North Wales mountain biking - Gogledd Cymru's finest

It's difficult to overestimate the impact that the mountains of North Wales have had on mountain biking in the UK. Long revered by much of the UK mountain biking population, Wales still exerts a powerful lure on both expert rider and novice alike. Even now, there is still something in Wales for every stripe of mountain biker. The very first trail center in the UK was in Wales, at Coed y Brenin just north of Dolgellau. It was built over 20 years ago, and it's led to a huge surge of other trail centers around the country — and indeed around the world. They offer tailor-made riding experiences, they've highly helped Wales' economy, and they're a lot of fun. And yet there's so much more that Wales can offer.

Here are a selection of trails which range from gentle green lane ambles through to mountain-top carries (with screaming descent rewards). Some of them are relatively easy to get to, and some of them require a little more focus and commitment. But for all their differences, their varying lengths and technical requirements, they all take place in some of the most stunning scenery the British Isles can provide, and they'll all leave their mark long after you've finished riding them.

Perhaps the most well-known route here is the trip up Snowdon. There is a voluntary ban on bikes between 9 am and 5 pm in the summer, but don't let that deter you; either head up very early or very late, or wait until it's out of season. Honestly, in the summer, Snowdon is so busy that you'll not want to ride it in the daytime at any rate — but if it's quieter it's really not an experience to be missed.

The other Snowdonia Tours, Pont Scethin and Cadair Idris, are also high-level routes, offering wonderful descents and tough climbs (honestly, if you can make it to within 320 feet (100 meters) of Cadair Idris' summit then you need to be on some sort of Olympic team) but that's not all there is here: as the Tours head east, the terrain eases somewhat, and although they're no less challenging, the rides here offer different riding experiences. And there are one or two spins for those easy days, too — the Cilcain to Clwydial Range Tour has some spectacular views for all its 1,000 feet (300 meters) or so of climbing, and The Three Villages Tour offers some excellent scenery and refreshment options!

Few other places south of Scotland can offer the truly remote sensation that riding some of the trails here bestow, the need for preparation and the true isolation that proper mountain riding can bring. But just a few miles down the road, Wales can offer idyllic tranquility and space. There truly is something here for everyone.