[Closed] Afan - trail diversions?

Was there at the end of July & the final part of Whites/W2 was closed with a fire road diversion from the end of Energy, up the hideous climb from the bottom of the black run to the top then doubling back all the way to the final Skyline descent. Looks like they've closed a load of Skyline now but I couldn't see if Whites/W2 has reopened in full.

Edit: Closure details [url= http://www.afanforestpark.co.uk/PDF/AFPMTBTrails31082012.pdf ]HERE[/url]

Yea thats where I was looking / found the map - I don't know it well enough to know how much of it is closed and the map just confused me. Looks like well over half of it is shut?

Is it still worth riding skyline even with diversions?

List of closures here...

http://www.afanforestpark.co.uk/default.aspx?page=6486

According to people doing strava the old skyline is rideable but i think is not signposted, so if you dont know it i wouldbnt bother.

The wall should be fully open according to that link by Friday.

I wonder what the new climb out of glyncorrwg is going to be like on Whites?

I've never been a fan of Skyline tbh - too much fire road. If they've closed singletrack & added more then I'd not bother.

That said, I can't tell from that map how much of the closure is singletrack.

oh christ.. went to do w2 on friday and it was a nightmare (then again we started from the car park near the viaduct can't remember the name)

loads of sections closed off

The map isn't very clear at all, even if you know the area.

Anyone ridden the Whites Level climb diversion yet?

If it is like the section they have added at the end of the old Whites climb then it is just a muddy trail with a little bit of gravel in places - therefore bringing huge mud puddles

I was there last weekend. Skyline open until just after On the Edge. Then well signposted (and rocky) route back to Deadwood to the end. The Wall is open with some small closures (mainly 323 section). Whites level climb is open with a very minor diversion after the first main section of the climb (this is very muddy so take care). At the top of Whites climb - black run all open. Windy point and Energy are open. Goodwood and Darkside are both closed. The Whites level run ultimately stops at the end of energy then there is a big slog up past the black run, past the end of the whites level climb and then joins Deadwood on Skyline and finishes with Peregrine Ridge and Jetlag. Hope this makes sense. Still a heck of a lot of good riding. Check the video I made of last weekend here: [url=

Sep 2012[/url]

The map isn't very clear at all, even if you know the area.

This.

So has white's climb closed yet? - if not when (think I read end Oct), but anyone know for sure? Just wondering whether it's worth a last spin before the mishmash that it seems to be becoming gets to the point that it's not worth the journey.

Double post. 😐

So has white's climb closed yet?

Hopefully it'll just be the one section of the climb that's closed as Dadster says above.

Ok - ta for that. 🙂

Whites level climb is open with a very minor diversion after the first main section of the climb

Currently theres a small diversion in place, but the whole climb will be closed at the end of the month.

On the new section on Skyline, is that singletrack?

phil, do you know where and what the new climb will be? Fireroad?

On the new section on Skyline, is that singletrack?

Not singletrack but it is still challenging. Loose rock - gulleys - that sort of stuff.

do you know where and what the new climb will be? Fireroad?

I reckon it will be.

🙁
Still, I suppose at least riders won't be contributing to the crap traffic on the M4 to go to afan any more. Anyone know when cwmcarn is getting its new trail?

To be honest, I really think that Afan is worth the trip. The locals are up in arms at the views being held by folks on forums looking to avoid the area - we are their income and livelihood. Also, they are getting short change from the Forestry Commission - who are really hamstrung as the main reason for many of the closures is a Japanese Larch Fungus. Trees are being felled 20 years earlier than anticipated (650,000 so far) Darkside - is now Lightside. All the trees on this hillside are gone. And this doesn't just impact Afan. This is across the UK. Could a better job be done of communicating the closures, reasons for them, alternatives, etc. Yes, clearly. But I still think that there is enough riding there to please any weekender - one dayer. So I will keep supporting Afan and the work it is doing to keep trails open in what is a very trying time for all those that live and work in the area.

Now off the soapbox.

Went to ride the wall on Sunday. First section after bridge was closed due to Landslip - diversion is on the old railway path to Cymer and then back on yourself on the other side to join the climb.
A couple of top sections closed too - 373 and one other.
Badly signposted diversions too.

Badly signposted diversions too.

Just follow the yellow square signs with black square in it (there are loads of them) with an arrow that points the way. There are loads of them....

Hmmmm doesn't sound that good to be honest, as someone mentioned above once Cwmcarn has more tracks it will take a lot of afans business, even with only twrch I am half tempted not to bother with afan if loads is closed, poorly communicated and signposted. I heard a trail centre was being built at Abergavenny - is that finished yet?

