[Closed] Is Afan dead?

If you mean the cafe and bike shop at Glyncorrwg that recently closed, they have been reopened under new management.

The trails are running fine, we were there last weekend.

It's definitely a lot quieter than it was a few years back though, like you say BPW has probably been a big factor in that.

No, it was pretty ill for a bit, but got better - new shop, new cafe (Cafe is much better, not been in the shop yet). Trails great. have fun

Trails are still great. That's what you ought to go there for really, not a café or shop.

The cafe at the old Afan Centre also appears to be under new management, and the bacon & egg rolls were very good too.

Was there at the weekend. Both cafes great, trails excellent, bike shop in the original centre was good, the shop that replaced Skyline cycles at Glyncorrwyg looks a bit sparse.

There is some new stuff happening:

The bike park is going great and is well used (just above the final descent of the wall at Bryn Betws)

The Wall final descent now has an alternative black run which is a steep enduro style trail.

I wasn't there but apparently the Rhyslin carpark was full of ebikes riding the masts last week.

the shop that replaced Skyline cycles at Glyncorrwyg looks a bit sparse

To be fair the shop needs to be sparse... If you can;t forget it or break it you probably won't buy it from them. Too much stock and you're sitting on dead money.

... and setting yourself up for uninvited visitors as happened repeatedly at Wood'n'Wheels in Hamsterley.

[url= http://test.afanvalleyadventureresort.com/ ]Afan Adventure Resort[/url]

Looks like the Afan area might be getting a serious cash injection...

you actually have to pedal uphill at Afan, some people don't enjoy that hence the popularity of BPW not far away. Afan is great though

Hope not as going in the spring for first time in 3-4 years. Does anyone know what the deal is with the old (skyline?) route that came out when the masts went in? I've heard people mention the "masts" as though there's a route there again?

re this resort development I wonder how close to the trails that is and if they'll put any development in...more likely just to develop their own family friendly stuff within the resort boundary I'd imagine.

Afan/Glycorrwyg is nowhere near dead.

Some 100 miles of marked trails, an extended network beyond that for anyone that is willing to look, including some brilliant technical as well as far reaching out there loops.

A good cafe at one end and a very good cafe at the other, 2 bike shops that'll get you out of trouble should you need them.

Superb local digs from old school b and b to some plush propose made for bikers cottages.

Cracking local pubs in The Refresh and The Colliers, locals always friendly.

It's not Afan that's dead, it's the sense of adventure in some people's minds that's dying.... imho there is a bang for buck mindset in many now that kinda misses the point to some degree.

Support A fan and places like it, they are bloody amazing and need to be cherished.

Right, time to climb down off my soap box and put the kettle on.

Pedlad, Skyline route is still out there, you might need to think on your feet to box round the odd bit but the route generally remains.

The Masts that people mention is not on Skyline and is a very different animal to Skyline.

pedlad - Member
Hope not as going in the spring for first time in 3-4 years. Does anyone know what the deal is with the old (skyline?) route that came out when the masts went in? I've heard people mention the "masts" as though there's a route there again?

Skyline seems to have been rebranded 'Skyline Loop' and it's an addtional 23km loop off the back of Blade. TBH, I rode it once years ago, it's not for me - it's very long and almost featureless bar the last descent. Some will love it though.

'Masts' is an unofficial trail further south down the valley and heads off away from the centre trails, it's not easy to ride in winter but not hard to find with a bit of a pointer to the start.

Afan/Glycorrwyg is nowhere near dead.

Some 100 miles of marked trails, an extended network beyond that for anyone that is willing to look, including some brilliant technical as well as far reaching out there loops.

A good cafe at one end and a very good cafe at the other, 2 bike shops that'll get you out of trouble should you need them.

Superb local digs from old school b and b to some plush propose made for bikers cottages.

Cracking local pubs in The Refresh and The Colliers, locals always friendly.

