South Dartmoor CTC Album

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Thursday 22 August 1985
Tour: Snowdonia National Park
Day 1 Home to Rowen

10 miles
9 Participants: Andrew Billington (Junior, Bovey Tracey), Chris Hall (12, Preston), Jonathan Israel (14, London), Michael Jones, David Parry (14, Wellesbourne), Stephen Parry (11, Wellesbourne), Jeremy Paul (15, London), Rebecca Small (15, London), Paul Williams (14, Wellesbourne)
This was Michael's first national cycle tour, advertised in the CTC's national magazine last December. This tour was unique in that it was run separately to the group's own tours, but co-leader was Andrew Billington from Torbay Section and some of the participants went on to take part in our 1986 tours.

Sadly no report was ever written for this tour, but we are able to write a few details about what happened from documents that have been retained from the time.

The Newton Abbot starters caught the 10.05 train to Exeter, then changed for Birmingham, then changed again for Crewe and finally changed again for our destination, Colwyn Bay station, where we arrived at 17.00. The London participants took a train from Euston and met us at Birmingham along with the Wellesbourne crew who had taken a train from Stratford. Finally Chris took a train from Preston and met us at Crewe.

The ride from Colwyn Bay to Rowen youth hostel was around 10 miles.
Friday 23 August 1985
Tour: Snowdonia National Park
Day2 Rowen to Idwal Cottage

23 miles
9 Participants: Andrew Billington, Chris Hall, Jonathan Israel, Michael Jones, David Parry, Stephen Parry, Jeremy Paul, Rebecca Small, Paul Williams
Our route today took us southwards along the Conwy vallwey to Betws-y-Coed, then east past the Swallow falls to Capel Curig. We then rode up to Llyn Ogwen and then down the valley to the hostel at Idwal Cottage.
Saturday 24 August 1985
Tour: Snowdonia National Park
Day 3 Idwal Cottage to Pen-y-Pas

12 miles
9 Participants: Andrew Billington, Chris Hall, Jonathan Israel, Michael Jones, David Parry, Stephen Parry, Jeremy Paul, Rebecca Small, Paul Williams
Today we rode to Pen-y-Pas hostel, probably via Capel Curig so that we stayed deep inside the national park. The hostel is located at the base of Snowdon and an easy path to the summit provided plenty of entertainment for those taking part in the afternoon / evening walk.
Sunday 25 August 1985
Tour: Snowdonia National Park
Day 4 Pen-y-Pas to Ffestiniog
Probably wet
18 miles
9 Participants: Andrew Billington, Chris Hall, Jonathan Israel, Michael Jones, David Parry, Stephen Parry, Jeremy Paul, Rebecca Small, Paul Williams
Today we probably rode to Ffestiniog hostel via Capel Curig, keeping us within the Snowdonia national park. No doubt the poor weather was the reason for the total absence of photos today.
Monday 26 August 1985
Tour: Snowdonia National Park
Day 5 Ffestiniog to Kings
Probably cloudy with damp spells
30 miles
9 Participants: Andrew Billington, Chris Hall, Jonathan Israel, Michael Jones, David Parry, Stephen Parry, Jeremy Paul, Rebecca Small, Paul Williams
Today we rode down the Dwyryd valley to Harlech where we spent some time exploring Harlech Castle. We then continued south to Barmouth and then inland to Kings yout hostel.
Tuesday 27 August 1985
Tour: Snowdonia National Park
Day 6 Kings to Borth
Probably wet
33 miles
9 Participants: Andrew Billington, Chris Hall, Jonathan Israel, Michael Jones, David Parry, Stephen Parry, Jeremy Paul, Rebecca Small, Paul Williams
Today's ride took us through Dolgellau and then up a long clim before descending past the Alternative Energy Centre (which we probably stopped to look at) to Machynlleth. The final miles to the hostel at Borth were generally flat or downhill.
Wednesday 28 August 1985
Tour: Snowdonia National Park
Day 7 Borth to Nant-y-Dernol
Sunny spells
37 miles
9 Participants: Andrew Billington, Chris Hall, Jonathan Israel, Michael Jones, David Parry, Stephen Parry, Jeremy Paul, Rebecca Small, Paul Williams
Today's ride took us inland through Tal-y-Bont up to the hills of mid Wales. We rode past the spectacular Nant-y-Moch reservoir and thence on to Nany-y-Dernol hostel. The day involved a fair amount of climbing (800m, with only 500m descents) but we witnessed some great views and the weather was not so bad.
Thursday 29 August 1985
Tour: Snowdonia National Park
Day 8 Nant-y-Dernol to Home

18 miles
9 Participants: Andrew Billington, Chris Hall, Jonathan Israel, Michael Jones, David Parry, Stephen Parry, Jeremy Paul, Rebecca Small, Paul Williams
There was more downhill than uphill on this our final day of cycling. We rode through Rhayader to get to Llandrindod where we caught the 12.20 train to Shrewsbury then changed at Crewe, Wolverhampton and Birmingham with groups breaking off at various stations to return to their own parts of the country. The Newton Abbot starters finally arrived home at 7.18pm.
Page 1 of 1 (8 items)
Events Index Gallery Participants