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Hi All,
Okay, I am coming back to the UK in July for a month and am planning a road-trip across Wales to ride with a couple of mates.
Our aim is drive up from Bristol from Tuesday until Saturday the 3rd week in July. To keep things simple (as I live in Malaysia and the mates are lazy) I would like to stick to trail centres where possible.
So far we are considering starting at Coed y Brenin with an excursion up to what was/is Marin Trail. Ride at Coed y Brenin then head down to Machynnleth (sp?) then down to Afan / Cymcarn / Bike Park Wales and possibly FoD to finish.
1. What trails/ locations would you advise?
We are all moderately fit/regular riders that like to keep things simples.
2.Any advice, trail names etc, would be much appreciated.
3. Any accommodation recommendations would also be superb.....
cheers
Shiny
Well as Welsh roads are crap maybe heading up the M5 and starting on the Marin or Penmachno would be better then drop to CyB and head south from there.
Do it properly, leave the car behind and do a Welsh off road trip, 😉
this http://www.roughrideguide.co.uk/Welsh-Coast-2-Coast.html
Up the M5 as mentioned.
Llandegla - fast and swoopy.
Penmachno - just brilliant, some fast some techy and an out there feel.
Marin - not my favourite, would skip it rather than burn yourselves out.
Antur Stinigog - An uplift venue, good descents and a great bunch of guys.
Coed y Brenin - Make sure you get MBR in, good bang for buck...
Mach Trails - more off road routes than trail centre apart from Climax, good descent.
Nant yr Arian - A real little gem of a trail centre, I never drive pass it.
Coed Tallwm - tucked away and limited trails, I am a fan of the Red Kite events so didn't want to leave it out... good area to explore.
Cwm Rhaeadr - a short up and down, great flowing descent.
Brechfa - brilliant but big day out, red/black/red is my favourite way to do it and a great little food shed there now. Be warned, this is a lump of a day out but excellent.
Afan/Glyncorrig - still the place not to miss, W2 is a good way to get in some great classics or give Blade a go. Penhydd is the one to miss here imho. An excellent location.
Bleangarw - a short trail, brutal up and a good descent
Bike Park Wales - you need the uplift to make the most of it but it is money well spent.... brilliant blue and red runs are true grin inducers.
Cwmcarn - living in Bristol I expect you know it... uplift is good and 2 trails, tough climbs but some great sections of descent.
http://www.mbwales.com/Default.aspx this is a good guide to have a butchers at.... enjoy.
I could add good bunkhouses and pubs along the way but you need to do some research yourself.... all part of the fun. For me I never use chain hotels or go to Macdonalds, spread your money around the local communities and you will meet some top people who are very welcoming and very generous....
thenId suggest you may be better off focusing on the South or North individually otherwise you end up missing quite a bit out.
North you've got Llandegla Llandegla, Marin, Penmachno, Antur Stiniog, Coed-y-Brenin and Nant-yr-arian.
South you've got Cwm Carn, Afan, BPW, Brechfa, Coed Trallwm, Cwm Rhaedr and nant-yr-arian.
Superb lads, some top recommendations there - many I have no idea of.
Keep the suggestions coming.
cheers
shiny
revolution bike park if you are into more tech dh stuff.
would recommend penmachno, dyfi forest, Brechfa and FOD.
Arrange a big natural loop day out, your mates will thank you for it. To spend a week in Wales and ride only trail centers is madness. Even if you "only" push up Snowden in the afternoon and ride down after the 5pm bike ban cutoff you and your mates will not regret it.
We stayed here in a "cotttage" when hiking in Snowdonia - a fair few mtbers too. Mixed reviews but we found it perfectly servicable, currys where decent. Its not 5 star (or 3 or 4 !)
[url= http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g1119717-d4101159-Reviews-Oakeley_Arms_Bar-Maentwrog_Gwynedd_North_Wales_Wales.html ]Oakley Arms[/url]
I'd second missing out the marin entirely as well, too much of a slog that would waste half a day but knacker you for the whole.
Also I think some of the climachx is closed at the mo: http://www.dyfimountainbiking.org.uk/climachx/