Moel Famau - finding singletrack on the biggest hill in the Clwydian Range in North Wales

Moel Famau - finding singletrack on the biggest hill in the Clwydian Range in North Wales
If you have ever driven down the M56 towards Chester, then you will have seen the Clwydian Range in the distance, acting as a towering barrier to North Wales. Of these, the largest hill in the range is Moel Famau at 1,821' (550m) above sea level. From a riding perspective, the best known hill in the range is Cyrn-Y-Brain, upon which nestles Llandegla Forest and the trail centre of the same name.
Moel Famau itself doesn't have a lot of trails on it but if you look around, there are some absolutely wonderful singletrack descents, with a scenic backdrop that can take your breath away.
In this episode I went exploring, fell off, had a few rants and had a blinding day out.

[@Stopadoodledoo]

Forgot to add a link to Boots On The Ground's channel in the Description so here it is: kzbin.info/door/gJvE556SZGWMwKFFN1_fXA

[@djl6825]

I can see Moel Famau from our front window so I used to do a lot of riding up there. Lovely spot on a summers evening when all you want is to unwind in the fresh air after work. Haven't ridden in years....but when my shiny new bike rocks up next month I'll certainly be heading that way again.

[@Stopadoodledoo]

I love it up there, prefer it on a clear day as the views are fantastic but even when clouded in, I love the remote feel you get. Bet you can’t wait for your new bike to arrive 👍

[@FortySomethingRider]

Beautiful, great tip on finding cheeky trails

[@Stopadoodledoo]

Cheers mate. It wasn't supposed to be a tip really 😂 To be honest, I find a fair few through good old OS Maps and then having a look on Strava to see if there is a segment, how many people have ridden it and then how many have ridden it more than once - if people have only ridden it once or twice, it's sometimes a pointer that it's not worth repeating. I very rarely use KZbin videos to search for riding spots 👍

[@jasondarbyshire_photography]

Another great video Awesome! looks beautiful and nice trails for a lovely sunny day

[@Stopadoodledoo]

Thanks mate. I don't go there too often and forget how good the riding is. Really lucky to get a warm and clear day though as being North Wales and in sight of the Irish Sea, it's often shrouded in cloud 😃

[@ckMTB]

What a view and beautiful landscape. The trail is great. I hope you didn't hurt yourself too badly in the crash. I hope your leg gets better soon. Great riding and beautiful lines. It was fun to accompany you on your adventure through the GoPro. Keep up the good work and have fun riding.

[@Stopadoodledoo]

Thanks mate, really appreciate that. The crash, surprisingly, didn't really hurt and the leg is all good although saying that, I prodded one of the scabs on Saturday and some yellow puss came out 😂

[@ckMTB]

@@Stopadoodledoo I'm glad to hear you're doing well, one shouldn't poke at the wound either😂.... Keep up the good work and have fun mate

[@schmidt7811]

Another great video and more great riding! Looks like you found a bit of a gem - I suppose if you don't look you'll never know what's out there. 👍

[@Stopadoodledoo]

Thanks mate. The irony is that I had seen that trail before but never thought to give it a go; it will be part of my loop up there now for sure 😃

[@docspuddin]

PMSL Kama fairy got you :) .. always looked up there fro trails when walking up ;)

[@Stopadoodledoo]

Yeah, guess I kind of deserved it 😂 Definitely worth taking a bike up there, there's some decent trails tucked away 👍

[@TrailTrackerSwitzerland]

Love a nice little explore!

[@Stopadoodledoo]

It's the best, isn't it? Sometimes the search is fruitless but other times you find absolute gems that you never knew existed. A big part of riding for me 👍

[@Shoeboxbears]

Loved this, I laughed out loud when you did your monks singing impression. Hope your leg wasn't to stingy. 👍

[@Stopadoodledoo]

Thanks Amanda, leg wasn't too bad really. As for the monk singing, I couldn't let @HallMarc Trails (the artist formerly known as TheGibMTB) have it all his own way, with his fancy music 😂

[@CraftyBadgder]

I went here on Sunday. It was great, I’ve never took my bike anywhere like here before. It was a bit of a trudge up the road. I’m sure I got up and down different tracks to you. Their seems to be a bit of interesting stuff there, I’ll be back. It was much fun. 👍

[@Stopadoodledoo]

Really glad you enjoyed it, it’s lovely up there and there’s loads of great riding if you keep an eye out for it. If you enjoyed this, you will love the Llangollen and Worlds End loop 👍

[@adeadventuremtb3134]

Great video again, love the church singing 😂🤣

[@Stopadoodledoo]

Cheers mate. I always forget how good the riding is up there (when you search around anyway) 👍

[@russellevans602]

Great vis as always. Loved the off. Was hilarious. Hope your not to sore next day 😂

[@Stopadoodledoo]

Thanks mate. It was one of those crashes where it happened really quickly; still don't know what cut up my leg (although suspect it was the pedal as the bike went over). Strangely, it never really hurt at all, which is nice 😃

[@HallMarc_Trails]

Brilliant video mate, definitely more interesting than the loop I did, which was the Arthur 2 times loop, as for body armour, I only used to wear elbow pads, I do wear knee pads now as well, and like you said, a full face for the chin cam, loved the monk music 😂😂😂

[@Stopadoodledoo]

Cheers mate. I think the advantage that I have is that it's really local to me, just over 20 minutes drive to Loggerheads so I've been quite a few times and explored when I've got there. Probably loads more still to find but that's the joy of anywhere, the exploring. Got to dash, Westminster Abbey are on the phone asking me to join the choir 😂

[@HallMarc_Trails]

@@Stopadoodledoo 😂😂😂

[@MTBScotland]

Heading down to my Aunt's house in Rhyl next weekend. Where you recommend.

