The four Iron ring Castles of north Wales run.

[Guest]

Bit of a chilly and damp start but it was a good run. I ride these roads often throughout the year on various bike rides but figured this time I'd "join up" the Iron ring Castles in one circular run, it works well! me and the girlfriend had a real nice time out on the bike on this run. The distance from the 1st Castle to the last was 102 miles and took 2 hours 20 mins, not bad considering it was on A and B roads with two single track bridge crossings and damp roads littered with leaves. Back in the day Eddy the 1st built these castles they were distanced apart by one days horseride.

Started at Conway Castle then rode a very damp B5106 down as far as Llanrwst and took the single track ancient humpback bridge onto the A470. A470 all the way past Betws y Coed onto Dolwyddelan and over the Crimea pass to Blaenau Ffestiniog. A496 from there to Harlech and the Castle. Looped back on the B4573 up to Bryn Glas where I took a left turn onto an unnamed road leading to the single track crossing of the Deudraeth estuary (30p for bikes to cross but nobody taking monies today lol) At Penrhyndeudraeth took a left onto the A487 and it took me all the way to Caernarfon and it's Castle. A487 will then take you to the old Menai suspension bridge where we crossed and turned right onto the A545 that took us to Beaumaris Castle. If you've read this far and are still interested then put up google earth and it'll make even more sense

Only took pictures at the Castles, the roads are very very sceneic in places but it was too cold and damp to be faffing about with a camera every few mins

Conway Castle got there for mid day and found they had a 10k race starting any minute

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a45/der888/Conwaycastle.jpg

Harlech Castle, the road up to the castle from here is not for the feint hearted!! almost vertical switchbacks lol

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a45/der888/DSC02515.jpg

Caernarfon Castle absolutely stunning inside and out.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a45/der888/DSC02516.jpg

and lastly the one closest to my home..... Beaumaris. It was never finished as the Welsh were conquered before it was ever needed but it's supposedly a state of the art design!

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a45/der888/DSC02519.jpg

[Guest]

Jota, you are a star.... i was hoping someone would do something like this.. gives me an idea of something to do next year.. tried something similar (myths/legends), looks like my trip next year is now Wales...

[Guest]

it was the myths and legends that got me thinking of this run! I'm sure I've seen a castles bike run advertised somewhere before but wasn't able to find anything about it but figured an Iron ring castle run would work..... and it does