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Going early September, arriving early pm Monday so thinking a couple of hours messing around when we get there. Got two full days after that and we were thinking of doing W2 on one of those days so what do we recommend for the other day?
We hail from the mtb Mecca that is East Yorkshire so obvs anything is an improvement on that! Fire away!
I went earlier in the year for the first time in about six years. Did Blade which I remember as being ok, but in reality was a bit crap. Also rode Y Wal the next day which is bloody brilliant fun.
I only had time for a couple of quick morning rides whilst I was down that way, but my pick would be W2 (starting from Afan Forest VC, not Glyncorrwg to avoid doing the climb out of Glyncorrwg on cold legs).
Maybe Skyline for your other day? I’ve only ridden it once, years ago before it closed. No idea what it’s like since it reopened.
Thanks, I shall take a look at those.
Apparently there is a new section of Skyline. It's up at the furthest end and has been described to me as a really good flowy blue that you'll want to ride more than once.
Blue Scar is a nice flowy trail. Quite fancy doing the Skyline in it's entirety, as only ridden bits on the Rhigos side so far.
I wasn't that impressed with Y Wal.
Blue Scar's really good imo. We did Penhydd immediately before and I was in a foul mood as it's just not much good, so Blue Scar kinda saved the day. Blade is a bit weird, I can never actually remember any of it and the best it's ever ridden was when the shitty original build of Ghost Train washed away and turned into a hilarious gully of doom... But it's still a good ride imo.
I might be a weirdo but I loev the Blade/Skyline climb. Enjoyed the Wall, the bike park bit is good too and if you're wanting a bit more tech there's a signposted black #enduro trail parallel to the final trail which is surprisingly fierce. (the final descent is pretty much just swoopy and fast, which fair enough some people find boring but I still like it... Though I always feel like I'm going faster than it was designed for, it gets pretty high consequence with the drop right at the side of the trail, and short-sightlined too...
At Easter the parts of blade down from the turbines were closed. You can go down the old climb and ride back up round the fireroads. The rest of it was open. Glyncoryg was like a ghost town and felt very run down compared to previous visits which was a real shame to see
What’s the concencus on W2 then guys, worth doing? We generally ride XC and quite like a long day out so thought it might fit the bill. Think I’ve got a gpx of it for about 30 mile.
bullanbladder we were thinking of doing W2 the way you recommend.
I did Skyline in June, but started from back at the Affan Valley Bikeshed. Was a good day out. Nothing amazing, or tech, but great views. Can’t remember any outstanding flows sections.
When we visit from SE
Drive in and out via Cwmcarn and BPW
Blue Scar/Penhydd for messing about on arrival.
W2 with lunch stop at Glyncorrwg
From Yorks though I'd probs go CYB all the time!
I was involved in building the new sections on Skyline... I'd imagine an E-bike would be more fun on much of it, as between minimal elevation drop and challenging ground conditions, for the most part, it was never going to put that much of a tickle on the fun buttons.
That said, I can imagine the 'Bow' section being pretty mint, although as is often the case as a professional trail builder, we never got to ride them.
I did W2 last month and it's very much type B fun with lots of great views - the climb out from Glyncorrwg is absolutely horrendous though so I wouldn't start there with cold legs either. It just goes up and up and up and up and up and when you think you're at the top it goes up again.
For your "messing around" afternoon, I would probably loop Blue Scar. You can nail it in under an hour at a casual pace. And it's a nice flowy trail to stretch the legs after a long drive.
I really like W2. Even the climbs. Because it's effectively a figure of 8, you have bale out points as well. Whites and Y Wall are both good as stand alone offerings too, in case you want to have a shorter ride one day.
Was a little underwhelmed by Blade - and have yet to do Skyline. Was all set to break the duck in March but we turned up on a horrendously windy morning and it's quite exposed to the elements.
I have not been there in years, but for a longer ride I used to like doing BlueScar-Y Wall - Penhydd. There is/was a little mini loop at the top of YWall that runs by the skills park and I remmber being worth doing
I also like the whites climb, but I used to find bits of blade a bit much on an xc hardtail, doable but not super fun