Big Day Out – Cycling Sheffield to Bala, North Wales

Big Day Out – Cycling Sheffield to Bala, North Wales

This is a ride I’ve been thinking about for a long time, and only just got a chance to ride in the Spring of 2019.

Key Stats

Distance: 190km
Elevation Gain: 2700m
Time: 7.5hrs
Terrain: Mostly quiet B roads and some cycleways

The Ride

This cracking route takes in some of the most beautiful parts of the peaks, the flatlands of Cheshire and some beautiful quiet lanes into Wales and Snowdonia.

I loved the greenway around Chester. This changed part of the route that I really was not looking forward to (Inner city riding on a Saturday lunchtime) to being a really pleasant experience. Top work Chester Council!

Equally the lanes I found running parallel to the B5104 from Chester to Corwen were a revelation. I cycled the B5104 last year and it’s not a fun road with the speed cars travel and amount of traffic on it, it is well worth turning onto the lanes between the North Wales gliding club and Corwen to avoid the cars.

Peak District Whaley Bridge
Leaving the Peaks near Whaley Bridge
Greenway around Chester
Getting a tow from a guy TT training on the Greenway around Chester
Heading into the Welsh Countryside
Heading into the Welsh Countryside
Heading into the Welsh Countryside
The small lanes running parallel to the B5104
Muggins
Muggins
Arrived into Bala
Arrived into Bala
Celebrating with an ice cream by llyn Tegid, Bala lake
Celebrating with an ice cream by llyn Tegid, Bala lake

If you make it out to Bala I would 100% recommend taking a ride up to Lake Vynwy and surrounding hills.