[Closed] Afan - what's it like these days?

It's great! I've only been going in the last year but it's one of my favourite places. White's Level and Y Wal are my favourite trails. A few sections of Blade are closed for forestry work at the moment so I'd avoid that for the time being. Still very much xc/trail, a few optional steep black sections but nothing mandatory.

It’s very good, probably more ‘old school’ than “gnar” more rocks n’ roots than somewhere like Llandegla which is more groomed and had more artificial features like jumps.

Trials are largely open I think, Wal has a short diversion.

Wall into Penhydd or Bluescar is my trial of choice at the moment.

There was a fair bit of Blade closed a couple of weeks ago...forestry and repairs

I’ve only done a few trails there but I’m underwhelmed. Found whytes / blade didn’t have the downhill to be worth the hideous uphill (although I’m more winch and plummet than xc rides).

Penmachno was ok, but a bit blown out and eroded. I was on an enduro type bike so launching off some foot high or more drops and landing into rock gardens was fine, but my mate wasn’t enjoying much on his 130mm trail bike.

For me Brechfa is much more fun - loved that in the summer. More stuff under tree cover and beautiful mossy trails in places with a water fall at one point. Did the black / red combination which was about 42k.

I like it, if you want more gnarr just add more speed basically. The DH bits of the Blade are quite tough. I did it on my 120mm XC bike and while I got down, I was on the edge. On my Capra it was more enjoyable.

The Whites has lost its tree covering, so it looks odd, but it's still a good techy climb.

I think the variety means there is something for everyone, you can also session the bike park area if you want table tops etc.

Try the cafe at Afan Lodge, bloody good grub.

There’s a few new sections built of y wall, stage 4 and six feet under I think they’re called. Steeper and more natural than old Afan.
On the glyncorrwg side, Skyline shop and cafe have closed down and reopened with new owners.

Steeper and more natural than old Afan.

Black graded. I chickened out of riding one earlier. Too steep, too wet and I was on the wrong bike. It was also close to getting dark, I was on my own and I’m too old... (I’ll be back!) 😂

Afan is great if you pick and choose the trails. On my plus HT earlier I rode the last part of The Wall, some of the skills park, a 100m of the new black, over to Bluescar and some natural stuff. About 90 minutes of riding without a stop. Avoided Penhydd because it’s horrible these days. I rode Whytes in full a few weeks ago - first time in almost three years - and didn’t enjoy it as a complete loop. I hate the Energy section with a passion, but taking it out makes the loop too short.

It always used to be a case of smashing round on my xc hardtail as fast as possible, covering as much as possible! I've still got one of those, but also a 140mm/150mm travel trail bike, which sounds overkill still.

Tempted by Brechfa, as never been, but I think it's a bit further again (from Bristol). Anywhere else I should think about?

Maybe I'll go proper old school and just take a day out in the Beacons.

I’m from Bristol too - I think Brechfa is about an extra hour away but it was truly an epic ride in the late summer. We actually did a cheeky lap of Cwm Rhaeadr before going to Brechfa too (but that’s a further 20 mins away) - my legs thought that was 7km too far by the end of the day. Ridden on a 170/160 Bird Aeris - easily do-able on your full suss.
I’ve got memories of a few gruelling uphills, but then a variety of different downhills. Some with berms and jumps built, some more natural Singletrack and then one epic natural fast rocky chute with natural switchbacks. Loved that one.

I went there on holiday 18 months ago. I agree with Y Wal being great fun, and Penhydd being horrible. Blue scar looked fun from the little bit I rode.

I'd definitely go again if I was in the area, but its a long old way from Cannock.

Bluescar is brilliant, it’s ‘easy’ being a blue, but one of those trails that’s really only as hard as you push it and you can REALLY push it if you want!

Bike park (Bryn Betws) at the top of Y Wal, is closing for a refurb until mid April. Other than that, it's all open and as good as ever.

If you want more gnar, there's almost as much offpiste/natural riding in the valley as official trails if that's what you are after.

I went at the weekend, and rode the wall followed by the two blacks and a plat in the bike park it was a brilliant day out.

I love the place, it's just epic fun as it's different to other places, sure it's not as jumpy as BPW, not as groomed as Llandegla, but it feels like proper old school MTBing, it feels out in the wilds, racing through the rocks, the roots, then powering into small rises, then back down... it requires thought, concentration, balls and enthusiasm. Can't wait to get a decent weekend of sunshine and will shoot over.

What Weeksy said.  I've been considering a solo trip to Afan for a while, might hire a 'Cruz though rather than take my Spark!

@joebristol - 130mm trsil bike is just about perfect for penmachno. I take my hardtail over my enduro rig any day.

