{"id":6646,"date":"2017-07-15T11:37:25","date_gmt":"2017-07-15T11:37:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/?p=6646"},"modified":"2019-05-21T07:32:26","modified_gmt":"2019-05-20T21:32:26","slug":"riding-the-afon-mawddach-wales-2017","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/?p=6646","title":{"rendered":"Cycling the Afon Mawddach, Wales 2017 \ud83c\udff4\udb40\udc67\udb40\udc62\udb40\udc77\udb40\udc6c\udb40\udc73\udb40\udc7f"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><b>Travelled: 82 kilometres from Nant Gwynant to Penmaenpool Toll Bridge \u00a31 in Wales<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><b>Visited: The Mawddach Walking and Cycle Path (the old Fairboorne rail line), free.<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><b>Stayed: The toll bridge carpark (one night overnight permitted) free. <a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/7r888X4Dzj91vfig7\">N52.74852 W03.93416<\/a> (toilets and tap)<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>It proves to be one of the most scenic drives on our trip through Wales. &nbsp;As we come down the valley of the Glaslyn we cross under the old coast to coast rail line several times. &nbsp;The granite bridges and occasional caste iron version appear stowic and timeless. In particular the caste iron bridges&#8217; whose lacework is decoratively painted in pastel colours. &nbsp;We are lucky and get to see an old steam train and several carriages rattle past at one point. &nbsp;The A498 runs along side the Afon Glaslyn here, we cross occasionlly often near villages too small to appear on our map. &nbsp;Driving requires some focus, the road is very narrow in places and the occasional oncoming traffic almost comes to a halt to let the Hymer slip past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Penmaenpool_Toll_Bridge_2.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><figcaption>We stop for breakfast at Porthmadog. Porthmadog is basically one long no parking zone, so we didn&#8217;t develop any particular fondness to the place.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>We turn onto the A496 and follow the coast for the next hour. &nbsp;Less picturesque as we pass many huge campsites with hundreds of on-site cabins lining the beaches. &nbsp;The beach a grey shingle and dirty surf doesn&#8217;t look inviting. &nbsp;It seems very quiet until we reach Barmouth at the mouth of the Afon Mawddach estuary. &nbsp;Here the A496 narrows to a point where every parked car requires negotiation with oncoming traffic. &nbsp;Suddenly there are people everywhere croosing the road or just walking the narrow footpath. &nbsp;Must be pension day !<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Penmaenpool_Toll_Bridge_1.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><figcaption>I took one look at this old bridge and thought no way. But the toll collector walked over and said &#8216; don&#8217;t worry about the 2.5 ton limit, just stay in the middle and it will OK&#8217;<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Penmaenpool_Toll_Bridge_3.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><figcaption>Once your across the bridge, everything looks a lot rosier. There is a lovely little carpark, toilets with a tap and a very welcoming pub. &nbsp;We find a sign saying motorhomes are welcome for the night.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Penmaenpool_Toll_Bridge_5.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><figcaption>We have driven to the Old Toll Bridge as it&#8217;s the starting point of the Mawddach Trail. But first we service the Hymer, then get the bikes \ud83d\udeb4 down for the first time in 8 months and give them a clean and service. Thanks to Terry for keeping the batteries topped up.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Penmaenpool_Toll_Bridge_6.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><figcaption>It&#8217;s a 10 kilometre ride to the rail bridge at Fairbourne, riding across the rail bridge to Barmouth is another experience in itself. Especially if a local commuter train \ud83d\ude82 rattles past you.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Penmaenpool_Toll_Bridge_8.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><figcaption>Typical of the view riding the Mawddach Trail.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Penmaenpool_Toll_Bridge_7.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><figcaption>Pausing on the rail bridge, with Barmouth in the background. It was a great ride along the old railway line and a good leg stretch as we haven&#8217;t had a bike ride since leaving Sydney.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It&#8217;s late afternoon by the time we return to the Hymer. &nbsp;We pack the bikes back up and get ready for an evening out, as I have booked a table for dinner at the pub. &nbsp;It was a great night as we chatted with an English couple who had visited Australia and been to Wales many times before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>Michael and Pam<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"bpp_credits\" style=\"clear: both; float: right; width: 200px; height: 70px; text-align: right;\"><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.blogpadpro.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"vertical-align: middle; font-size: 8pt; color: #999;\">Edited with BlogPad Pro<\/span><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"vertical-align: middle; padding-left: 5px;\" src=\"http:\/\/files.blogpadpro.com\/images\/speech-bubble.png\" width=\"25\" height=\"25\"><\/figure><\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Travelled: 82 kilometres from Nant Gwynant to Penmaenpool Toll Bridge \u00a31 in Wales Visited: The Mawddach Walking and Cycle Path (the old Fairboorne rail line), free. Stayed: The toll bridge carpark (one night overnight permitted) free. N52.74852 W03.93416 (toilets and tap) It proves to be one of the most scenic drives on our trip through [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":6671,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[25,48],"tags":[82,90],"class_list":{"0":"post-6646","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-united-kingdom","8":"category-wales","9":"tag-cycling","10":"tag-welsh-villages","11":"czr-hentry"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6646","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6646"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6646\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18037,"href":"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6646\/revisions\/18037"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/6671"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6646"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6646"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6646"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}