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Hello strangers! Long time no see - hope you’re all tip top.
Have there been any whisperings on when Cwm Rhaeadr might open up again?
Bump for daytime viewers!
On 28jul I asked NRW and got this response:
Shwmae Mr Harris
In regards to Cwm Rhaeadr, we do not have a fixed date for re-opening of the site. Harvesting is on going in the woodland. Once the contractors have finished the section around the most sensitive areas public use wise. This being mainly the bike trail. Then we will be able to re-instate the trails to the correct and safe standard for use. We are working our hardest to get the site back open.
Diolch yn fawr
James
On 20aug I asked MBWALES what happens next and they have also asked NRW what is happening.
Everyone who is interested should email NRW at:
enquiries@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk
Not on Cwm Rhaeadr per se.
Even though it's more than a few miles up the road from Brechfa, it seems to be closed for the same forestry work?
Anyway, Brechfa is starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel, the harvesting there is due to end in around 4 weeks, 'Back On Track' are going to complete a feasibility study soon to work out reopening etc, which sounds like it's more than just clearing up after the loggers and reopening.
Whether you like Back on Track's particular style of trail is perhaps a different question, I personally do, but I do wonder if turning every TC descent into a BPW blue is going to get a bit samey in the end.
Brechfa has some great descents between the red and black circuits. Would be a shame if some of the more natural feeling ones get bike parked though. I thought combining the black and red gave you a nice mix of both styles.
Have the same thoughts about Brechfa, had a good mix across the two loops. As much as I like what Back On Track do they're doing everywhere, be good to have a different company do their style of trail instead.
As for Cwm Rhaeadr, I hope it does get reinstated properly as I've heard form some people who have been there that it's completely trashed in places, others are untouched by machines. As a trail in the middle of nowhere with no facilities though it'll struggle to justify funding if needs major remedial work.
Is Brechfa closed too?
Is Brechfa closed too?
Yeah, has been for months, forestry work which was delayed due to Covid. It's due to end in a few weeks, but the trails need rebuilding, at least in part.
At a guess they won't be open this side of December, but it could be Spring '21 if we get a particularly wet/cold Winter.
Have the same thoughts about Brechfa, had a good mix across the two loops. As much as I like what Back On Track do they’re doing everywhere, be good to have a different company do their style of trail instead.
Yeah, Architrail who recently did some work at Cwmcarn do offer something a bit different, I know the Pwca trails seems to have polarised opinion, but I haven't heard too many complaints about the work they did on Twrch. I don't think I'd classify them are better or worse, but they do build slightly different, busier, tighter, more physical (at least at Cwmcarn) surface is still mostly mirror smooth, but with a bit more off-camber and less easy to read first time.
That said Rowan Sorrel did Brechfa before Back on Track existed, so it's in safe hands.
I think a lot of the trails in Brechfa were overdue some maintenance anyway so now's a good time to get them all back up to standard before reopening.
I rode Cwmcarn for the first time on Sunday and did all three trails. Cafell was ok, Pedalhounds DH was fun but we couldn’t see a quick way back up to run it again. Twrch was better, really enjoyable descent back to the trail centre. Pwca was good, but some of the features detracted from the subsequent features; there seemed to be a lot of humps right before kicker tables that sucked the speed off and ruined the jumps for all of us. Nice trail other that that though.