I’ve done all the usual (BPW, FoD, BMCC, Antur etc) but are there are less known about places without uplifts that are a little less groomed and natural?
Looking for steep, rutted etc
Based in mid West Wales so can travel anywhere in a few hours.

If you want uplift then Caersws, Llangollen, Revolution bike park, Moelfre, any of the pearce uplifts (ok not wales but border)?

Wentwood? Is that still there?

On the border? Shropshire!
The Wrekin I’ve heard is steep off the back, keep meaning to get out that way. & Hopton? and that other one round there I can’t name right now.

and that other one round there I can’t name right now.

Bringewood? See also, Bucknell

How about the Reaper at Nant yr Arian – it’s good fun but best on a 160mm bike really

Rhyd y fellin, reola, Kinsham are all on the pearce list.

does mynydd du still exist?

Llangollen, Bala, Nant G, Mynydd Du, (if it’s still there?), Rheola, Mt Ash, CC OP.

In South Wales, 5miles north of Cardiff (you have The Garth, Castell Coch, Caerphilly, Rudry, Machen, Wylie, cwmcarn DH (smoother not as steep). My favourites are Garth and Machen. Most have road and fireroads climbs. Easily a couple of days riding,

Nant G is uplift only on the days that Antur arrange, they request not to ride there at other times!
It is more natural than Antur and recommend booking on, watch out for days via Facebook, there is one this Sunday
Some of the tracks at Revolution are more natural esp if its wet, but again uplift only

EDIT Nant G Uplift is full this week but this is the place to check

Abercarn

Rheola…..it’s where many top dh riders have started. Massive fire road climb and a proper challenging downhill track. If you want steep head to the garw valley, if you are brave, that is!

The lower part of the Dragon Track at Mynydd Ddu can still be ridden. It is pretty steep and increasing cut up by MXers making it very rutted. Sounds exactly what you are looking for 🙂

Best tackled on a 29er HT – NOT 😉

I can give you GRs for start if interested

Used to ride the old “Scouse run” DH track at Nannerch. We walked up that way last year and the track is still there albeit overgrown in places (aah memories) 😀

Given your location you might already know…

If you’re genuinely good & promise not to die on it I can point you in the direction of an Atherton track you can conceivably self-uplift on (It’d be a **** long walk round).

Emailer in profiler

Caersws too. Check fb page.
Revolution is a must visit.
Wrekin is a good shout. Lots of follow your nose, tons in fod too.
Bucknell has been forested recently so a few tracks are gone. Bringewood is ace.
We used to go and push up Rheola and Myndd du, Abercarn, and Gethin. All good except Gethin now 🙂

Can anyone direct me to the start of the reaper trail at Nant Y please?

Starts at the dead trees, goes all the way to the bottom of the valley through the quarry.

Can anyone direct me to the start of the reaper trail at Nant Y please?

Yeah, I was wondering this, some it looks properly sketchy near cliff edges etc.
Where is it in relation to the car parks and cafe?

Foel Gasnach is fun

In relation to the car park and cafe nowhere near it. Use a map, have a look at contour lines, and use the features it shows on them and you can find it.
Or ask a nice local…..

Reaper is a good trail but a DH track it aint.

Possibly not quite what you’re after, but there’s the Black Mountains Cycle Centre north of Abergavenny that might be worth a look.

Homepage

Starts at the dead trees,

I know roughly where it is.
Not 100% sure how to get to the start of it.
Do you just turn off the main doubletrack and walk up the grass bank by the covered over mine thing?
My email’s in my profile if you’d rather not broadcast it. 🙂

Foel Gasnach? Self uplift.

welshfarmer – would be interested in that grid ref, rode it when it was open but then forgot where it is 😳 Stumbled across a bit of it last year but couldn’t find it again!

Used to ride the old “Scouse run” DH track at Nannerch. We walked up that way last year and the track is still there albeit overgrown in places (aah memories)

Used to ride that track as well, got an uplift of Steve Peat one day there too :-). The drop of doom halfway down was good fun for newcomers.

Scouse run” DH track at Nannerch

Where was it?

(EDIT: No points for Nannerch, I know where that is.)
(EDIT2: I know it was “replaced” by Foel Gasnach.)

The Reaper: https://www.strava.com/segments/7697572

Does OP mean true DH or natural enduro? Plenty in Brechfa and Crychan forests if you want steep mud and roots

get in! I’m third on the Reaper!

I’m totally humbled by the one minute whupping Roost Slayer has handed me. Time for a Rocky montage training session…

I’ve ridden with him, he’s very good!

I reckon I could shave off 30 seconds if I was fit but I’ll never find the other 30s.

It’s a challenging track, not strictly DH, but a good mix including cardio.

Fair play to him and you’re lucky to ride with someone very good – riding solo makes you lazy!

Fair play to him and you’re lucky to ride with someone very good – riding solo makes you lazy!

Ahh just did a mates race, don’t actually ride with him! The guy in second is a nutter too haha.

I’m gonna take Jonathan Lee down! Eventually…
Watch this space

Trouble is, MintyJim, I haven’t got round to riding that one yet but it’s on the list for this year. So then you’ll still be in third 😉

Throwing down the gauntlet is it?

I’m gonna smash it on my full suss this time, not the xc hardtail like before. Honest.