Non MTBr's family t...
 

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[Closed] Non MTBr's family time at Afan...

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Has any one spent any time at Afan where Wife/daughter or similar is not interested in biking?   I'm thinking of taking the family in lieu of our summer hols.

Me and Kryton Jnr will ride the trails - he's 11 and a good rider with a proper bike so this will be his "my first Welsh trail centre" experience which I'm sure he'll love, bit will Mrs K and little Miss K be bored?

Whats to do for them?


 
Posted : 14/07/2020 1:23 pm
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do they like to fish?


 
Posted : 14/07/2020 1:24 pm
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THere's not a lot about mate, not close by anyway, it's a pretty remote area.


 
Posted : 14/07/2020 1:24 pm
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done it before... sent wife fishing and made her prep and bbq the end result... also, sent her for a nice stroll between the two trail centres while i rode w2


 
Posted : 14/07/2020 1:27 pm
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How long for?

Could always base in Mumbles. Afan is 35 mins away.


 
Posted : 14/07/2020 1:29 pm
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I should have said, they are not outdoorsy types.... although in the evening Mrs K is quite happy with a warm cottage and a bottle of wine....


 
Posted : 14/07/2020 1:29 pm
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As above, there's not much. Not much to drive to either. Fishing or a woodland walk. How about Nant yr Arian? Red kites and a playground on site. Silver mountain next door. Short drive to Aberystwyth with a nice beach, ice cream, etc (and shops, museum, steam railway).


 
Posted : 14/07/2020 1:31 pm
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Quite often on here see people refer to NyA as an alternative to the S Wales trail centres. It's a great place but hardly a case of nipping around the corner for an alternative - google maps shows 2hrs 40 drive


 
Posted : 14/07/2020 1:57 pm
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Yes, but as an alternative destination for a stay for a few days, and with an unstated departure point the travel time is less important than an adequate destination for the non-riding folk.

South Wales valleys can be a grim spot in f you aren’t interested in riding.

And the beaches up near Aberystwyth are some of my favourite anywhere.


 
Posted : 14/07/2020 2:04 pm
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NYA or Brechfa for more scenic locations.

From Afan, the Gower is within striking distance. Have some Joe's!


 
Posted : 14/07/2020 2:08 pm
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Quite often on here see people refer to NyA as an alternative to the S Wales trail centres. It’s a great place but hardly a case of nipping around the corner for an alternative – google maps shows 2hrs 40 drive

Well, yes, but I wouldn't suggest going via Afan. It depends where you start from. If you live in Birmingham, for example, NyA is 2 hours away, Afan is 2.5 hrs. Even starting from down south (Bristol, Gloucester, etc) its only en extra hour or so. Its a perfectly good alternative for a weekend trip.


 
Posted : 14/07/2020 2:10 pm
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As the Captain just mentioned, make sure you locate a Joe's Ice cream parlour and enjoy the greatest ice cream ever made!


 
Posted : 14/07/2020 2:14 pm
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South Wales valleys can be a grim spot in f you aren’t interested in riding.

This.

If you base yourself at Gower or Cardigan Bay, They've got beaches, nice walking, pubs etc and you've got a short drive to the trails.


 
Posted : 14/07/2020 2:14 pm
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We're coming from London...


 
Posted : 14/07/2020 2:16 pm
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Brechfa is closed for the summer. And there is bugger all around there.
Don’t go to Brechfa 😃


 
Posted : 14/07/2020 2:20 pm
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Come and have a Joe's! I might stroll down for one now actually... 🙂


 
Posted : 14/07/2020 3:13 pm
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Maybe the FoD/Wye Valley might be better than Afan?


 
Posted : 14/07/2020 3:53 pm
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Stay somewhere around Cardiff and then you've got shortish drives to Afan, Cwmcarn & BPW.


 
Posted : 14/07/2020 4:09 pm
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Agree with the FOD suggestion. Loads to do for a family around there. Had some great times with our kids at Simmonds yat, puzzlewood etc. Love Afan but couldn’t see what there would be to do for non-biking family members


 
Posted : 14/07/2020 4:19 pm
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The FoD does look like a better idea.  Ok I’ve never been so are there trails signed an easy to follow?  Where’s a good place to stay - looking at cottage or lodge type hire?


 
Posted : 14/07/2020 5:13 pm
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The FoD does look like a better idea. Ok I’ve never been so are there trails signed an easy to follow?

The Red and Blue loops are signed and easy to follow, as are the DH runs. The red and blue are pretty short (and pretty tame), half a day to do both, if that. If you want more then there is plenty of off-piste but then you will need some navigation. It's not like Afan.


 
Posted : 14/07/2020 5:34 pm
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THere’s not a lot about mate, not close by anyway, it’s a pretty remote area.

And

As above, there’s not much. Not much to drive to either.

It’s 20 minutes from the M4 to Afan.

The M4 corridor has around 2 million people living along it, from around 20 miles west of Afan to 50 miles east. It takes about an hour to get from one end of those 2 million people to Bristol....

There are loads of great beaches. Really, absolutely world class beaches.

Castles everywhere.

Dylan Thomas stuff down the road.

Cardiff bay.

Kids activities everywhere, if open.

Shops, cafes, restaurants, ice-cream parlours, arcades, piers, golf courses, pony trekking, caves, waterfalls, monkey sanctuaries, hawking centres, archery, museums, Folly Farm, Oakwood, Gower, Pembrokeshire, yet more castles, parks, gardens.

Yeah, nothing to do around here. It’s really remote. Go to north Wales or mid Wales, it’s much less remote. 😂


 
Posted : 14/07/2020 5:46 pm
 Alex
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There should be loads of B&Bs in the FoD desperate for some business. If you do go there, put a shout out and I'm sure someone will show you some of the off piste stuff (that's good to do with your lad).

We stayed at Cardigan bay a few years ago. Family had a good time while I went riding 😉 Also there was an amazing working chocolate factory you could visit.


 
Posted : 14/07/2020 6:51 pm
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It’s 20 minutes from the M4 to Afan.

The M4 corridor has around 2 million people living along it, from around 20 miles west of Afan to 50 miles east. It takes about an hour to get from one end of those 2 million people to Bristol….

There are loads of great beaches. Really, absolutely world class beaches.

Castles everywhere.

Dylan Thomas stuff down the road.

Cardiff bay.

Kids activities everywhere, if open.

Shops, cafes, restaurants, ice-cream parlours, arcades, piers, golf courses, pony trekking, caves, waterfalls, monkey sanctuaries, hawking centres, archery, museums, Folly Farm, Oakwood, Gower, Pembrokeshire, yet more castles, parks, gardens.

Yeah, nothing to do around here. It’s really remote. Go to north Wales or mid Wales, it’s much less remote. 😂

🙂


 
Posted : 14/07/2020 7:31 pm
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Jeez, so FoD accommodation appears the of an average £500 Mon-Fri around the Monmouthshire area.     If anyones got any family friendly Monmouthshire tips beyond the FOD id's grateful...


 
Posted : 15/07/2020 9:43 am

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