L-Black Mountains

L1- stanton, grwyne fawr reservoir, lord hereford's knob,

Grade- gruelling, but rewarding.

Distance- 50.8 KM

Highlights This is one of the longest, but most scenic mountain bike routes in South Wales.

Start point-.Stanton (3 miles North of Abergavenny).

Route- From Stanton, take the lane Left to Pontyspig. Here take the lane up the Grwyne Fawr Valley. At the second car park take a rough track on the Right up to the Right side of the Resevoir. Then continue straight up the valley on a scenic, but bumpy track to the very top of the pass

Here find a good path on the Right heading over Rhos Dirion, Rhiw Y Fan, then Lord Hereford's knob. Continue on the path down to the Gospel Path, then a push up the other side to Hay Bluff. From here follow the stone path (giving way to walkers) along the ridge , with wonderful views on both sides. Eventually come to Hatterrall Hill. Drop down into Cwmyoy, and follow the lanes back to Stanton.

The views across the ridges are stunning.

L2- grwyne fawr RESERVOIR, waun fach, pen y gadir fawr

Grade - hard- a long hard ascent from the start,

Distance- 26.7KM

Highlights- magnificent views and some wonderful mountain top trails.

Start Point- Forest car park at Pont Cadwgan, , halfway up the Grwyne Fawr valley.

Route- follow the road up the valley, then at the Blaen Y Cwm car park take the rough track on the Right up the Right side of the valley to the Cryne Fawr Reservoir. Stop to take in the magnificent scenery, then continue of the rough and stony path to the very top of the pass.

Here there is a partly paved path on the Left (give way to pedestrians). Take this to Pen Y Manllwyn, then on up to Waun Fach, then Pen Y Gadair Fawr. Drop down and find the track skirting the top of the forestry. See a path going through a gate in the forestry, then zig zag back down through the forestry to the start point.

Long off road tracks. most cyclable small amount of pushing...Stunning views

Mainly grassy tracks for much of the way. There is a steep descent through the forestry for about 1/2 mile that get steep and stoney...may need to walk the last bit, but well worth it.

Pick a fine day and you won't regret it. Many photo opportunities from the ridges.

L3 - hermitage, Pen Cerrig Calch ridge

GRADE- Moderate- a lovely gentle uphill, then a lovely ridge with a couple of steep pushes.

DISTANCE- 21 kms

HIGHLIGHTS- One of the best hill climbs ever on a gentle grassy track up a gorgeous valley. Amazing views from the ridge. A wonderful grassy descent.

START POINT- where the tarmac road ends just past the Hermitage in the Grwyne Fechan valley directly North of Crickhowell.

At the point where the tarmac road finishes there is a T Junction on gravel roads. Take the Left track and continue on this through a gate, through a field, over a stone bridge (Tal Y Maes Bridge) , and up the Left side of the valley. This is known as McManara’s road, and is one of the finest hill climbs we have ever found. There is a lovely grassy track up a spectacular steep sided valley. Near the top there is a hairpin pin heading up to the Col. Here there is a grassy track on the Left, leading up to Mynydd Llysia, with spectacular views in all directions.

Continue on to Pen Allt Mawr, where there is a short steep push to the top. From here there is a newly surfaced trail to Pen Gloch Y Pibwr, where you will find one of the finest views in Wales. The path to Pen Cerrig Calch is either challenging, or great fun- depending on your perspective, due to irregular rocks all the way. From the summit there is a path straight ahead which starts off rocky, but soon becomes a wonderful grassy descent all the way to Table Mountain. It is worth leaving your bike here and climbing the last 20 metres to the summit to enjoy further spectacular views.

You need to double back up the grassy path you came down for about 100 yards then take the grassy path going off at an angle on your Right. This leads down to a gate, which takes you onto a steep lane leading down to Graig Lwyd , then green cottage. From here take the road back to the Hermitage.

view down the first long grassy climb

View along the ridge from the highest point. some short climbs a steep

L4 - hermitage, Twyn Talycefn ridge.

GRADE- Hard- a long uphill , steep in places, then a lovely long ridge.

DISTANCE-40 kms

HIGHLIGHTS- One of the best rides we have ever done. Amazing views from the ridges.

START POINT- where the tarmac road ends just past the Hermitage in the Grwyne Fechan valley directly North of Crickhowell.

At the point where the tarmac road finishes there is a T Junction on gravel roads. Take the Left track and continue on this through a gate, through a field, over a stone bridge (Tal Y Maes Bridge) , and up the Left side of the valley. This is known as McManara’s road, and is one of the finest hill climbs we have ever found. There is a lovely grassy track up a spectacular steep sided valley. Near the top there is a hairpin pin heading up to the Col. At the top head Right toward Pen Trumau. There is a short steep section which you will need to walk. .