It's not Afan that's dead, it's the sense of adventure in some people's minds that's dying.... imho there is a bang for buck mindset in many now that kinda misses the point to some degree.

Support Afan and places like it, they are bloody amazing and need to be cherished.

Agreed! I like Afan and it's good to see that Glyncorrwg is still going

I love Afan, in fact I'm going tomorrow. What I don't love though is the weather...

Good to hear the local scene is thriving, I follow a few people from down that way on Insta and it looks like there are some cracking off-piste trails.

It's not Afan that's dead, it's the sense of adventure in some people's minds that's dying.... imho there is a bang for buck mindset in many now that kinda misses the point to some degree.

I have no evidence for this, but I wonder if part of the dwndling numbers at the trail centre is down to people being more adventurous and heading out into the hills or riding handbuilt trails in the woods?

and Cwmcarn also appears to be thriving. The car park was pretty much completely full the other weekend.

From FB it appears the cafe at Glyncorwg is making a really genuine effort to reinvent itself.

What I’ve seen so far looks good. Lots of community style stuff & events.

I really hope they can make it stick & wish them nothing but the best.

Went to Afan late last year, it was very quiet. The cafe at Glyncorwg was good, but also very quiet. Hard to see how they can make it viable in that location, but they are having a good go.

and Cwmcarn also appears to be thriving

Closer to civilisation.

ber
Went to Afan late last year, it was very quiet. The cafe at Glyncorwg was good, but also very quiet. Hard to see how they can make it viable in that location, but they are having a good go

It seems to be picking up of late, as is the original centre and as someone said above Cwmcarn.

Darrell has really been hitting the social media marketing hard for Cwmdown now the 'good' DH track is back fully open and is starting to offer mid-week uplifts again - I don't think it'll ever be back to it's 2 big trailers 5 days a week peak with BPW up the road, but it's nice to see it growing again - I might even stop being a pussy and have a few runs again!

I don't know if the shine is wearing off BPW a bit now, or there's more riders about, hopefully the latter, either way it's nice to see a full car park in winter at CC, used to have a great buzz about the place in summer.

Closer to civilisation

Well, they do say do say Risca is the Welsh Mesopotamia.

The main problem Afan will always face is journey time/distance from the Severn Bridge, once those of us that dwell in Ingerlund have paid for admission to Gods country, Afan is still another ~40+mins further to drive than BPW.

Sadly BPW (and Cwmcarn) are always going to score more traffic with or without uplifts thanks to geography...

I like Afan, but you have to admit for [i]"Gnarr on Demand"[/i] BPW probably has them licked, Laaahndarners are impatient at the best of times.

Of course if there were proper hills in SE England, South Wales would be knackers for Trail-centre funding I reckon.

I don't know if the shine is wearing off BPW a bit now, or there's more riders about, hopefully the latter, either way it's nice to see a full car park in winter at CC, used to have a great buzz about the place in summer.

For me BPW trips have lost a little of that shine / excitement. Still a good day out but newness has certainly worn off for me.

Winter is the only time we really go to Cwmcarn, when the prefered riding is a bit sloppy. The uplift is certainly an attraction but that can't account for that many spaces in the carpark. Maybe it's all the e-bikers.

Mbnut - Member
Afan/Glycorrwyg is nowhere near dead.

It's not Afan that's dead, it's the sense of adventure in some people's minds that's dying.... imho there is a bang for buck mindset in many now that kinda misses the point to some degree.

This, in spades. Afan offers a big day out of riding, not the rinse and repeat of BPW (nowt wrong with either) however, it relies on a greater level of fitness and that's something being forgotten by too many of today's bikers.

I love Afan but every time I go there it hammers down with rain (which I don't mind) and I set a little mental reminder to fit mudhuggers front and rear before my next trip.

Which I then completely forget to do.

Glad the top cafe has reopened, I much prefer parking up that end and doing W2 and Penhyd with a stop at the bottom cafe before ending with a scoff-fest back at the top cafe. Like others have said, BPW is good but I do like a good pedal.

