's no other way
unless you fancy riding all the way on the A55. Could be
easier actually...

[Adrian Boliston]

"Iain Jones" <iain.jones1980@NOSPAMbtinternet.com> wrote in message
news:Xns94C07E7E5BBF7iainjones1980btinter@217.32.252.50...

> In general - not nice! Trouble is, there's no other way
> unless you fancy riding all the way on the A55. Could be
> easier actually...

So are you actually allowed to cycle in the 2 tunnels? On
the map it looks like there are only westbound tunnels, with
eastbound traffic all overground, so I guess that it could
be far tricker getting from conwy to bangor than vice versa.

[Dave Chadderton]

"kate" <kate168@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:84f200e3.0404030027.135c3cd@posting.google.com...
> Does anyone know if it's possible to ride from Conwy to
> Bangor along the coast? The main road goes through tunnels
> which I don't know if it's possible to cycle through, and
> there don't seem to be any minor roads that join up at
> all. Judging by Sustrans website NCN 5 will be going along
> the coast but isn't finished yet - anyone know where the
> route is going to go?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Kate

It is possible to do some chunks of it by minor roads, I
have done it with my 8 year old on a trailer bike and my 12
year old solo, fully laden witth panniers. From Conwy there
is an old road called ?????????pass which goes up past the
youth hostel but it is bloody steep and brings you down at
Penmaenmmawr on to the A55 at the r/bout. Come of the A55 at
Llanfairfechan and follow the lanes for a couple of miles
then back on to the A55 for a short distance coming off
again at Aber and thread your way through the lanes to
Bangor. The lanes are fine if a little undulating and very
peacefull, but they are not easy to follow so don't attempt
it if you are in a hurry, and look on it as an adventure and
take your time. Have a look on a decent map and you will see
the route. I have done it twice but both times going from
Bangor to Conwy, never the other way. When I did it with my
family it was near the end of the tour and I had been
worrying about doing it for a couple of days, but like going
to the dentist it wasn't half as bad as I had imagined.

Good Luck...........Dave

[Howard]

I have often ridden between the two and don't recall any
real problems. Best bet is to take the old Conway-Bangor
road (The Sychnant Pass) to Penmanmawr. You do have to cross
the A55 road twice (once in each direction) to by-pass the
tunnel, using a cycle path that goes around the back/over
the top. After gaining the main road again it is only a
couple of hundred yards to a turn off to Llanfairfechan.
Ride through the village and continue on a small road
towards Aber. A section of good roadside foot/cycle way
takes you to Aber, then from here a very small windy road
takes you to Crymlyn and Tal-y'Bont. Continue until you come
to the road taking you straight into Bangor. A reasonably
pleasant ride for the most part with only a couple of
hundred yards on the main road and two road crossings to
spoil it. From what I have seen the cycle way along the main
road out of Conway is incomplete as yet. Using this might
allow you to avoid having to go over the Sychnant pass but
the pass is such a great road I have never looked at the
alternative.

There is one another alternative I have often used. The
superb Bridleway that runs 350m or so above the main road
all the way from Conway to Llanfairfechan- naturally only
suitable for a mountain bike.

Regards,

Howard.

[Kate]

Thanks everyone - great information. The Sychnant Pass
sounds good if I'm feeling energetic at that point
(background is that I'm trying to cycle from Manchester
to Menai Bridge so I might be knackered and just get on
the train!).

Kate

[Iain Jones]

kate168@hotmail.com (kate) wrote in
news:84f200e3.0404040227.3ef48c9c@posting.google.com:

> Thanks everyone - great information. The Sychnant Pass
> sounds good if I'm feeling energetic at that point
> (background is that I'm trying to cycle from Manchester to
> Menai Bridge so I might be knackered and just get on the
> train!).
>
> Kate

Sychnant Pass - steep at first out of Conwy town centre, as
far as the youth hostel (if I'd known the YH was halfway up
the mountain I'd have booked somewher else...), then it
eases out and is easy going to the summit. Steeper on the
other side, but I've never ridden up that side. Better than
the A55 pavement though!