• This topic has 32 replies, 12 voices, and was last updated 11 years ago by Alex.
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  • Brecon Beacons – Rides/Routes/Local Advice/Guide
  • KingofBiscuits
    Free Member

    Hello

    I’m staying just outside Hereford Fri 9th to Mon 12th November and have been given the go ahead to bring the bike and get out riding in the area Sat 10th.

    Ideally something between 2 to 4 hours, 20 to 30 miles of riding.

    Are there any STW forum dwellers local to Hereford or the surrounding area that can recommend some rides or routes? Ideally are there any local riders around that weekend that I can join?

    Has anyone who has previously ridden in the area any advice?

    Cheers

    KoB

    timber
    Full Member

    Cats back near Hay, unfortunately it’s all in a mates head, so I can’t tell you the route, but its a ridge and rocky – which is good, if it’s not rocky ’round here at the moment, it’s boggy.

    KingofBiscuits
    Free Member

    Thanks timber. Riding ridges and rocky singletrack sounds promising. I’d prefer to avoid boggy if possible.

    Think Talgarth is approx 30 mins from where we are staying and looks to be a good starting point from what I’ve been reading.

    Anyone else?

    KingofBiscuits
    Free Member

    Bump for the morning crowd

    smiffy
    Full Member

    Interesting that you asked about Brecon Beacons and say you’re staying near Hereford. You’re going to need to get over/round The Black Mountains to get to The Beacons.

    Marko
    Full Member

    Best option would be head down the A465 to Llanthony Priory.

    A couple of routes here:

    http://www.mtbtrails.info/Trail_Venue.aspx?VenueNumber=85

    Hth
    Marko

    KingofBiscuits
    Free Member

    Yeah I realised that when I started looking at the map smiffy 🙂

    We are staying to the south west of Hereford, not far from the north east edge of the park.

    Happy to ride from the door if there’s decent options but thought people might know more routes and rides in the Beacons. Like I said Google maps states Talgarth is 30 mins away.

    KingofBiscuits
    Free Member

    Thanks Marko, that looks good. I’ll investigate it more later.

    T1000
    Free Member

    For most people they see the whole range as being the Brecon Beacons….. Especially as the black mountains are within the Brecon Beacons national park….

    Or you could head out further on the 465 to Llanvihangel and then up to Grwyne Fawr resi lots of great loops there
    How long are you planning to head out for?

    KingofBiscuits
    Free Member

    Not sure T1000. Probably 5 hours at the most. 20 to 30 miles. Perhaps not even that. I think my missus will be massively hacked off if I left at 0830 and came back at 1800.

    So probably no later than a 1000 start and 1400 finish from a riding perspective.

    I’m just trying to compare it to natural routes I’ve ridden in Scotland like Torridon, Sligachan and Glen Tilt. All approximately 55k routes completed in approximately 4 to 5 hours.

    If I was able to tag on to a group or for someone to guide me round a route then this would probably speed up the process. There’s always an element of stop/start navigation when riding something new and unfamiliar on your own.

    T1000
    Free Member

    It’s pretty exposed on the top of the ridges (same on the climbs / descents on the Talgarth / hay side climbs on this side are harder

    Saturdays the best day to ride as even if your sticking to bridleways then there are less walkers about…..

    I’d have suggested doing the ‘classic route’

    But starting from Grwyne Fawr as the Talgarth start is the ‘vanilla’ version….

    For a shorter route

    I’d suggest route from 268 252

    Up to the top of peny gadair Fawr via the fire roads

    Descend to 260 238

    Then either loop south around the end of the ridge or descend via fford las Fawr

    KingofBiscuits
    Free Member

    Thanks T1000. I’ll check the map. Yep I was going to ride on the Saturday.

    Having just looked at where we are staying it’s further out of Hereford than I was expecting. Talgarth and Llanbedr are an equal distance apart.

    The route Marko suggested climbs out of Llanbedr and loops anti-clockwise. Presumably this would be a better starting location?

    T1000
    Free Member

    Oops forgot to say the classic will not make your misses happy…..

    They’re not of the same scale as the natural trails in the Cairngorms…. But once away from the Offas dyke then it’s v quiet

    Lots of the ridges sections have areas of peat which is fine on a dry summer or depths of winter

    T1000
    Free Member

    I’d agree with Marko anti clockwise would be best from Llanbedr

    It would be impressive to complete the loop and come back via Talgarth in 4 hrs!

    jambalaya
    Free Member

    @king – dropped you an email

    fodmtbguides
    Free Member

    Lots of the ridges sections have areas of peat which is fine on a dry summer or depths of winter

    Do you mean the peat is wet and troublesome all year round ?

    psling
    Free Member

    Whereabouts are you actually staying? There are routes up onto the Black Mountain ridges from various places. A lot of the valley trails are regularly used by pony trekkers and can be a nightmare after wet weather but also provide invaluable links between the better trails. Be prepared for some hike-a-bike to get up onto the ridges and you’ll find the best riding although, like fodmtbguides says, the peat hags (along the Waun Fach ridge especially but also some of the other ridges) can be “troublesome” 🙂

    jambalaya
    Free Member

    Do you mean the peat is wet and troublesome all year round ?