Need to plan another trip /wanders off muttering about there being something he was supposed to do.../

Everything is cyclic in the MTB world. Everyone's been off going to BPW, or NZ, or Madeira, or somewhere else and forgotten to ride round trip trails in their own country for a while. I think its starting to come back on its up-cycle though, I see more invites in my FB feed to do stuff like that than I have for sometime, so its a shame the shop and cafe couldn't hold on a bit longer, I think its got a few years left in it yet. That said, please god someone spend some money on the Glyncorrwyg centre, its literally falling apart.

Yes rain plus that fine grit at afan is pretty miserable - half our group ended up with no brake pad material 3/4 round our ride last time 😐

It's not Afan that's dead, it's the sense of adventure in some people's minds that's dying.... imho there is a bang for buck mindset in many now that kinda misses the point to some degree.

Its not long since everyone bemoaned the disappearing of the sense of adventure as people flocked to trail centres like Afan for a quick hit as they offered more bang for the buck.

Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose. (or something like that).

I've always had great fun at Afan,fantastic and expansive network of challenging and weatherproof trails-what's not to like .
After 3 days of riding my hardtail there and elsewhere on my last visit-it was me that was dead 😀 certainly not Afan.
I'll hopefully be back there soon,and it certainly wont be Bike Park Wales that will prevent us from riding Afan as we will be doing both plus more.

Its not long since everyone bemoaned the disappearing of the sense of adventure as people flocked to trail centres like Afan for a quick hit

Like many of the above comments I go a few times a year despite being a 'soft southerner' and love the pedal up and down and all weather / rain dependability - it just feels like a proper ride when I am there.

For me, personal choice, I don't want the rinse and repeat uplift I like to earn the down and love the way my bike cycles up the stream that some trails become in heavy rain.

Last time I went car park was dead, coffee shop dead, bike shop dead and I am really pleased to see it coming back to life.

I don't think it died, I think people got distracted / lazy and now that sheen has gone they're coming back.

James

It's not dead it's been resting.

(Another soft southerner fan)

Must be on my biking to do list this year. Haven't been since the once or twice yearly university friends and other random work mates of them trips stopped about ten years ago along with the drafty chalets we used to rent nearby

Some 100 miles of marked trails, an extended network beyond that for anyone that is willing to look, including some brilliant technical as well as far reaching out there loops.

This.

Some great stuff in the area. Very different to BPW but much better imo.

Was there in September and it was as awesome as ever, even though the cafe and shop at Glyncorrwg were closed, which was a disappointment. The caf further down the valley at Cynonville was open tough and the trails there were great too.

FWIW the couple who run the Queens B&B in Glyncorrwg said that Afan is now managed by the same people as BPW.

Not been for a few years but last time we were there I remember the local getting territorial about the car park and blocking cars in all over the place.

Went 4-5 times in 2017 and still love it. Not been yet this year but won't be long until I do. It's great!

couple who run the Queens B&B in Glyncorrwg said that Afan is now managed by the same people as BPW.

We go to Afan pretty regularly as it's only 90 mins away. The popularity declined a lot since we started going esp when Ian (I think) stopped running the Cafe and the original centre was more and more run down. Plus losing the original 9-foot which I loved.

Seems to be picking up
- cafe at the old centre is great. The hand cut bacon butties are amazing!
- cafe at Glencorryg is also fab again.
- trails always been brilliant. Wall still up there as one of my favourite trails. Blade has settled in and was a top ride when we did it a few weeks ago.
- shame about the trees. And I'm not a fan of the new Penhydd but wall/blade/w2 are all worth the trip
- if you need stay, Afan lodge is great. Lovely fella who runs it.

I'm a fan and hope it carries on evolving. Feel the same way about cwmcarn (although the felling has ruined one of my fav sections). Seem to be going to BPW less as well..