From this summit there is a lovely ridge leading up to Waun Fach. From here drop down the hill Left towards Pen-Y -Man Llwyn and onward down to the main track (coming up from Grwyne Fawr Resevoir). Go straight across this track to the Trig point on Rhos Dirion. Here take the track on the Right towards Twyn Tal Cefn. Beware of pinch punctures on the stone gullies! Continue along the most magnificent ridge you can imagine to Blacksmith's anvil, then a fantastic long gradual grassy descent until you get to a gate. Just after the gate take the fork Right, and continue along the lovely stone wall until it enters an old lane

Continue down this until it joins a minor farm road, at New Inn farm. Follow this down to the Cross Roads by the phone box. Take the road opposite in the direction of LLangenny. After a mile this comes to a cross roads with an old gravelly lane on your right. Take this to the farm at Gudder, then turn right up the hill on the road to Milaid Isaf and Blaenau Isaf. It eventually joins the road heading back to the Hermitage.

View along the ridge from the highest point. some short climbs a steep

L5 -around sugar loaf

HARD- SHort but sweet! Some steep challenging off road climbs.

DISTANCE- 16.5 kms

HIGHLIGHTS- This is one of the most iconic and scenic mountains in South Wales. From most angles it looks impossible to cycle, but there is a steep path up one shoulder, which makes it possible

START POINT. car park on Mynydd Llanwenarth, a mile directly South of the summit of Sugarloaf.

ROUTE- From the upper car park where the road finishes, there is a rutted track leading Left around Mynydd Llanwenarth. Keep following the grassy tracks West, then drop down into a steep valley and back up the other side. Continue around the base of Mynydd Pen Y Fal on a farm track until just before Gob Pwllau where you see a steep path leading up onto the ridge of Mynydd Pen Y Fal. Even on an ebike this means a short steep push of about 80 yards.

There are then some lovely wide grassy trails leading to the summit of Sugar loaf. the last 50 yards involves another push to the Trig Point at the summit, where you enjoy the most wonderful views. You need to back track along the trail you came up around the base of the summit then follow the track around the North of the summit and keep circling until you pick up the trail to Twyn Gwyn.

Here turn Left along a narrow path and skirt the forestry to the North of Parc Lodge Farm. Keep on the ridge towards Deri, but watch out for a path dropping down through the next patch of forest until you get to Sunny View. Here there is a gate on your right which leads down through the forest to a road.Turn Left down to Porth Y Parc, then follow the road around Llwyn Du and climb back up to St Mary's Vale. Follow this half way up and take a turn Left into Pen Yr Heol, then follow the road up the hill back to the car park.

great long speedy descent form sugar loaf in the distance

L6 -Bwlch, Mynydd Llangorse, Dinas castle

GRADE- Hard- a long ride with several long hill climbs off road.

Distance- 35kms

HIGHLIGHTS -onr of the best rides ever- iconic scenery with some wonderful grassy trails across the ridges.

START POINT- Bwlch, on the A40T between Crickhowell and Brecon

ROUTE-In Bwlch take the minor road to Tremynfa. 200 yards along this road is a small car park (for 6 cars). Opposite this is the start of a track leading to a long climb up onto Cefn Moel, then along some wonderful grassy tracks over Mynydd Llangorse. Just after the summit there is a track on the right which takes you back over Pen Tir. Here you will find a small pond with a track leading down a steep path into Cwm Sorgum. As you get ot the first field, take the track Left and follow the fence line up the valley until it joins the road at Cockit Hill.

Take the road all the way down Cwm Sorgum valley to the main A479 road. Cross over to Blaunau Mawr and find a bridle way to Glan Y Nant, and on up the valley to Glandwr. At Tyisha take the bridle way Right, then the road around the back of Dinas castle, and another bridleway leading up to the top of the col. Here you can leave your bike and take a short walk to the top of Dinas Castle where you will find fascinating ruins and incredible views.

Continue on the track around the hill until it joins the road going to Pengenffordd. Cross the main road again and follow the tracks along the base of Mynydd Troed until you get to Cockitt Hill. Cross the road and follow the tracks skirting the base of Mynydd Llangorse until you get to Cwm Shenkin. Here there is a footpath on the Left leading up a steep hill which takes you back onto Cefn Moel where you can retrace your steps back to the car.

Stunning views... well worth the climb.

Long grassy riding.