Mountain Biking South Wales

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    • R- around Llandovery
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    • T- Train and Bike
    • U- Welsh Borders.

Mountain Biking South Wales

Mountain Biking South WalesMountain Biking South WalesMountain Biking South Wales
  • Home
  • Overview
  • About Us
  • Areas
    • All Areas
  • Routes
    • A-Around Blaenavon Routes
    • B- Gwent Valley Routes
    • C-Around Abercarm
    • D- North of Pontyrpidd
    • E- South of Pontypridd
    • F- West of Pontypridd
    • G- Around Caerphilly
    • H- Around Merthyr
    • J- Bwlch & Rhigos Routes
    • K- Neath & Glyncorrwg
    • L-Black Mountains
    • M- Llantrisant area
    • N- Port Talbot & Swansea
    • O- Brecon Beacons
    • P- West Wales
    • Q- Mid Wales
    • R- around Llandovery
    • S- Mynydd Epynt
    • T- Train and Bike
    • U- Welsh Borders.

R1- halfway forest

GRADE- Easy- good forest tracks, lots of small climbs

  Highlights-Good forest tracks, great views. 

Distance 36 kms

START POINT-Halfway forest car park on the A40 5 miles West of Trecastle. 

 Route- at the far end of the car park take the Fork Right and keep climbing up the Forest road until you get to a T junction. Turn Left downhill to Cwm Glyn, then cross over the river. Take the track immediately on your right up a short steep hill until it joins a major forest road heading to Clwyd Watsh. Go through the gate to the edge of the Firing range and turn left at the crossroads by the red flag. Go straight across and down a steep stony lane to Troed Yr Rhiw, cross the ford up to the tarmac lane and turn Right. Go past Craigwyddon where the tarmac turns into a Forest road. 

 Follow this up past Esgair Berfedd then continue upward along the maze of forest roads until you cross the top of the ridge at Scrach, then down hill keeping to the Right hand side of Crychan Forest until you get to the minor road near Brynffo farm. Turn Left. You can add another few miles on by taking the next Forest track on the Right and making a circuit to Cefn Llwydlo, or you can continue a mile down the road to  the forest car park at Coed Y Castell. Take the forest road out of the car park towards Cwm Crychan. There is an optional circuit along the Northern rim of Allt Cwmcrychan. From here you can wind your way up past Tre- Fawr, Cwm Coed Oeron and up to Noethgrug. (NB avoid dropping down into the valley at Allt Llanerch Goch since there is no way out). 

 

Follow the track from Noethgrug to the fileds at the edge of the forest.   Here   you can pick up some lovely single track taking you back down to Castell Craigywyddion and back to the road at Allt Craigyrwyddon. Follow the track down to the road bridge over  Nant Gwenol. Take the forest road back up the hill into Halfway Forest, follow the tarmac road Right until it starts to turn back downhill. Here there is a gate with a Forest track going straight on up to Cef Arthen. Take a Left turn off this over the ridge and drop back down to the car park

R1- halfway forest

GRADE- Easy- good forest tracks, lots of small climbs

  Highlights-Good forest tracks, great views. 

Distance 36 kms

START POINT-Halfway forest car park on the A40 5 miles West of Trecastle. 

 Route- at the far end of the car park take the Fork Right and keep climbing up the Forest road until you get to a T junction. Turn Left downhill to Cwm Glyn, then cross over the river. Take the track immediately on your right up a short steep hill until it joins a major forest road heading to Clwyd Watsh. Go through the gate to the edge of the Firing range and turn left at the crossroads by the red flag. Go straight across and down a steep stony lane to Troed Yr Rhiw, cross the ford up to the tarmac lane and turn Right. Go past Craigwyddon where the tarmac turns into a Forest road. 

 Follow this up past Esgair Berfedd then continue upward along the maze of forest roads until you cross the top of the ridge at Scrach, then down hill keeping to the Right hand side of Crychan Forest until you get to the minor road near Brynffo farm. Turn Left. You can add another few miles on by taking the next Forest track on the Right and making a circuit to Cefn Llwydlo, or you can continue a mile down the road to  the forest car park at Coed Y Castell. Take the forest road out of the car park towards Cwm Crychan. There is an optional circuit along the Northern rim of Allt Cwmcrychan. From here you can wind your way up past Tre- Fawr, Cwm Coed Oeron and up to Noethgrug. (NB avoid dropping down into the valley at Allt Llanerch Goch since there is no way out). 