The Queens B&B in Glyncorrwg has unfortunately been sold.

That's a shame. Before we moved over here (10 years ago), we used to stay there before the Afan Lodge was built.

I go with a small group every Jan/Feb, usually it tips down with rain all weekend or half the trails are covered in snow but the cafe is usually fairly busy for our halfway stop round the W2.

Despite the weather we always have a laugh, we stay at the Afan Lodge so we can ride from the door and use Glencorrwg to refuel (and escape home down the old railway line if we have run out of daylight). I have a soft spot for the climb out of Glencorrwg, if I'm feeling unfit or eaten to much I can back off and get up with just a few short breathers on a singlespeed, but if I've got the energy you can make it as hard as you want by going faster.

[i]The Wall final descent now has an alternative black run which is a steep enduro style trail[/i]

I wonder if that will become the new descent...if they are harvesting the trees on zigzags the old trail might not get reinstated?

Lol, not sure it’d be wise to have a black trail as the only way down!!

Whats it like to ride...the zigzag descent is a red for The Wall, and a black when incorporated into the W2 (due to length, I suppose) Same descent, two colours 🙂

So its black for severity and not a suitable diversion on the red trail during the felling works? I can do a black but I'm not hucking off 4ft steps...

That black descent is completely shocking in the wet. It turns into a sloppy mess, no fun to ride at all.

Jeez that Black line down is tricky, it’s a whole other kettle of balls compared to the Black run on Whites, it’s a non surfaced run built for an Enduro race.

Are we sure that’s the only way? There were diversion signs near there a while back, but it was to skip the ‘new’ top loop.

I’ve misread that, no I wouldn’t fancy it in the middle of winter, it’s a bit lively for me.

It will be interesting to see what happens when the felling starts there. There's no way it will just be the black run down, most would be stuck up the mountain 😆 It's completely different to anything else you'll find in the Afan trails.

Afan local here. Ride in the valley at least twice a week, usually all the off piste stuff, place is far from dead especially the local scene which is thriving.

The trails do need some investment though, I think mountain biking has moved on from trails like Y Wal and Whites.

Also, just to add, the felling will effect Zig Zags and S4 (black run), and when they are closed, I'm pretty sure they are not making a new alternative descent, it will be straight down a fire road, which is laughable.

I'm pretty sure they are not making a new alternative descent,

Anyone know when the felling work is due to start?

I like afan it's a proper bike ride. However the southerners I ride with prefer uplifts.

If they don't a half decent descent after ordering the felling that will be really bad.

I like afan it's a proper bike ride. However the southerners I ride with prefer uplifts.

If they don't a half decent descent after ordering the felling that will be really bad.

There's still a great day, or two riding in Afan to be had, regardless of rain, cafes, or shops. I'm currently sat in the back of our motorhome after 2 days in South Wales. Heading back to the south, where seemingly all the softies live. We've ridden in torrential rain on both days, ridden up trails that were rivers in fact. One day at Afan, staying at Bryn Betws, one day at BPW. Although BPW is fab, I still prefer the challenge of riding the technical trails at Afan flat out. Rocky, twisty and loose. 'Proper' trails.(yes I know it's still a trail centre) but that's why it's good, it feels like a more natural trail. Although Bryn Betws is great, there's definitely a gap in the market for more quality, on mountain accommodation. I've been riding in Afan for 20 odd years and it still appeals when you want to get wet and sloppy on a trail with a variety of difficulty and duration. There's lots more that could be done to make it work better/harder but it's still ace. Good enough to knacker the 4 people half asleep in this van right now.

The felling is imminent I think, just depending on weather.

I am staying exactly in between Afan and Cwmcarn in April, I have one day to ride with the trail hound, what does everyone recommend?

Thinking either Y wall at Afan or Cafall then Twrch at Cwmcarn?

The w2 trail at Afan, which is a combination of Y Wal and Whytes Level, is a good day out.

