I am thinking about visiting the small 4 mile man made loop at Cwm Rhaeadr. To make the trip worth while I was looking at combining this with some natural riding at the same location e.g. up and over Mynydd Mallaen. Anyone got any recommendations or thoughts on this?
Cheers
Dave
Not been myself but have a long day out planned in the area to include Cwm Rhaeadr and Esgair Dafydd across the valley. But not sure what the riding is like in ED - anyone??
Happy to help you both out.
Cwm Rhaeadr itself is awesome I could happily lap it all day. There is however some good natural riding in the area, on Mallaen and furhter away - depending on how far you want to ride.
It is possible to link up to the Doethie Valley, although it ends up being quite a long and challenging ride. Mallaen is very vauge on top and you can easily loose the track. I have GPS files if you need them?
As for Esgair Dafydd, there are only a few good descents that I have found, but theres plenty of good riding in Crychan further west. Makes it a massive ride though.
Thanks for your replies.
mtbmatt, might get back to you with regard to the GPS files.
We are coming over to Brechfa in a couple of weeks time for the weekend and I am pondering about a second day at Cwm Rhaeadr. Probably do a couple of laps of the trail centre then move onto the natural stuff. I can see from the OS map that there is a loop around Mallaean following bridleways. How long would you say this takes? I would say we are all reasonably fit, out every week whatever the weather.
Also googled around and found this ...
http://www.offroadadventures-online.com/rr050.html
Cheers
Dave
Personally I find it best to do the moorland stuff first and then join Cwm Rhaeadr near the top of the trail. You can park in the car park and ride from there.
The brideways are there on the ground, but tricky in a few places if you have not ridden them before.
Without knowing exacly how fit/quick you are its hard to say a time, but it takes me around 1.5hrs to do the loop and finish on Cwm Rhaeadr. I'd say 3hrs is more of a realistic time.
+1 for doing the Doethie Valley.
That is an absolute gem of a trail and feels completely isolated. Can't recommend it or Cwm Rhaeadr enough.
We happily drive the couple of hours from Bristol to do these trails.
daved- Mynydd Mallaen, finishing down the Cwm Rhaeadr trail is a really grest ride, with a bit of everything. It usually takes me about three hours. I know the area well and have missed the trail on the climb up to the tops more than once. The trick is to follow the quad trails (VERY vague in places!) up to where they take a sharp left turn at point SN 724 450, then hike a bike for 100m or so eastwards, gently uphill. As you crest the rise you will find (with luck) a rideable trail up to the standing stone at Maen Bach. The trail marked on the map is drawn in the wrong place in this respect. Once at Maen Bach the route is pretty obvious, lovely grassy singletrack that gets faster and faster.
My flikr page has a map on it if you want.
When I wrote the article you linked to the CR trails hadn't been built, but the gate onto them at the forest edge is pretty obvious, on the right as you descend the steep rocky meadow, heading to the sheep pens.
Doethie is sublime. The Headwaters loop on the Offroadadventures site is a good ride too, but involves a lot of grassy climbs.
I too have *.gpx etc files for all these and many other routes if you want/ need.
hearne_ogwen52athotmaildotcom
And knowing mtbmatt- he is a very fast rider!
Ambrose, Thanks very much for your offer of help. There are 10 of us coming across from Somerset (shipham mtb) for the weekend, so once I have had the conflab tomorrow night on route options I'll get back to you. It all sounds really good - natural riding with a lovely singletrack to finish of the ride - with the option of extra loops. I also notice two pubs close by, one in Rhandirmwyn and the other at Rhandirmwyn Bridge. Any recommendations on these?
If your ever over on the Mendip then give us a shout .. (davidatfamilydavenport.com)
Cheers
Dave
If you let me know the dates I may be able to guide you around for a day.
The Royal Oak in Rhandirmwyn wins hands down. A regular and frequent CAMRA winner.
Pub thread
Ambrose, it will be Sunday the 28th March (Two weeks this Sunday). We are doing the two Brechfa loops on Saturday 27th March. Your welcome to come along to that as well if you feel like it.
Thanks for the info on the pub.
Cheers
Dave
We are going to do something similar in May.