Day tripping from Southampton so it is a long way to go if afan isn't upto much at the moment

I thought the same - coming from SE London. But it was ace. And the area where there was a landslip is open (if you avoid the gate at the top!). The work has been completed to stop the slippage. And I don't work for the Afan tourist board either...... 🙂

I loved afan. A really great place and I don't even worry about the lack of trees. It's not even the trail closures. Cognation just point us at a very very poor map and say there you go. Places like afan should be getting more trails, not less. The return of Penhydd has been promised year on year for what 4 years now? Skyline all but gone. Just leaves whites, which is about to lose one of it's best bits (the climb) and the wall which is half closed. I admire the guys and girls in cognation, they seem like a really nice bunch but since they arrived we have less trails than we did before.
I understand that afan is a working forest, I know that there's been problems with the tree disease but there must come a point where there are so little waymarked rides it ceases to be a [i]marketed[/i] MTB destination.
Maybe time to get the GPS out and go explore the unofficial stuff?

Gutted if the Whites climb goes 🙁 one of the best climbs built IMO.
Even with Goodwood and Darkside sections closed of Whites, its still better than Twrch. Yes crap climb up fireroad to Skyline, but the descent makes up for it. It doesnt sound like much is closed on Y Wall?
I'm not a big fan of Twrch trail. Climb is long and the rest of it doesnt reward you enough (final descent is good, but short though). I'd still make the day trip (Portsmouth).

Why not climb YWal to get to Skyline - cross over W2 and then you are there......

What I don't understand is why somebody at FC or someone else who knows whats going on doesn't post a updates at regular intervals on the purpose and progress of the forestry work is and how it affects the trails. If it is in a language that bikers understand, like descibing the trail diversions or developments are like, it would be even better.

There seems to so little information on what is going on, much of it out of date, almost as if trail developments or destruction is a secret.

Surely FC owe it to the local businesses to inform the bikers (some of whom travel long distances) so that they can plan their weekends.

Did YWal on monday, lots of diversions with land slips and trail works

Genuinely gutted to hear the Whites climb is going. It's definitely my favourite climb, not too step but technical and keeps you interested.

@wrecker, my guess its a new singletrack climb which uses part of Darkside (theyve called it Darkside B)for most of it then it joins the bottom of energy. Unless theyre using goodwood and darkside as the new way up.

Im more intersted in what theyre doing with Skyline tho as thats what i ride mostly, well part it as i go in from the Rhigos road and do smaller loops of it.

Looks like I might give it a miss next week... shame as i was looking forward to a few beers in 'The Refesh'

Have to get on an uplift somewhere instead.... 🙂

Whites climb is going!!!!?
[img] [/img]

Say it isn't true!

You can have a look on the Afan MTB rangers face book page as that is where most stuff is 'communicated'. Very poor. I have suggested to both Cognation and the ranger that they post something on here but to no effect. There is apparently going to be a 10/15 mile new trail similar to whites/y wall put in prior to the building of the wind farm. According to the ranger Skyline was used by only 1000 people last year and this warrants its closure. Nobody is interested in longer routes such as Skyline. Only 1000 people used it presumably because the useless t***ers at the FC kept parts closed for ages with poor diversions so people just gave up.

[url= http://www.afanforestpark.co.uk/default.aspx?page=6486 ]Afan Forest Park Mountain Bike Trail Information[/url]

[url= http://www.afanforestpark.co.uk/default.aspx?page=6486 ]Afan Forest Park Mountain Bike Trail Information[/url]

Grr double post

Came back from Afan yesterday,was a few bits shut,nothing too bad.Trails were soaking wet.lots of puddles aswell,Rides well in the wet though.You will be fine

Bollox got to be more than 1000 people riding skyline last year. I did it once, with my mate. Went past at least 3 largish groups (10-15 riders). Whether they did the whole loop or not I don't know but that was just one day last year...

1000 doing skyline in a year. Utter nonsense. What's this, propaganda justification to not bother replacing when building the wind farm?

Maybe I'm being obtuse, but I don't read the trail update (link above) as saying that the White's Level climb will be closed for good. If it's closed for felling, doesn't that mean it will be a temporary closure (albeit no doubt a lengthy 'temporary' closure)? Or am I missing something?

*waiting for someone to point out the obvious bit I've missed*

Oh and the suggestion that only 1,000 people rode Skyline last year just [i]feels plain wrong.

Nobody is interested in longer routes such as Skyline.

There's still tons of good riding here - the annoying thing is the diversions are often pretty ill-thought out when more interesting alternatives exist. So people turn up and follow the signs thinking WTF - I'm sure plenty of people starting Y Wal from the Afan Valley car park this month have cursed the 5 miles of flat tarmac that currently gets you to the first climb (that diversion should be gone soon mind).

The signage on the ground is not too bad, and even gives some info on what's going on/why the closures are necessary/how long they are going on. What is desperately needed, as many others have said here, is Forestry/Cognation to communicate that properly on the web - that would be a very good use of the fancy new Cognation website.

To conclude, don't think its not worth coming, but do expect some disruption over the winter - but I wouldn't have to tell you this if a bit more thought went into communication from those reponsible...

I bet that 1000 people was done on a survey from the car park in Glyncorwg or something, you have to include people who park elsewhere like along with people like me who ride it localy by joing it in different areas.

I think people who think its not worth it are mad. Its still an awesome place to ride.