[@Stopadoodledoo]

My favourite within an hour of there has to be the Worlds End loop, starting from Llangollen. Amazing trails, stunning scenery and a few bits that concentrate the mind. Have a look on my Strava (search for Stopadoodledoo) 👍

[@fuzzylogic1887]

That singletrack you found reminded me a bit of Minton batch at the Long Mynd

[@Stopadoodledoo]

I guess it is pretty similar, although not as long and not as splashy 😃

[@Stevo_YouTube]

Great content. Ive been exploring round here on my ebike. Think I found maybe remnants of Nannerch DH last week. I don't think bikes should be banned off any paths. Just need to be considerate of other users and we can all share and get along.

[@Stopadoodledoo]

Thanks mate; there’s a fair bit around if you explore, I am still finding new stuff on those hills all the time. Prior to starting filming my rides, I went in search of the Scousers DH at Nannerch (rode it in around 2002 last and it was ace); think I found the remnants but hardly any of it was rideable.

[@ElectricMountainBiker]

A dry river! Never not one in the UK surely 🤣 The final single track looked nice, but the off looked painful! Fully get what you mean about the body armour, my main reason I reckon is it gives you a bit more confidence almost, plus at a stage now where I seem to be crashing alot more! For me, I really found out what the ebike was like when we did Nan Bield, loved the climbs, but then trying to hop bike over drainage ditches got very knackering 🤣 horses for courses, I don't care what bike people are on as long as we are out having a laugh ⚡

[@Stopadoodledoo]

It's more of an underground river that runs above the surface for a lot of the year because of the amount of rain North Wales gets 😃 All the singletrack is lovely mate, nowhere near as full on as what we have been riding lately (although the first descent in the video possibly is) but still lovely to ride. I gave up wearing body armour (with the exception of knee pads) years ago, I really don't feel comfortable in it at all and know of a lot of other riders who feel the same. I know one hell of a lot of people feel the exact opposite, in that they don't feel comfortable NOT wearing it because of the fear of grazing their tummy buttons or whatever (😂). Basically, whatever makes you comfortable, you should go with and sod what anyone else thinks. Finally in this essay of a response, bikes are bikes; bikes are fun. Doesn't matter what kind of bike or whether it has a motor or not, they are bloody awesome. You ready for Dollywaggon yet? 😃 (Definitely wear armour for that - I won't be but I am daft. I once went over the bars on the biggest drainage ditch on it and it hurt like hell)

[@ElectricMountainBiker]

@@Stopadoodledoo mate I was not ready for Harter Fell, so in the same tone I must be (not) ready for Dolly wagon 😳 Fully agree, it is whatever makes you happy bike and body armour wise. My bike was perfect before this year, but has opened my eyes to other potential options as well. Won't be easy taking me away from current bike though 🤣 and will always have a motor now lol

[@Stopadoodledoo]

@@ElectricMountainBiker Dollywaggon isn't difficult in a 'How the hell?' kind of way, it's more in the relentless battering you get, leading to arm pump like you wouldn't believe. Just need to keep telling yourself that the trail that follows is heavenly.

[@Ruffest]

Work told me full armour or no job 😂. I've got used to wearing it all now but to be fair I crash alot 🤣

[@Stopadoodledoo]

Years ago, I was offered a project out in Copenhagen but before it started, I had two weeks in the Alps booked. A condition of me going on the project was that I didn't spanner myself on holiday. I'd like to tell you that I took it easy but nope... 😂

[@maxgriff11]

“I’m an explorer” - man on the most famous path in Wales.

[@Stopadoodledoo]

As in, I go looking for trails to ride and give them all a go, as opposed to following gpx routes that others have done, or going to trail centres

[@Ruffest]

I've not found a nice rock yet 😂😂 I've had some right shit about stuff I've ridden lol

[@Stopadoodledoo]

All rocks are nice when you are upright 😂 I've had a bit of gyp for a couple of videos but honestly, I really believe that Strava is the great giver-away of cheeky trails. Someone did a secret trails video the other week, everything kept quiet and then they said an unofficial trail name. Took me three minutes to find it on Strava 😂

[@CraftyBadgder]

How do pal, Is that the main car park you started from and do they lock the gate. I’m thinking of popping up there this afternoon or maybe tomorrow. I live in Chester and Delamere is boring me. Thanks for the videos. Mike

[@Stopadoodledoo]

Hi, I usually park in the overflow car park just up the lane, not sure what time it closes though. There is roadside parking on the hill before you get to Loggerheads though, about halfway down the hill. Delamere is ok if you go very occasionally but it's a bit limited, and there's way better stuff over the border and down in Shropshire, a slightly further drive but worth it. As for Chester, well..... 😂

[@steparko23]

This reminds me of the Alan Partridge podcast 🤣🤣🤣

[@Stopadoodledoo]

Thanks, I think 😂

[@796monster]

Hey get some elbow pads like the Fox knee pads you have, if you hit your elbow on a rock its gonna hurt and your arm will never be the same. do it now !!

[@Stopadoodledoo]

Really not a fan of them; I used to have some but I found that they limited movement (and caused more arm pump); they distracted me. I don’t recommend others to go without as it’s personal choice but for me, it’s a no 👍