OVERVIEW
Ride the North Wales Gravel X with some of the best gravel in the UK over a lot of the same route as the UCI Gravel World Series race (Graean Cymru).
Starting with a lap of the world famous karting track at GYG, we head around the beautiful and wild Llyn Alwen before a lap of Llyn Brenig. From there, we head into Clocaenog Forest for some punchy climbs and beautiful fire roads.
This is wild, remote & scenic gravel riding but all within 2 hours of Birmingham, Manchester & Liverpool. Camp over for a great gravel weekend including a club ride in Eryri National Park on Sunday.
RIDE HIGHLIGHTS:
- Ride large parts of the iconic Graean Cymru UCI route
- Smooth gravel around Llyn Brenig & Alwen Reservoir
- Challenging but very rewarding ride with some epic climbs, thrilling descents & some of the most beautiful scenery in the country.
What to expect
A challenging but glorious ride in the beautiful countryside of Denbighshire & Conwy. Plenty of climbs both on back roads and on the gravel & some lovely riding in forests & around the reservoirs.
Ride difficulty
Both routes involve a decent amount of climbing starting with a tough climb to Alwen. The forest section is lumpy but the sections around the reservoirs is flatter and flowing.
Long Route ****
Medium Route ***
***** Reserved just for our hardest routes. Expect long distance & lots of challenging climbs both on and off road.
**** Typically longer rides with regular climbs which could be both steep & long. Suitable for regular riders with some training.
*** A mix of terrain & elevation. A decent day out with some tricky sections but still suitable for regular riders.
** Some harder sections but suitable for all regular cyclists
* Easy, suitable for all riders. Mostly flat route.
Technical difficulty
The gravel in this part of North Wales is mostly smooth with a couple of soft spots which could be muddy if wet but overall this is an off-roader suitable for all abilities.
Long Route **
Medium Route **
***** A challenging route suitable only for experienced riders. Expect short hike-a-bike sections, a mix of terrain & loose climbs and descents.
**** Suitable for regular off roaders, the route may contain rockier sections, technical descents etc.
*** A mix of off road conditions with some more difficult sections.
** More typical UK gravel which may be muddy when wet but no challenging sections
* Smooth terrain suitable for all riders.
TYRE & BIKE RECOMMENDATIONS
This route is designed for gravel bikes but you will be fine on a hardtail MTB. We do send out tyre recommendations closer to the time. A standard all-rounder gravel tyre (35-45mm) will be ideal for both routes.
Included in entry
Fully Signed Route
Our team work tirelessly to create the best gravel routes in the UK. All courses are fully signed so you can just enjoy the ride.
Checkpoints with proper food
An epic ride deserves proper support. We have tea, coffee and cake at the first feed and sandwiches & crisps at the main feed. Checkpoints are approx every 30-40km
Accurate GPX Files
A few days before the ride, we will send GPX files for all of the route options so you can follow the course on your GPS as well as the signs.
Mechanics Available
At the rider village & at selected feed stops we have mechanics available to help with any bike issues. We also have spare inner tubes, CO2 & more.
Rider Support Vans
We are here to make sure you have a great day on the gravel. If you have any major mechanicals or need collecting, support vehicles are a phone call away.
Beer at Finish Line
You will be greeted at the finish line with a beer & food available from our food truck. Perfect to chat about your day with fellow riders.
Fully Signed Route
Our team work tirelessly to create the best gravel routes in the UK. All courses are fully signed so you can just enjoy the ride.
Checkpoints with proper food
An epic ride deserves proper support. We have tea, coffee and cake at the first feed and sandwiches & crisps at the main feed. Checkpoints are approx every 30-35km
Accurate GPX Files
A few days before the ride, we will send GPX files for all of the route options so you can follow the course on your GPS as well as the signs.
Mechanics Available
At the rider village & at selected feed stops we have mechanics available to help with any bike issues. We also have spare inner tubes, CO2 & more.
Rider Support Vans
We are here to make sure you have a great day on the gravel. If you have any major mechanicals or need collecting, support vehicles are a phone call away.
Beer at Finish Line
You will be greeted at the finish line with a beer & food available from our food truck. Perfect to chat about your day with fellow riders.