There is a fairly large group of us going down from North Wales to Brechfa Friday morning, riding the Raven trail camping in Llandovery and then going to do a couple of laps of Cwm Rhayader on the Saturday before driving home. These are the plans so far.
If any of you guys are local you might be able to answer a couple of questions.
1. I have done the Gorlech trail once before and thought it was excellent, how does the Raven compare to it?
2. Is Llandovery a decent place to stay?
Thanks.
One of my favorite areas to ride, though don't get over much now as I' based in Essex:-(
Down the Doethie valley is a nice little ride, have done some loops to Ty'n-y-cornel & down the Doethie via a real b...h of a climb up to the Standing Stone at Cefn Cnwchelthinog from Troed-rhiw-cymmer. Also done the much nicer climb SW of Troed-rhiw-cymmer up thru' the forest & then head NW comming to Bryn-glas & then onto Ty'n-y-cornel & down the Doethie valley. Some trails are a bit vauge as mentioned earlier, but this is real MTB'ing!
Does the Mynydd Mallaen BW now get access to the Cwm-y-Rhaiadr forest? Always seemed a waste of a BW as it officially just ends in a FP at it's Eastern end, did try to talk to the ROW officer about this but he was not open to suggestions of an upgrade.
turnercraig - Do not know about Brechfa as it will be a first for me and our guys. We are staying close the Brechfa if it is any use to you at ...
http://www.penygraigcottage.com
It is owned by a mountain biker with bike wash and secure storage etc etc. The singletrack guys stayed there as well I believe. All sounds pretty good.
Evesie - from earlier posts on this thread it sounds like there is access into the trail centre from the Bridleway. Atleast thats what I am hoping 
Cheers
Dave
I'm local, so should be able to help.
1. I have done the Gorlech trail once before and thought it was excellent, how does the Raven compare to it?
Both are about the same distance, but the Raven takes a little longer and the technical sections are a little more technical. Some of the climbs are a little steeper as well.
2. Is Llandovery a decent place to stay?
Well I am a little biased!
IMO yes its a nice place. Not a huge amount to do, but a great base. Depending on the size of your group I would recommend Penygawse as a good place to stay. Everyone who stays there recommends it. The Cafe is awesome, best coffee in town. If you need more space then I'm not sure where to recommend, the Castle Hotel is the biggest place, but I don't know what its like these days - its been up and down for a while.
Plenty of pubs in Llandovery, spoilt for choice really. The Neuadd Arms in Cilycwm (near Cwm Rhaeadr) is a great pub which fantastic food.
The Neuadd Arms is a good pub you say Matt. It should be too, it's kinda local 
And yes, the link into the forest is definately there.
AFAIK I'm free that weekend, I'll see you on the Sunday at 10:00 AM if that suits you. Later if you like, definately not earlier! Blue Scenic, greying hair, Nicolai bike. If you phone/text me on zerosevenseveneightzeroninedoubleeightthreeeightone we can fine tune things easily.
mtbmatt
Thanks for that, the Raven sounds good then, looking forward to that.
Thanks for the hotel info but we will be 'slumming it' and camping, I've found this campsite which seems to be a short walk from town, maybe you know it? http://www.erwlon.co.uk
Basically we will only be there for one night and as long as there's somewhere for us to stuff our faces and have a few cold beers, seems like a good place to stay.
Erwlon is a good campsite. Just on the edge of town, so should be fairly quiet. It's won awards for its facilities so should be a good place to stay.
If you want good food then either the Blue-bell pub on the High Street is good for cheap food with big portions, the Chinese take-away next door is superb.
Several other places as well. Indian resteraunt, nice but expensive. Kings Head, OK but a little overpriced. Also a chippy which is nice and kebab which is average.
Sublime - ideal word Ambrose. Were off to Doethie at the end of May if you're around...
martyn- I may join you. Will I see you at the Bothy on 24th April?
[*]I'll check on FB at the end of Lent. (April 4th)
Dave- ta for the email. YGM, Steve too.
route map of Mynydd Mallaen on here
http://call4fires-mtb.blogspot.com/2011/06/mynydd-mallaen-cwm-rhaeadr.html
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