I well recall having returned from a mountain bike trip to Idaho some years ago and going on a trip to ride at Coed-y-Brenin in Snowdonia, where it was suggested by my riding companion Stuart that this must be really boring after the Rockies. I sat back in the sunshine, looked around at the shady forests surrounding us and the mountain peaks in the distance rising two or three thousand feet up into a clear blue sky (similar ‘vert’ to Idaho), considered the well-maintained, idyllic trail we’d been riding for the last half hour, and answered “Actually, it’s as good if not better”.
There’s no doubt that Wales has some of the finest mountain biking trails in the world at the various trail centres that dot the country. Add in mountain bike ‘centres’ such as Machynlleth and Llanwrtyd Wells, where spider’s webs of more natural waymarked routes can be found in the surrounding hills, and there’s enough quality riding here to last a lifetime.
Wales various purpose built mountain bike centres make riding here a cinch – no poring over maps, just get out and hit the graded and waymarked trails and when you’re finished there’ll be a visitor centre for the obligatory tea and cake and facilities such as bike washes and bike shops.
In addition there are seven mountain bike ‘bases’ – these are essentially areas or localities hosting several way-marked or mapped trails, with essential facilities such as accommodation, pubs, cafes, bike shops etc. all available within the vicinity from independent providers.
You can check them all out at mbwales.com, but here are some of our favourites:
Purpose Built Centres
Coed-y-Brenin. The oldest and still one of the best centres in Britain with superb trails to suit all abilities. These vary from the easy 11-km Yr Afon route, ideal for families, to the Beast of Brenin, a 38-km challenge of technical single track for expert riders.
Nant-yr-Arian. Located high in the mountains just inland from the university town of Aberystwyth, this centre has superb single track riding in the wild and little-known Cambrian Mountains and offers a stunning high-level wilderness adventure on the 35-km Syfydrin Trail.
Afan Argoed. Just minutes from the M4, but once on trails such as the 17-km, ninety per cent purpose-built Whites Trail or the spectacular 23-km single track The Wall you’d never guess it. Superb views too over much of South Wales and even across the Bristol Channel to England.
Cwmcarn. Also within easy reach of the M4 near Newport, routes such as the epic singletrack Twrch Trail are legendary in South Wales and beyond, whilst Y Mynydd downhill has an uplift service, making it a magnet for downhillers.
Antur Stiniog. Wales’ newest gift to the MTB world, Antur Stiniog is located in the slate mining town of Blaenau Ffestiniog and only opened last summer. The focus here is on downhill, with a range of testing trails featuring flowy berms, big tabletops, rocky descents and double jumps for a range of abilities. As with Cwmcarn there’s an uplift facility so you don’t have to mess around with any of that pesky climbing…
Bases for Rides
Betwys-y-Coed. Home to two purpose built trails offering long challenging climbs which lead to miles of epic technical singletrack – or if that doesn’t appeal there are hundreds of kilometres of fire roads to explore.
Machynlleth. Waymarked routes of varying length and difficulty take you straight from the centre of town into fantastic mountain and valley scenery, and consist of everything from mixed road and valley trails to long forestry climbs, mountain singletrack and hooning descents.
Llanwrtyd Wells. Everything from easy low level routes to challenging mountain terrain is on offer from this base in Britain’s smallest town and one of the homes of UK mountain biking.
Brechfa Forest. Tucked away in a remote corner of Carmarthenshire, Brechfa has marvellous trails for all abilities, an air of calm solitude (when you’re not belting along the fantastic single track that is) and a great pub – the Black Lion – right next to the main car park.
Independent Riding
For more independently minded bikers Wales has a huge network of bridleways and other legally permissible trails on which you can discover everything from wild moorlands to spectacular coastline. Check out an OS map for potential routes and get out there and explore.
The wild Cambrian Mountains of Mid-Wales offer real adventure, for instance, as do the Brecon Beacons, the highest mountains in southern Britain; or if you want to be close to the coast you could ride the lovely Gower Peninsula or Pembrokeshire’s Preseli Hills.
Other gems include Mynydd Hiraethog in north-east Wales and close to the conurbations of northern England, the nearby and invariably quiet Clwyd Hills and the little-known network of trails in Radnorshire in Welsh Border country.
It’s hard to believe a country so small has so much fantastic riding, but mountain biking is a part of outdoor culture in Wales these days – so why not do yourself a favour and go grab a bit of it?