 

Follow the track from Noethgrug to the fileds at the edge of the forest.   Here   you can pick up some lovely single track taking you back down to Castell Craigywyddion and back to the road at Allt Craigyrwyddon. Follow the track down to the road bridge over  Nant Gwenol. Take the forest road back up the hill into Halfway Forest, follow the tarmac road Right until it starts to turn back downhill. Here there is a gate with a Forest track going straight on up to Cef Arthen. Take a Left turn off this over the ridge and drop back down to the car park

R2-Tywi Forest to Llyne Brianne.

 

Grade- Moderate- one long hill climb at start. Good Forest tracks throughout

Highlights. Good tracks- even in very wet weather. Amazing views over llyn Brianne- one of the most picturesque rides ever!

Start point- Forest track on Left just past Sugar loaf halt railway car park on the A483 between Llandovery and Llanwrtyd Wells.

 

Route- park at the start of the forest track near Cwm Pen Llydan. Then climb steadily upwards following the Zig Zags.

At the first fork turn Right and continue upwards to Esgair Dafydd, then work your way through the maze of tracks across the top of the escarpment to Cnapau Hafodllywelyn, .

  then Croes Lwyd Fach until you come out on Mynydd Trawsnant. Here you begin to get glimpses of Llyn Brianne. Continue down the track to the cattle grid and follow the tarmac road up hill. At the top take the grassy tracks to the hillock overlooking the reswrvoir, with magnificent views all around.  

 Start back by returning to the cattle grid, then retracing your path back uphill until the T junction. This time turn Left and follow the contours around Cwm Henog . There is a FURTHER EXTENSION YOU CAN MAKE AROUND Cefn Trybeddgwilym before rejoining your route to Esgair dafydd, where you can wind your way back down the hill following the tracks above Craig Las. 

R3- llyn brianne, Doethie valley.

GRADE- HARD- A long ride mostly off road on grassy tracks with one  big  hill.

  Highlights- One of the best rides on our website! fantastic grassy trails, stunning views. 

Distance 25.7 kms

START POINT-Upper visitor car park at LLyn Brianne Dam

From the car park follow the road up to the dam, then cross over the dam and follow the forest roads as they meander around the inlets of the lake.  As you climb up around Dalarwen mountain, take the second turn  on the right which leads down the Camddwr valley to Soar Yr Mynydd Chapel.  Just opposite the chapel is a gate  with a sign saying “road closed” .

This leads up a very steep, very stony track going up and over the hill. On the way down the other side, the track has turned into a stream cutting a 5 foot deep channel into it. As you descend this mini-ravine, you come to a gate on the Left signposted Cambrian way. Follow this down the Doethie valley for quite  a few miles. This is one of the prettiest trails you could ever hope to find. It eventually joins a road leading to Troed Ruddwen Farm. Here there is a farm road on the Left leading up the valley between Craig ddu and Pen Rhiwbie, then back down to the first inlet of Llyn Brianne.

 

 

R4 Crychan forest- Sugarloaf Fach.

GRADE-   - easy - mostly good forest tracks with several gentle climbs

Highlights- Good tracks, some great views, especially from Sugarloaf.

Start point- Forest car park on the Right as you enter Crychan Forest on the Roman road (turn off the A483) heading North East from Llandovery. 

 

  Exit the carpark onto the tarmac road and turn Left heading  back South West for about 2KM. Come to gate on your Right, and take the forest track heading downhill into the Nant Hirgwm valley. At the first cross roads, take the Left turn and drop down to a footpath running along the fence bordering the filed by the stream and continue North East up the valley. At the time of writing there were several fallen trees you need to squeeze under. The footpath then becomes a good track heading up the valley to a hairpin bend, with several tracks in all directions. Take the second track on the Left, doubling back on yourself uphill.  

Climb up to a gap in the hill and drop down the other side to the car park adjacent to Sugar Loaf (not the big one which is by Abergavenny, but a much smaller version). From the car park you can climb up a grassy path to the top of sugar loaf where there is a fantastic path along the ridge to the information board at the end. 

