A few of us are planning a trip to Afan in late November.

I just phoned the trail centre to check for any planned closures. The person I spoke to said that the place is due to be taken over by someone else in November, so they couldn’t say which trails would or wouldn’t be open.

Anybody know what’s going on?

I think it’s just the cafe that will be closed, as it has gone out to private tender. Trails will be open don’t worry.

Cafe and visitor centre being taken over (here) but I wouldn’t think that would impact the trails. Surprised the cafe operates at a loss, always seems pretty busy whenever I’ve been. Maybe just very seasonal. But then mountain bikers do seem to be a right tight arsed bunch when it comes to paying for anything other than bike bits.

Great news about the trails.

So the next question. We’re looking for a pub with accommodation that provides evening meals and breakfast. Bike friendly would be a bonus. Any suggestions please?

@mrblobby do you visit the cafe mid week ? I’d imagine it’s quite busy at the weekends and in the summer but I suspect generally it’s deserted.

Rusty there was a specialist hotel / B&B right there, can’t recall the name something obvious

Afan Lodge has a pretty good restauarant / bar. It’s not a pub, but it is a great place to stay.

Afan Lodge is geared for bikers, not cheap but very good and a really nice bunch of people, massive dinner portions, and can get right onto the trails from their back garden.

Afan forest ranger is on FB and regularly updates about trail conditions, logging, closures etc.

@mrblobby do you visit the cafe mid week ? I’d imagine it’s quite busy at the weekends and in the summer but I suspect generally it’s deserted.

Good point. I have and it’s pretty quiet. Though I’ve camped up there in the middle of winter one weekend and it was still pretty busy in the evening.

Bike shop there seems to be doing ok though.

been a few times and stayed here at the self catered cottages.

superb and just near the trails.

Self Catering Cottages Afan

Glad to hear the centre will be taken over, I hope they can run it profitably, it’s been in decline for a while, I don’t think it really recovered from Penhydd closing and most people using the ‘Wall Carpark’.

It’s a bit of a shame so few people ride The Wall from it’s new proper start, the first decline is pretty cool and almost completely different to anything else at Afan – it’s a bit like the old final descent of Penhydd – minus the trees.

That concrete berm across the road is still appalling though, it’s wrong on every single level.

Glad to hear the centre will be taken over, I hope they can run it profitably, it’s been in decline for a while

Yes, it was 5h1t as far back as 2007…

Afan Lodge ftw. The best cooked breakfast I’ve ever had. Evening meal huge as already mentioned. £40ea sharing a twin or £60 single, free parking & bike wash even after you’ve checked out, secure bike storage & right on the bike path. Real Ale, but hope they’ve got the fire going now as the bar was cold last week.

Another Afan Lodge lover here, food and beer is awesome and right next to the trails.
Well worth the extra few quid it may cost.

We stayed at Brynteg too, in Rose Cottage, lovely- just 2 of us in the cottage though, I think it would have been pretty crowded if full. Riding from the door to Blade and Whites Level was ideal, good bike storage. Not a pub though- we ended up going over to Maesteg most nights, where the steroid abusers live, but there’s a pub in Cymmer I think.

When we were there, Blade was kind of messy, there’s ongoing windfarm works up top and the signage/diversions were just shit frankly- I got directed off Blade, onto skyline, and ended up after a massive “diversion” exactly back where I’d started, at a 5 way junction with no directions at all other than “go back round skyline again”. Cue lots of riding up random fire roads etc trying to find a trail, eventually found it. Apparently it’s been like that for a while with new roads and diversions popping up all over. The trail was almost all open, it was just very hard to follow. Not ideal but the trail was mint.

What @P-Jay says, I haven’t used the cafe since Penhydd closed which is quite some time now!

b r – Member

Glad to hear the centre will be taken over, I hope they can run it profitably, it’s been in decline for a while

Yes, it was 5h1t as far back as 2007…

I think it was at it’s peak just before Penhydd closed, they had a couple of lads working in the carpark collecting parking fees and handing out advice for first time visitors which kept the criminal element at bay and it was much busier. The Café was always shit though.

What @P-Jay says, I haven’t used the cafe since Penhydd closed which is quite some time now!

Also the cafe at Glyncorryg has been excellent for years, so everyone who started riding in Afan (either Afan proper or the free carpark at the bottom of YWall) stopped half way around there, rather than during the start or finish at Afan centre.

Plus one for Glyncorrwg cafe. Excellent food service

Afan centre poor food poor service, been once never again. It can only get better having been put out to tender.

Thanks for the accommiodation suggestions.

The places suggested are fully booked already (weekend of 20/21 Nov).