Hi Chevy - I think I mixed up my trail centres as well as trails there!! Meant Penyhydd- there’s a section in the second half that’s really cut up and rocky if you take it at pace.

rode blade in december and it was pretty good. gopping weather and visibility was about 3 yards but suprisingly dead fun as a result. pedalling up was hard but it always is!

I prefer the feel of those trails to PBW to be honest but i`m quite old school.

I'm pretty sure it's always raining on Blade, no place like it. They had recently done work on the exposed section at the top of the trail and it is better now.

On a whole I agree with Weeksy. Fantastic trails and offers great room for progression.

Bike park (Bryn Betws) at the top of Y Wal, is closing for a refurb until mid April.

I was part-way down the longest track at the bike park last night when I found a mechanical digger working on the trail. No warnings or trail closure at all. Be careful.

+1 Weeksy.

The new cafe at Glyncorrwg, from what I've heard, is well worth a visit.

Really like it. I don't mind the climbing, although the route up Whites I find quite challenging (just hard to get a good rhythm - probably because I have a 26in hardtail...)

Am often doing a morning or evening pre/post work ride, so time is usually limited for me. If you are wanting to do the wall, you can always park at Rhyslyn and avoid the long and flat part of the ride to/from the trail centre carpark down to the bridge (although it is not unpleasant).

Have not done Blade. For those that have, how much harder/more effort is it than Whites Level? Thinking of having a pre-work ride at one of the trails this Friday, but weather looks pants.

There was a period of quite substantial armouring there about what? 8 - 9 years ago, and I stopped going since at the time it was turned it a smooth groomed bmx track in the woods.

I went there last year quite reluctantly , but I found it's all eroded quite nicely and it's fun and interesting again.

...I'm guessing attempting it on a rigid scandal wouldn't be much fun anymore?

unless it's changed much in the last year or so it's all perfectly rideable and mostly fun on a handtail. love blatting around it on my scale. the only bits that are a bit too much is one of the black which is really loose and rocky. it's rideable but not at speed and the final skyline descent with the big rock steps, you can't really launch them without worrying about thrashing rims.
about 4 years ago me and a buddy did all the trails in a day. that hurt. rode the whole of pen with cramp.

Been once before and did whites and Y wall. Enjoyed both but preferred whites, mainly due to the more interesting techy climb. Off there again next month. Are Blade or Skyline worth doing this time instead?

Skyline worth doing this time instead?

Skyline is miles and miles and miles of fire roads. The singletrack is good but last time I rode it I felt like I spent the day climbing the same fire road repeatedly.

DT78 - is that the steep(ish) bit on Whites Level? I think there are some loose and rocky berms on approach from memory, but I am not sure if there was other black part(s) around.

is that the steep(ish) bit on Whites Level? I think there are some loose and rocky berms on approach from memory, but I am not sure if there was other black part(s) around.

Until recently that was the only black at Afan, and it was more red than black. Steep and loose, but no real problem on a rigid bike.

how much harder/more effort is it than Whites Level?

Well it takes about 2:15 hrs to ride as opposed to 1:30. Personally I think it has more variety than Whites Level....opinions may differ. Not sure what the situation is now, but there were 2 big diversions on it a few weeks ago

Hi Leon - I went over a few weeks ago for the first time in years and did W2. There is a new, proper enduro descent on the wall which is steep and fun in the wet when I did it. Whites is mainly clearcut, and feels very different. The trails are more cut up than they used to be - probably more fun on a suspension bike than a hardtail. It seemed really quiet, too, even on a weekend. I remember it being really busy!

Still a good trip though.

I miss the trees on the lower slopes.
There used to be a really good webpage the ranger would use to notify of closures. I've lost the link - anybody know it?

I first went to Afan in 2005, and have probably been most years since. I agree it is a shame so many of the trees have gone - it changed the feel of many of the trails. I used to really enjoy the Whites climb, now the lower few zig zags feel quite a grind, I guess partly due to the loose surface and few of the trail ahead. Likewise several of the descents have lost their original feel due to the openness and rocky rough surface as the dirt has been washed away. However I think as a trail centre it offers a good mix of trails, with pretty much something for everyone and well worth visit if you haven't been for a while.

I am going back at Easter for a few days with the family, the trails have enough variation to keep my kids (10 & 13) entertained and plenty for me and my wife to ride once the kids are worn out.

Like DT78 I rode all the trails (except Skyline) in a day a couple of years ago - that was good day out on a bike!

Mtb Ranger South Wales is worth following on Facebook for any changes to trails.

Here are the current trail updates :

Cheers Jason.

Thanks idlejohn - so that but I have ridden and agree it is 90% red with a bit of a steep rocky stuff.

Where are the rest of the blacks now - is that the enduro stuff referred to on the wall?

S4 is the alternative black down Y Wall, instead of the zig zags. It's recently been felled, but is open again now and I think I prefer it now. It was good before, now it's a great steep techy descent.