As link posted on page 1, there appear to be plans afoot for the area. Looks ominous
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Ominous how?

I suspect, they're offering MTBing because there is some in the area, or they'll build their own short section of trail to join up with the existing network - I doubt they'll suddenly take ownership of the lot and charge people to ride it.

This sort of this is exactly the point of having a trail network in a former mining area - it could be great for the area.

"Bear Grylls Survival Academy" 🙂

Looks good, but generally a development like that would need sequestered and gated space for lodges, sportshalls and pools like Centerparcs does.

Has a site been identified, and where is it in relation to the trails?

EDIT:

Just looked it up - not actually in any part of Afan Forest, just south of Cymmer. Can't see any problem with this, the area badly needs something. Although there a few BWs on the site so they'd have to stop randoms coming in and abusing their trails!

[img] [/img]

Where's that lot going in Dez? As long as they use an old industrial site down the valley then that looks cool.

Does anyone know how long this felling around Zig Zags is planned to last for?

It was in an industry magazine my ex gave me, while ago, but I thought it was closer than martinhutch's pic shows. Can imagine the plans have changed.
Only ominous in the fact that they have to build the place!

dynebaruk - Member
Does anyone know how long this felling around Zig Zags is planned to last for?

Nothing from NRW or Bob the Ranger, but 'a while' I would suspect AND they'll need to rebuilt the trail afterwards. If I had to guess, 3 months for the clearance and about the same to rebuild the trail, it'll come back smoother and 'boring' looking for a while, but once the rain and wind get at it, the top soil will be lost and it'll be a bit of a painful chore to ride, like 'Hidden Valley' over on Penhydd.

Hopfully I'm wrong, some of the other felled trails have come back okay bar the lack of trees, but Afan doesn't seem to do well without the trees.

Worrying news, the wiggly descent on Y Wal is probably my all-time fave bit of trail centre.

The £1 car parking fee was a nice surprise compared to most trail centres. Excellent toilets & showers too.

Afan is ALIVE !

Ok there is a lot of forestry missing but the trails are open and some have new sections added. The Wall has new sections on the climb up, the black descent is brutal for me so I use Zig Zags, yes it's open and still excellent. Oh and if you are after a few jumps the bike park before you descend Zig Zags has been revamped and open. On the other side of Afan, climb up Penhydd and you have Sidewinder, Dead Sheep Gulley, Big Dipper and Widow Maker (Blue Scar) to play with.
Get up there.

Brilliant. Must get back there this summer. 👌

Off there in a few weeks after about 6 years. Looking forward to it 🙂

I'm Afan....get it?
IGMC.

I was up Bryn Bettws last night and there was a few people camping up there. It looked fun.
Have a good time lads.

afan is not dead for me the trails are stll good but some people from glyncorrwg cant not ride a bike at all

Went a few weekends ago with some mates, first time in about 6 years, and we all really enjoyed it.  Shame about the trees but the riding is still great fun.  The café at Glyncorrwg is a bit basic but compensated for by the huuuuge portions, Afan centre caff and shop are both really good.  Might have lost some trade since BPW opened but both car parks were nearly full on the Sunday.  An hour long scamper round Blue Scar was particularly good fun

I went a couple months back for the first time, did W2. I absolutely loved it. Cracking weather too! Amazed it doesn’t get more credit, some of the descents were great. A lot of climbing but I just spin up slowly. A great days cycling.

I’m going with some mates in July. Been three times in last four years. It’s fantastic imo. Stay in Cymmer and you can do a day visit to BPW which is totally different kind of kick. Afan for me is MTB at its roots; natural, scenic and somewhat epic.

 Afan for me is MTB at its roots; natural, scenic and somewhat epic.

Just shows how much we've forgotten in such a short time..

Hey it's good to hear you enjoyed, spread the word. I think a lot of people have forgotten about the place. It's a shame about the missing trees but they had some disease so had to be cut.