That diversion on the wall is gone from today apparently along with 373. So basically the wall is fully open.

Totally agree with above, one place for the latest info is badly needed, right now i use cognation, MBWales, Afan Forest park websites along with their facebook and twitter accounts, all have different info at different times. Rubbish.

Ok so it looks like things are changing at Afan, maybe for the better in the long run... maybe not.

I will go on my roadtrip next week if for no other reason than to ride the climb on Whites for the last time and to support the locals who have always made me welcome.

RIP Afan of old... long live Afan

Got a weekend planned there in November, still going whatever, I love Afan.

Afan is definitely still worth a visit - I did 60 miles over 1.5 days on different trails. Got to be better than most in terms of length and variety even if there are parts that are shut.

Me and the big group I did the Skyline with weren't counted last year. They probably asked on one day and extrapolated the result. Grr.

Also, it sounds like it's about to be 'Coed-y-Brenined', i.e. totally ruined. Following the same programme, i.e. shut the good cafe, close off best bits, open a new trail that's bermed asphalt. Double Grr.

Problem with Afan and other places is that there isn't any sort of user group to give feed back / liase as there used to be.

Skyline ridable today - no sections cordened off. Some largish new forest tracks gone in advance of large scale felling.

Right so we went to afan for a day trip, little bit of feedback for others wondering...

A large section of skyline is closed, most of the eastern loop, ignore the diversion signs until you get to a nice big sign saying diversion starts here, then follow little black squares! You are then sent down a long dual track loose rocky descent which is dull and looses a lot of height fast. Old skyline descent is still there and riding well. Picked up 44th on strava, not bad on an anthem. Whites climb has a horrible muddy bit in between the two single track sections which was only passable by walking. Lot of surface water, most puddles okay apart from one on Granada where I had an otb as it was an exact match for my wheel..

Whites level has diversions you get sent up the big fire road climb by the end of the black section and finish on skyline descent.

A good day out, 30 miles, 3800ft climbing, 4 hours ride time 5 hours elapsed.

However, definitely not enough way marked riding there any more for a weekend or interesting enough for me to want to go back there again until the diversions are removed. Really sad to see how much of a shadow it is of its former self, especially as the areas infrastructure is vastly improved.

Might be worth as a base for a long weekend when combined with Brecfa and Cwmcarn.

Another note - went there a few weekends ago with a bunch of friends in a mixed-ability group and had a great time. There's still a ton of good riding there - you just need to (gasp!) get the maps out and do a bit of planning around the diversions and closures to make up your own loop.

As said above, it's worth going and spending a little more time making up your own route to support the locals, who are really feeling the impact this tree fungus is having on their income at the moment.

Has anyone ridden the Blue route at Afan? And if so, how doea it compare to the Penhydd? Looking for a route to take a novice on and would have probably used the Penhydd a few years ago, but am now unsure. May take him to Cwmcarn but go up the fire road instead of the usual climb.....

Cheers

Personally I would take them to the new fod track.

Is the main climb on Whites closing for good? I used to quite look forward to it.

The blue loop at Afan is only 2km long and all machine gravelled so another vote for the FoD here. Either that or do Gower/Beacons.

We did Skyline this weekend too. With the diversion it's almost exactly 20 miles long and the new section is a hoot, around a mile of mostly downhill along natural rocky double-track.

[img] [/img]

I'm not convinced by the new sections of trail so far (a muddy abomination on the White's climb and that "intro section" of Y Wal with the concrete berms!) but if most of Skyline, White's and Wall stay how they are it'll have more than enough fun riding for a weekend.

Funny how people see things different I felt the dual track descent was rubbish when you balance the climb, with the speed, risk and fun of the descent. Compare that run to the proper skyline descent, no contest.

Awesome pic

I love the white's climb, will be sad if that goes. Though, goodwood and darkside were shut last time we were there, but the forestry guys said we could still ride them anyway, was great, apart from some winch cables across the trail, but they had hazard signs up to warn riders.

It was a few months ago I was last there though. Need to get back soon.

W2 tomorrow starting at the Wal ?
What will I find?
Diversion after Energy to the Skyline decent.

Expect some rather patchy signage, but yes, basically after Energy it seems like you do a long grindy climb, arrive at the start of the Whites Level black, then continue up the fire road to the start of the last bit of Skyline. Which is awesome.

If it wasn't for the grind up past the black run - the combination of Whites and Darkwood/Jetlag is brilliant.....

Rode The Wall yesterday, it's running well. Only 373 closed, diversion on fireroad takes you to Graveyard. Best trail at Afan at the moment.

I dont get it, some people are actually riding 373 according to strava and nothing on the Afan forest website says its closed.

I rode every single trail there on tuesday, did W2, the initial climb from glyncorrwg was open, no signs saying otherwise, all of whites and the wall were open, goodwood had a sign saying it was closed, but i rode it anyway, cos the website said it was open, and i met 2 guys down there clearing the trail, they said it's fine to ride goodwood and darkside.

They need to get their website/notices up to date!