We're down visiting friends in Llanelli this weekend and I've persuaded my pal (who has mountain biked about twice in his life but is generally up for a challenge) we should go to Afan. I've never been myself either.

How hard are the trails in comparison to the Seven Stanes, just so I can judge?

And where is the best place around there to hire bikes (I'm not getting to take my own down)?

Cheers.

Choose the easy trail as there are 3 or more to choose from.

http://www.mbwales.com/en/content/cms/centres/afan_forest_park/afan_forest_park.aspx

penhydd is the best trail for a novice -fairly easy climb and nothing too nuts. and in my opinion sidewinder is one of the best bits of singletrack anywhere

you can hire bikes from skyline cycles – might need to book they have a shop at afan and glyncorrwg car parks.

enjoy -afan is ace…..and only 20 mins from home

When I was last riding Penhydd, there was a guy taking a group of what appeared to be absolute beginners up there. He was telling one girl "the big levers are the brakes, the little ones are the gears!". Two guys were having real trouble keeping the bikes upright!

Fair play to them, (I assume they got home okay!) but it seemed mental taking them round a trail with some fairly big drops if you take a wobble!

If they can do it, you and your mate will surely manage okay 🙂

Nice Kona f/s and h/t bikes for hire at the bike shop at the centre.
I agree witht he comment about sidewinder being a wonderful singletrack at the Penhydd trail – guaranteed a grin factor of 10/10 at the end of this section.
Nothing too scary at Penhydd in my opinion.

Nothing too scary at Penhydd in my opinion.

The drop to the side of Hidden Valley?

True, but it's walkable in lieu of riding.

Whites Level is all ridable too.

For a total beginner I'd take them to Brecfa and do the green and potentially the blue extension.

Harder to hire bikes out that way though.

I'd consider Brechfa Blue/green if I was going to sospanland too.

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=brechfa&daddr=Llanelli,+Dyfed&hl=en&gl=uk&mra=ls&sll=51.679756,-4.163151&sspn=0.156466,0.308647&g=Llanelli,+Dyfed&ie=UTF8&ll=51.81536,-4.15017&spn=0.623985,1.234589&t=h&z=10

Oh aye – If you've never been before – don't take any babies to llanelli

ok for a total beginner in llanelli i'd reccomend the millenium coastal path with a gnarl factor of zero!!

Although he's pretty much a beginner and claims he wants to do "something that won't end in death", I know (from 4 decades of experience) he'd deep down be insulted if I took him round something easy.

We've a bad track record of encouraging the other to do stupid stuff, therefore I reckon something like The Wall might be a good starting place for him. Anyone know what it's like in comparison to the Scottish centres? That sort of gives me something to go on.

Oh, and in case you think I'm being hard on a "beginner", I know that later that day he'll get his revenge by drinking me under the table (he always does) so I'm not going to feel guilty.

The wall is probably comparable to the red at Glentress.

Thanks Kramer. The Wall should be perfect then.

Take a first aid kit.