The Mawddach Trail - National Cycle Route 8 - Dolgellau To Barmouth Video Guide

In this video we start our ride at Dolgellau and cycle down the Mawddach trail to Barmouth. We pass Penmaenpool and Morfa Mawddach (Barmouth Junction). The route is flat and level for 9 miles and follows an old railway line know as the Barmouth to Rueben line which was closed during the Beeching cuts. We cross the spectacular Barmouth Viaduct or Barmouth Bridge as it is often known and finish on the seafront in Barmouth.

[@johntheman2006]

Rode this route yesterday. Stunning scenery

[@cyclingn8]

It’s such a gorgeous route, thanks for watching!

[@davemac3855]

Great video...doing the trail in August. ❤

[@cyclingn8]

It’s one of my favourite trails this one, just such amazing scenery, you will love it. Thanks for watching!

[@volt8684]

Lovely ride, peel off before the bridge and cycle into Fairbourne - nice cafe, clean beach and micro railway.

[@cyclingn8]

I do like Fairbourne, lovely little village. Thanks for watching!

[@rhodesianpatriot]

Thanks for sharing a very interesting ride, I hope to be doing it in July heading south to Bristol

[@cyclingn8]

Glad you found it interesting, it’s a gorgeous ride. Thanks for watching!

[@karenbench3571]

This looks like a perfect family route ….should plan for this 2024 !!

[@cyclingn8]

It is a great one for little ones! Thanks for watching!

[@cameirusisu1024]

Ran that trail earlier in the summer, its really good, lovely along the estuary, and the bridge is great, though some of it looks like it could do with a refresh. nice video.

[@cyclingn8]

Think it may be my favourite route I’ve done so far. Thanks for watching!

[@hicky62]

Love the Mawddach, we've cycled it loads of times. One year we stayed at the George III, for my 50th, and the first building was the station masters house. So we were told. Also the Toll Bridge house is available to rent as a holiday let. We've booked to stay in September.

[@cyclingn8]

It’s a gorgeous area, I love it there. Thanks for watching!

[@mully89]

Thank you for sharing. I'm new to cycling (at least in adulthood, Dr's have stopped my driving temporarily so circumstances put me on 2 wheels.. ) and was googling the National Cycle route and came across your channel. I Love most parts of Wales but your videos are making me think I might keep up the cycling and get a bit further afield on my own... Lovely views..

[@cyclingn8]

Glad you enjoyed the video and it’s inspired you, I have a couple more Welsh routes planned for next year when the weather warms up. Thanks for watching!

[@riopugh8220]

The concrete construction blocks halfway down the trail are anti tank traps..

[@cyclingn8]

Thank you! It did cross my mind that’s what they might be but they just looked a bit out of place. Thanks for watching!

[@MrDavidfball]

@@cyclingn8 i can confirm that the blocks were to stop tanks as they feared that an attack by nazi germany could come from mid-wales as opposed to the south only!

[@cyclingn8]

Thank you, certainly would have been a long way round to invade!

[@MrDavidfball]

@@cyclingn8 from what i was told they were preparing to be attacked on multiple fronts, 1 idea was they would come via ireland to attack from the west as well as the south taking the welsh coal fields before attacking the industrial west midlands

[@cyclingn8]

That makes sense, thinking about it I have seen a lot more these on the coast at Fairbourne.

[@dewiowen3010]

There is a mistake at the beginning of this. The trail does not start at the River Mawddach, but the river Wnion that joins the Mawddach a mile latter.

[@cyclingn8]

Thanks for clarifying that, I stand corrected. Thank you for watching!

[@petergilbert72]

Barmouth Bridge closed all autumn 2023 while a new swing bridge is fitted. If going that way check for updates for when it will reopen. Obs train services stopped too, with buses replacing trains between Machynlleth and Pwllheli until December 2023.

[@stanley3647]

Bridge will be not "swinging" after modernization due to damaged/incomplete (?) swing mechanism. And no big boats traffic up the river anymore. Old structure looks really in poor shape. So it is time for new.

[@grahamkeen1279]

The concrete blocks are anti tank defenses or similar I think.

[@cyclingn8]

Thanks for the insights! I did think the concrete blocks might be some sort of tank defence but just seemed to be in an odd spot. Thanks for watching all!

[@volt8684]

Parking in Dolgellau is a disgusting price. Plenty of of places to park without paying

[@cyclingn8]

Thanks for the heads up!

[@riopugh8220]

The train signal at the George was moved to that position. It's not at its original position when the line was running

[@cyclingn8]

Ahh interesting. Thanks for the extra insight!

[@markhuckercelticcrossbows7887]

`lol now i know you cant help it, being a foreigner, but double DD is a th, as in this or that, and w os an OOOOO sound, so its pronounced, maoothak not moordach, you guys have only been in britain 1500 years, so we forgive you, for being new arrivals.love n hugs, from Cymru :)

[@cyclingn8]

As uncle Bryn says, it is of great embarrassment to me but I cannot speak the Welsh language. It’s poor I know, and I only live a 30 minute drive from the border 🙈 will try harder, thanks for watching!

[@markhuckercelticcrossbows7887]

tut mate, ll is pronounced chl, llangollen is pronounced klan.goth. chluhn :) or we`ll have to start saying, borminhum or something lol :)

[@cyclingn8]

I’m dreading you watching my other Welsh videos now, I can only apologise for my dismal pronunciation. I appreciate the pointers though, will try to harder!

[@andymow21]

Is there still the honesty box at the Barmouth end of the bridge where you can pay for your crossing? Used to be 50p I think.

[@cyclingn8]

I didn’t notice an honesty box but just googled it and apparently there is an honesty box to pay the troll! 50p for kids, £1 for adults. Thanks for watching!

[@pedalpower808]

Looks even better now. When we did it it the bridge was closed but it was still one of the best rides we have had that year: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f2i1fpelfLmoea8 Thanks for sharing your ride with us!

[@cyclingn8]

It’s a gorgeous route, one of my favourites! Thanks for watching and sharing your ride!

[@grahamgray7185]

when you turned right to go over the bridge then left, where does the strait ahead go ?? before you turn right

[@cyclingn8]

If you head straight in at the bridge not far from Dolgellau the trail heads to Cader road on the outskirts of Dolgellau, just a couple of hundred metres ride. Thanks for watching!