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Off to Llanidloes for a week for a family holiday but taking the bike. I could probably drive to LLandegla, or Coed Y Brenin, but I'd love to try something new. If you liked fast, techy and bumpy singletrack, didn't mind a climb but were a terrible navigator, where in mid-Wales would you ride?
Thanks
I suspect there is plenty of natural riding surrounding the area but if you want singletrack without navigating then its 30 mins to Nant Y Arian. Fantastic place with great riding and feels proper remote but with well marked trails. There's even a pretty big climb or two.
Its another 20 mins to Aberystwyth which is a nice town with a beach and a few other attractions so you could potentially make a family day of it
Degla and CyB are big drives from there still. As mentioned NyA has some decent trails or you could fairly easily get across to cli-machs as well. Other options are to head to the shire and ride the Mynd or Eastridge or down to Rhayader and ride Elan Valley.
There's supposed to be some good stuff at Hafren forest but buggered if I can ever find it.
Maan, if you're going to Llandiloes i would suggest trying to get a day booked at Gerraint Jones' Yamaha offroad experience. I've been 2-3 times & its brilliant.
Elan Valley. Some nav required but you can’t go too far wrong. Stunning place and some great not too techy descents.
Nant. Rhayader. Elan mach
Hafran forest as a few gems but gets cut up by mixers
I like Llani.
There is tiny trail centre that could be combined with riding in Elan valley area. We stayed there 19 years ago when they were building it so can't comment on what it is like now.
https://www.forestcottages.co.uk/mountain-biking.html
Hmmm. There's no waymarked trails in that area, but plenty of routes. The Mid-Wales and Marches guidebook by Jon Dixon is very good (if it still exists). Not much of what you describe outside of offical trail centres though.
Yes - Phil knows
Hafren forest has some good stuff and it's fairly easy to find, it's on Strava so you should be able to put together a route fairly easily. Saying that I haven't been for a couple of years, it's used by motorcross bikes and can get cut up/rutted in places.
Hello, Live just South of Aberystwyth
Nant Y Arian is a local for me and good, trails are graded as follows, blue, 2 reds and a black (my opinion not any harder than the reds as it essentially connects all the reds together with a big across the moors loop on top, but does get you well out into the wilds so take spares and a phone). Also a non official option if you google nant y arian reaper. Fits in for a family day out as walking trails, red kite feeding at 3pm and playgrounds, cafe open last weekend for takeaway as well.
Other options further South from where you are staying include:
Dothrie Valley - google the route description, definite navigation,
Cwn Rhaeadr - single track loop, was under repair last time i went so check
Elan Valley - https://www.mbwales.com/agents/elan-valley/
North (45mins):
Mach trails have all recently been all re-signed, check out http://www.dyfimountainbiking.org.uk/
slightly further on to Corris and Climachx trail would fit the fast, techy, bumpy requirement, plenty of scope in the woods there, have a look at trails forks and it all turns to multicoloured spaghetti. Dyfi bike park in the same direction but i'm not that good!
Anyone got any 40-60km gravel routes from Llanidloes?
mid-morning, mid-Wales gravel bump
I didn’t think the Mach 3 trail at Machynlleth was particularly difficult on my mtb. So say there were going to be some good descents but they didn’t materialise really. Just felt like I mostly pedalled round for hours on fireroads with the occasional bit of grass. Maybe it might be tough on gravel - possibly better suited to a 29er short travel hardtail. Depends how you like your gravel.