    @fod – no I take that to mean it’s fine when dry or when frozen, that’s my experience with peat

    KingofBiscuits
    Free Member

    Thanks jambalaya, appreciated. I’ll take a look shortly.

    psling Michaelchurch Escley

    psling
    Free Member

    Possible loop from where you’re staying:

    Make way via Craswell to 288329 then NW up spur onto ridge, follow over Hay Bluff to 242375 then East to Abbey Farm at 273378. From there head SE down valley back to Craswell or head to 266401 and then either roughly E to Snodhill or SE over Vagar Hill then back home along lanes.

    Not a long ride but should fill a good 2 or 3 hours. I’ve not done any of the bridleways after Abbey Farm so no idea how rideable they may be! The longer return loop follows parts of the 3 Rivers Ride which is a long distance horse trail so, given the time of year, may be cut up if it’s a soft surface.

    Wherever you choose to ride, enjoy 8)

    KingofBiscuits
    Free Member

    Cheers psling I think I need to buy an OS Map 🙂

    jambalaya
    Free Member

    @King – have a look at OS Getamap, IMO well worth £20 subsription (but I am a map geek). Partly as you can do this research whilst at work and don’t have to wait to get down to the map shop 🙂

    Just followed @pslings route – I’m guessing he might be on a getamap too, those grid refs are spot on, he didn;t read them off a paper map !

    jambalaya
    Free Member

    @King – I really do need to get a life ….

    T1000
    Free Member

    That the peat on the ridges particularly near Waun Fach is only fine at the height of summer or in the depths of winter(even then it can be a bit like an Aldi meat pie…. Thin crust concealing a toxic gravy…..)

    psling
    Free Member

    he didn;t read them off a paper map !

    Cheeky! 😉

    I too need to get a life; can spend hours poring over maps, reading them like you might a magazine. Grid references are essential reading!! Held back on the full references on the basis that KingofBiscuits [chocolate hobnob BTW 🙂 ] already knows which area he’ll be in 😆

    DoctorRad
    Free Member

    I did this the other week and loved it:

    http://www.bikehike.co.uk/mapview.php?lnk=http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1279811/BreconBLongRev4.gpx

    First half is not very eventful and involves a long tarmac climb, but the second half rocks. You’re well off rights of way in the middle, but it’s all logging roads that the MXers seem to use a fair bit, so you shouldn’t have any issues.

    The start finish is a lay-by with a tea/burger van (at least on the Saturday on which I rode).

    I’d consider four hours to be fast for this route, mind you… but then I’m a slowcoach…

    KingofBiscuits
    Free Member

    Thanks jambalaya, makes sense, will do! Right, I think it’s time you did some work 🙂

    I’ve realised I have a couple of routes in the back of The Good Mountain Bike Guide that someone bought me one Christmas. This includes Talgarth, Crickhowell and Talybont-on-usk as starting points.

    Issue 53 also has some gpx files of routes which I’ll check later.

    Plenty to read up on tonight.

    KingofBiscuits
    Free Member

    @psling – Bang on! I was eating a dark choc hobnob when I thought up the name

    KingofBiscuits
    Free Member

    I thought I’d resurrect this thread as I’m travelling down tomorrow.

    Currently considering riding the Llanthony Priory route on Saturday that Marko provided. It just depends how well the map prints out from the website.

    Anyone aware of local conditions? Anyone else riding and fancy meeting up?

    KingofBiscuits
    Free Member

    OK. Suggestions needed. Currently sat in the accommodation wondering what to do. The guide book I have is total shite. The map I printed out is…you guessed it…total shite. I have a GPX file but not sure how to use this on my phone with Viewranger.

    At present ride fail.

    Currently considering driving to the nearest bike shop for an OS Map, Route Guide, advice??

    nickjb
    Free Member

    Just open the GPX file in Viewranger. Go to routes or tracks (if you are not sure which you have then try one then the other)

    faz083
    Free Member

    the gap is quite a cool ride.

    Alex
    Full Member

    Classic Gap I reckon then. Easy to follow. Nice pub at the start/end. There’s some lovely riding near Lord Hereford’s Knob(!) but I don’t have the routes on the GPX. Other option is to head to the FoD and have a few hours slithering about, finishing on the blue.

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