Blaenau Downhill

There’s been talk about Blaenau’s downhill biking for a few years, with recent progress marked by the uplift road reaching towards the top of the mountain. But for me, on an icy, misty Saturday morning, this was the first time I got really excited.  Simon from Antur Stiniog and Ceri led about 30 of us up the mountain to see the work in progress.

Along the way were trails in varying states of completion and parked, with their buckets planted nose first into the ground, were the orange excavators. One of the drivers is Jason Rennie, famous for achieving the world record jump on a mountain bike of over 134 feet at Llandegla in true Evel Knievel style. Not just a digger driver but a devotee of the sport and this, along with the biking or motocross skills of the other operators, will make Blaenau’s downhill that much better.

Steeply cambered hairpin bends on high cliffs looked inviting, but the more I looked the more I thought this could be a spectator sport. At the very top a small mound marked the site of a ramp from which bikers will launch onto their chosen trail. For our descent we chose the steepest black run. The gentle start lulled us into a sense of false security but not for long, pretty soon we were peering into descents challenging in sturdy walking boots. 

Great care has been taken to design and create the downhill biking in a sustainable manner, not just in environmental but also economic terms.  With a choice of 4 trails of varying severity Blaenau will appeal to a wider cross section of bikers as opposed to other downhill centres where there is just a single extreme trail.  It will also be an all year round operation, albeit snow and ice will of necessity close the uplift road and trails. At the bottom of the trails in the car park will be the jump site (free of charge) next to the cafe with visitor centre and viewing platform above. Unlike other subsidised downhill centres, this one has been designed to be self-sustaining.

The cafe will sell basic foods for bikers but will encourage customers wanting meals to go down the road to Blaenau with a safe cycle route to aid them on their way.  It sounds like the whole business and biking community in the Vale of Ffestiniog has the opportunity to benefit.

Prices have not yet been fixed but it is likely there will be permits for a day, for a half day and for a ‘single hit’ – I’m not sure about the choice of words but this sounds like the option for me. Market rates will dictate the prices but the day ticket is thought to be in the region of £20 to £25 but best wait and see.

As we got closer to the bottom we came to the ‘sting in the trail’, basically a bridge up and over a path to propel you to the top of a rock with the straight on option being what looked like almost certain death 15 or more feet below.  There is an option to the left for those that feel like wimping out.

Plans and words can’t do it justice and, whilst walking the route brought the enormity of it home to me, I can’t quite imagine what it would be like on two wheels. There’s only one way to find out – I’ll put it on my bucket list.

For more information about this wonderful area click here. For more information about the downhill biking which should be opening this summer contact Simon and Ceri at Antur Stiniog. 

Towers of Blaenau

Sculptures made by Howard Bowcott and his team were hoisted into position by a very large crane to make an impressive entry from the platform into the car park. Each tower is formed out of 15,000 individual slates pieced together with precision. Slates from Llechwedd interspersed with slabs from Cwt y Bugail which make great material for carving Croeseo Welcome etc.  

What a great way to arrive in Blaenau, alighting from the Ffestiniog Railway. It's 30 years ago that the line was reopened all the way to Blaenau. Short film below - don't you love the black glove hand signals!

As with all public art, opinions are divided between the enthusiastic and the ‘what a waste of money’.  I think it’s brilliant, an icon that could inspire great things by many people. And I don’t mean graffiti.

And if you want to see how they were built in the workshop .....

For more information about this wonderful area click here.

Pedalling paradise

Llechwedd Downhill Centre is due to open late May 2012 providing lifts to the top of the mountain with a choice of two black trails and two red trails to the bottom. Also on offer will be a jump-site and pump-track.  Not for the faint-hearted, this biking facility is aimed at the down-hillers and free riders. 

Downhill

For a more genteel ride you can enjoy the Tanygrisiau Lake Trail, a blue graded cross country mountain bike trail round (almost) the lake with 8km and 5km options. Planned opening is July 2012.

Even more genteel and unique to Britain is the velorail due to open September 2012. Basically a pedalo on wheels running along the disused railway track between Blaenau and Llan Ffestiniog and ultimately to Trawsfynydd. Two people cycle at the front whilst their passengers urge them on from the back.

Velorail

And of course there are all the new trails just down the road at Coed y Brenin. Pedalling paradise!

For information on any of these activities please contact Antur Stiniog on 01766 832214. They can also organise mountain walks, historical walks, canoeing/kayaking, caving and fishing. It’s all happening in the Vale of Ffestiniog www.VoFf.co.uk

It’s a rock cannon!

In drawing up plans for the £1.3m downhill biking track an archaeologist was employed to steer the contractors away from known artefacts. During construction a previously unknown rock cannon was discovered causing one of the tracks to be re-routed around it. What’s a rock cannon? You could read the book or watch the film.

Coming soon – Blaenau sculptures

Arrival at Blaenau will no longer be just a car park then High Street. Instead a triumphal arch from the platform and thence to 4 sets of steps partitioned by 7 metre tall triangles. Needless to say everything is being made from slate, about 160,000 small rectangles, quarried and split at Llechwedd. 

First deliveries to Blaenau are expected in February 2012 but here’s a sneak preview of local artist Howard Bowcott and his team busy at work.

Cob 200 – grand finale birds

Throughout the year there have been many events to celebrate the 200^th anniversary of William Madocks building The Cob. There has even been an excellentarticle in Natur Cymru, many thanks to Twm Elias.

view from the hide

This weekend, on 17^th and 18^th December, there will be a bird watching event organised by The Friends of Borth y Gest and The North Wales Wildlife Trust. The Glaslyn estuary is world famous for its winter wading bird visitors.  The Wild Life Trust will provide the experts, binoculars and telescopes.  No expertise necessary - if you would like to come along to learn about our local birds, just turn up between 11am and 3pm. Tea & Coffee available.

The hide is just by the Toll House opposite Boston Lodge with a wonderful view of birds in the water and snowy mountains beyond.

Pedal Power

All sorts of transport have been used in the Vale of Ffestiniog including funicular inclines, gravity trains, ‘Car Gwyllt’ and steam trains. But these days it’s the turn of pedal power, not just the downhill biking, but velorail too.

Boys and their toys

Ceri from Communities First has taken delivery of a velorail vehicle from the south of France which is currently parked in his office. The design will be modified to suit local conditions (maybe a waterproof canopy?) and production will be local involving schools / colleges and no doubt the Ffestiniog Railway.

The velorail will run, initially from Blaenau to Llan Ffestiniog and eventually to Trawsfynydd, on the currently disused track that once ran all the way to Bala. With no freight to and from the old nuclear power station (closed in 1991 and being decommissioned) the line has become a bit overgrown so volunteers have been busy cutting back the buddleia. All being the well the service will be operational sometime in 2012. 

But surely Blaenau can come up with a better name than ‘velorail’?