EVENT PROGRAM
21st April: GPX files and pre ride briefing sent by email to each rider.
25th April: 7.45am: Ride village at GYG Karting opens. Collecting your ride number takes approx 10 mins.
25th April: 8am to 8,30amm: Ride start. We will give you a short ride briefing and set you off in small groups.
25th April: 6pm: Rider village closes.
25th April: 7pm: Link to ride times & rider photos sent to each participant by email.
ROUTE DETAILS
LONG ROUTE
A new route for 2026!
We start with a lap of the karting track at GYG, one of the top circuits in the country & then head up to the beautiful Llyn Alwen for a circuit of the lake. From there, we head over to Llyn Brenig with flowy singletrack and smooth gravel.
At 27.5km we head into Clocaenog Forest where the riding gets spicier with plenty of short, sharp climbs. We do an exact lap of the Graean Cymru UCI course here including a stretch of singletrack and come out of the forest for the sprint by the lake.
From here, it’s mostly downhill all the way back to a finish on the karting track.
Percentage of Route Off Road: 90%
Distance: 78km
Elevation: 1,500m
Difficulty:
Technical Difficulty:
Medium ROUTE
The medium route follows the long route to 31.5km – up to the lakes, around Alwen & Brenig and into the forest.
We break off and cut out some of the many climbs in Clocaenog and enjoy a lovely descent back to the karting track.
Percentage of Route Off Road: 90%
Distance: 53km
Elevation: 970m
Difficulty:
Technical Difficulty:
Medium ROUTE
The medium route follows the long route to 31.5km – up to the lakes, around Alwen & Brenig and into the forest.
We break off and cut out some of the many climbs in Clocaenog and enjoy a lovely descent back to the karting track.
Percentage of Route Off Road: 90%
Distance: 53km
Elevation: 950m
Difficulty:
Technical Difficulty:
SHORT ROUTE
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Percentage of Route Off Road: 40%
Distance: 104km
Elevation: 750m
Difficulty:
Technical Difficulty:
FAQs
The ride starts and finishes at GYG Karting. There is free parking onsite as well as toilets & refreshments.
Yes, you can add camping when you book your entry. This is at GYG Karting and there are toilets, showers & a cafe onsite.
Yes, e-bikes are allowed on all Glorious Gravel ride. These must comply with UK law.
We have first aiders & mechanics at the feed stops. There will be a phone number on the back of your ride number – call this if you need collecting.
LOCAL AREA
The North Wales Gravel X starts at GYG Karting, just off the A5 at Cerrigydrudion, around 2hrs from Birmingham, Liverpool & Manchester.
There is camping onsite with facilities, smaller hotels in the area and then a larger selection in the nearby bigger town of Ruthin.
The nearest train station is in Rhyl or Wrexham,
Make a weekend of it
The ride village is close to Llyn Alwen and not far from Eryri National Park so you can combine this ride with a trip to the mountains or castles in the area.
The nearest town is Ruthin which is a great base to explore North Wales. For an active day, there is great MTB nearby at Llandegla or climb Moel Famau, the highest peak in the Clwydian Hills and a challenging all day hike.
Head over to Llyn Brenig where the ride goes around for some fishing or swimming. There is a sauna on site & a lovely visitors centre.
Make a weekend of it
The ride village is close to Llyn Alwen and not far from Eryri National Park so you can combine this ride with a trip to the mountains or castles in the area.
The nearest town is Ruthin which is a great base to explore North Wales. For an active day, there is great MTB nearby at Llandegla or climb Moel Famau, the highest peak in the Clwydian Hills and a challenging all day hike.
Head over to Llyn Brenig where the ride goes around for some fishing or swimming. There is a sauna on site & a lovely visitors centre.
Packing list
The route takes in some remote sections. We have support vans available but we recommend you are as self sufficient as possible including:
Bike spares
2 x inner tubes suitable for the size of your tyre
If running a tubeless set up, have a tubeless repair kit including plugs and spare sealant.
Multitool | Chain link specific for your bike chain
Small pump | Brake pads (especially in wet conditions)
Personal Medical kit
1 x crepe roll bandage | Gauze or similar absorbent dressing
Assorted plasters | Antiseptic (spray, cream or wipes) | Prescribed medication