 You then need to retrace your path back to the hairpin bend in the Hirgwm valley, then follow the track uphill on the East side of the valley. Climb up over the ridge, and keep going until you meet the tarmac (Roman) road again. Turn Left and after about 200m take the track straight ahead up hill (where the road takes a turn to the Right).  Keep going for a couple for miles until you reach the parking spot on the tarmac road. Turn Right, then after about 200M take the forest track on the Left to the edge of the forest. Follow this until you arrive back at the tarmac road just North of Tirabad. Turn right up this road, then take a Left into the forest by Cae- Mawr, and follow this track back to the Roman road at Esgair Fwyog. Turn right for about 1KM back to the starting car park.  

R5 Mynydd Machaen

 

 

Grade- hard-  a long grassy climb onto the top, then a huge expanse of wilderness. Avoid in bad weather.

Highlights- this is one of the largest undiscovered, untamed wildernesses in Wales. Great views.

Start point- forest car park in Cwm Y  Rhaeadr forest.

Distance 30.4kms.


 

 

Route. – from the car park turn Left up the road for a bout a mile until you come to a forest road on the Left, just opposite Dinas Bach.

Follow this upwards to the Right of Cwm Y Rhaeadr forest, up a good track onto the open moorland of Mynydd Mallaen. Here it turns into a quad bike track, which can be tricky to follow, 

 If (like us) you find yourself lost on sheep tracks, it is best to go back to the quad bike track and find the continuation. If you keep to the quad bike tracks you come to the Standing Stones (there are two of them a few hundred yards apart), The track turns Left just before Bryn Y garn, and drops down into the Pen Cerigiddos to Rhyd Ddu

Here you have a choice- 1) you  can  follow the tracks back up the other side of Afon Gwenlais to the standing stones, then back down to the top corner of Cwm Y Rhaeadr forest, where there is a gate leading onto one of the  sweetest single track trails you will ever find. This is an official (easy) red trail made by natural resources Wales, and is 4 miles of pure fun.

2) Alternatively you can follow the trails over Esgair Ferchon and Rhiw Cilgwyn back to the road at Glangwenlais.

R6 Pysgotwr Valley and Forest


GRADE- EASY- one moderate climb at start, but then mainly upland forest roads

HIGHLIGHTS- some stunning views around the surrounding valleys

START POINT- cross the Rhandirmwyn (about a mile North of the village ) , Turn right and find a lay by on the Left after 200 yards.

Route.

Continue on the road another 200 yards, and just before Maes Llwyn y Fyddau take a minor lane on  the right with a dead end sign. Cross the bridge, bear Left and continue about a mile to Nant Rhyd Ifor.

Take a dirt road leading up hill towards the top of the ridge. Enter the forestry then take the first road right towards Allt Penrhiw.

Follow the forest road as it meanders along the crest of the Pysgotwr valley, stopping at the occasional break in the trees for a magnificent view up and down the valley.


Continue meandering past Cwm Cae Odyn, , then Pen -y -raglan- wynt. Bear Left down towards Bryn Cadwgan, Bryn Arau Duon, and on down to the edge of the forest at Craig Bwlch Y Rhiw where there is another magnificent viewpoint.

Continue down this tiny valley to Bwlch Yr Rhiw where you meet the tarmac road. Turn Left back to the car.

R7-LLanwrtyd Wells.

Grade- hard- this is a long hard ride over moorland and undulating forestry with  some big climbs.

Distance-45.2 KM

Highlights-Fantastic views over Llyne Briane. Some good bridleway and forest trails. 

Start point-   car park at Llanwrtyd Wells railway station railway station 

Route- from the station, cross town and head North West on the road to Llanwrtyd. At Dinas turn Left up a lane which leads into a bridle way. Follow this bridle way South West up Cwm Lletgwial until it joins the forest roads. Follow these past Croes Lwyd Fach and drop down to the road which skirts Llyn Brianne. 

Turn Left and follow this road as it winds around the inlets to Pant y Clwydau. Here turn Right up a forestry road heading over Esgair Bustach and continue to Pen y Cnwc. Her you rejoin the tarmac road heading down the "Devils staircase" into the gorgeous Nant Irfon valley. 


At the junction at Abergwesyn turn Left and continue to Llethr Bach Helyg. . 

 Here there is a bridleway zig zagging up Bwlch Bach which takes you into the forestryCwm Morris. Follow the forest roads through Irfon Forest then Nany Y Cerdin, and drop down to Gilfach. 

 Just before Gilfach there is a bridle way on your rRight leading up Nant Gwyn  which drops down into Lofftwen and then back to Llanwrtyd Wells.  

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