Two Lakes cycle trail — Llyn Brenig

The longest of the seven waymarked cycle trails at Llyn Brenig, the Two Lakes trail takes in both the western shore of Alwen Reservoir and the eastern shore of Llyn Brenig, and combines forest fire roads, twisting singletrack, open moorland expanses and multiple nature reserves with jaw-droppingly beautiful views.

You’ll definitely need to pack the snacks for this longer loop, as it’s likely to take a whole morning or afternoon.

Start by making your way to Alwen Reservoir, following the yellow Two Lakes markers, which lead you past Llyn Brenig, up the gravel track to cross the main road, into the forest on a narrow singletrack and down to the reservoir’s shore on a fantastic gravel road descent.

You’ll ride over the grand Alwen Dam to reach the western shore. The trail alternates between wider gravel tracks with open views over the water and narrow, twisting singletrack trails.

After passing through a gate, you start climbing on a rougher track up onto moorland, the highest peak of the Denbigh Moors visible ahead of you. The track narrows until you’re following a slither of singletrack between the tussocks of grass, and the higher you get, the greater the view of the upper Alwen Reservoir is revealed. Soon you can see the bridge over the water that you’re yet to cross, and the bewildering expanse of moorland that lies ahead. It really does feel wonderfully remote up here.

A more technical descent warrants the use of a mountain bike, leading you down to cross the reservoir on the long, narrow wooden bridge. Start to climb when you reach the other side, which surprisingly leads you along a stone wall and towards farmland. Pass by farm machinery and grazing fields as you take a direct line towards the north of Llyn Brenig.

A singletrack section through ​​Hafod Elwy Moor nature reserve is a highlight, as is the forest trail that follows. Over the main road, you continue your dead straight line on a narrow singletrack descent that meets the road over Pont Brenig, before ramping upwards again as you climb Bryn Maen.

The singletrack through another nature reserve, Gors Maen Llwyd, is even better than the last, on flowing gravel with a mega view to your right of Llyn Brenig. The final stretch is a wide gravel doubletrack down the eastern shores of Llyn Brenig, then over the dam and back to the visitor centre. Lunch, anyone?