Are there any other suggestions for places to stay please. I have googled but without much success… 🙁

we stayed in the Castle Hotel in Neath twice
Its okay, big garage you can keep the bikes in (we parked cars in there with bikes locked inside cars)
just request a room at the back unless you want to watch the free (very amusing but noisy) entertainment when the nightclub opposite kicks out about 3am

Bryn Bettws Lodge by the bike park.

I’ve stayed at The Queens B&B in Glyncorrwg a couple of times – basic b&b but very friendly welcome and great breakfast!

Not much in the way of eateries in Glyncorrwg, but they were happy for you to bring takeaway back to the b&b.

Heading back to Afan again in a couple of weeks. The Refresh pub in Cymmer is worth visiting but Neath Workies is the place to head for on a Friday night 😯

hobo backpackers in tredeagar, weatherspoons next door and everything

I’m across there next weekend and staying in Cymmer. Good to hear the pub is worth a visit.

We stayed in Windways house when we did a weekend at Afan.

It’s a massive house opposite Afan Lodge.

It’s a bit tired and the heating took a while to get going but it was great and very reasonably priced.
No pub nearby, so we just bought some beers and chilled in the evening with a game of pool and a DVD. There’s a coin operated pool table there. Can’t remember how much it was, but not expensive.

You might be able to nip over the road to Afan Lodge for a more sociable beer – not sure.

Afan Lodge wont be booked out, they just dont let you book for 1 night (I assume thats what you’re trying to do) on their site. Give them a call and negotiate 😉

Yes, Lodge bar & restaurant defo open to non residents.

Sooooo…what’s the latest craic with Afan Forest visitor centre? Is it still running? If so, is the food decent/has it improved based on the comments above from before?

Heading up for a lap of Penhydd on Sat afternoon so lunch there or up at Glyncorrwg end? Cheeeers!

Well, since no-one else has replied – I was at Glencorrwg at the start of January. The cafe was open then. I don’t know about the forest centre down the valley, I didn’t have time to visit.

I don’t know if the food is decent – I was cold and hungry, so I wasn’t about to complain. They served tea and hot food that had calories in it. If that isn’t up to your high standards, you can always go and do the demo loop a couple of times…

Queen’s B and B is excellent and let you go and get a take away and eat it in house as there isn’t a restaurant in Glyncorrwg. We’ve had a few excellent curries from a place about 10 mins drive away.

The campsite was pretty quiet Monday night 😀

I’m not that fussy, hot food and coffee is all I need!

So, for the morning crowd, any info on Afan Forest trail centre cafe?

I don’t know if the food is decent – I was cold and hungry, so I wasn’t about to complain. They served tea and hot food that had calories in it. If that isn’t up to your high standards, you can always go and do the demo loop a couple of times…

That’s helpful 🙄

It was open about 2 months ago, Afan is my local but I rarely go that side of valley.

Glyncorrwg cafe is much better though. or Afan Lodge.

The ‘old’ Cafe was due to be taken over about now. Last time I was there, the lady serving told me they couldn’t really buy what they wanted as they were winding down. She believes the new owner was the son of a local farmer. None of the current staff are staying. Not sure if it’s the Cafe or the whole centre that’s being taken over. Assume bike shop will stay – nice fella in there.

The ‘new’ Cafe looks like it needs some love. There were all sorts of shenanigans a few years back after the original bloke who ran it – Ian? – moved on. Food was fine when we were there a couple of weeks ago, pretty busy as well but lots of peeling paint etc suggests not much money being spent.

I remember when the GlenC carpark was always full and the old one not so. Seems to have changed round now…

How are the trails at the moment? Thinking of heading over Sunday.ade was really hacked up last month, apparently…

How are the trails at the moment? Thinking of heading over Sunday.ade was really hacked up last month, apparently…

I’ve found Afan to be in pretty good shape whatever the weather. Note that there is the WGES race over on Blade side on Sunday so some trails (I assume) will be shut.

gee – Member

Queen’s B and B is excellent and let you go and get a take away and eat it in house as there isn’t a restaurant in Glyncorrwg. We’ve had a few excellent curries from a place about 10 mins drive away.

Seconded, Queens as an excellent place to stay. We were there ten days ago. On the Saturday night we headed up to the working man’s club for a few pints, the publican/owner was more than happy to phone out for curry for us. Even provided plates and cutlery (pretty much table service) and wouldn’t any money from us for his troubles. Highly recommended.

For the poster asking about trail conditions, we only rode White’s Level and it was in good condition despite the constant rain since November.

With a lot of the Afan trails you might find they’re different to a couple of years ago, more rocks, more of a loose surface etc, some people like it, some people prefer smoother track – but it’s pretty much the ‘new normal’ rather than a condition as such – sadly all the trees have had to go so more trail is open to the elements and doesn’t drain as well without the trees sucking up rain.

Very, very few publicly owned/built trails through trees anymore in South Wales.