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On family hols in Pembrokeshire and have a pass for tomorrow to go riding. Will have one Shimano batteries worth of riding, which trails should I do to get maximum bang for buck with a preference on descending, fast and flowy ideally. Have ridden there before but so long ago I can't remember much of it. Don't mind repeating climbs to do the best descents a few times, would probably rather do that than miles of linking trails
Personally I’ve only ever done the Raven black combined with the gorlech red to make about a 42km loop.
I think both trails offer something different - the Raven has more technical (and maybe more natural feeling) downhills whilst the gorlech has more built berms and jumps in places:
I was tired by the time I completed the loop (no e-bike though - a 170/160mm travel enduro bike of at least 32lbs) but loved it. I’d say it’s my favourite pedal powered mountain bike day ever. Had some higher highs on uplift days but that’s it.
On an e-bike I’d imagine that lap would be brilliant as you should clear all the climbs - as long as your battery will make it round.
Main memories are of a swooping rocky downhill through some woods with running water nearby - massive kind of berms (but rocky) corners for ages. Properly amazing. Must have been on Raven.
There was an easy winding bit of singletrack where everything in the Woods was covered in moss and it just felt so remote and natural it was a nice moment. Would say this was Raven.
Then a flat out fast downhill on the limit with bermed corners and some big tabletops - would assume that’s gorlech.
There was one other outstanding feature where you came to a semi paved really steep downhill section with a big compression at the bottom and a rush up the slope on the other side. Just got to let the brakes go and trust the hill you go up will slow you down!
So I’d do both if you have the time and battery capacity.
Edit if you do that and still want more and like swoopy stuff then Cwm Rheaddr is about 20 mins drive north and it’s a fun little lap. We actually did it quickly in the morning before the above lap of Brechfa- probably didn’t help my legs towards the end of the day!
Of the two the Gorlech / Red better suits your description. It's a peach of a trail and has some really great / big features, the descents are mostly very fast and swoopy.
The Raven is okay, the climbs are a big of a slog (not an issue on an e-bike) the descents are tighter, less man made and more technical.
The green (and option red bit) is better than both the Gorlech and Raven if it's fun descents you are after.
e-bike would make Raven more tolerable. The final descents are good there but the climbing did my head in. I don't mind climbing and even long climbs, but not pointless ones especially when they then descend to the next trail on a fireroad! (and the next trail only lasts 10 seconds).
Start at Byrgwm (Raven trail) follow the black sign posts, when you get to the end of the three short flowy sections at the top turn left and link to the red (Gorlech) last descent. A little over half way down there's a post & rail wooden fence, turn back on your right and climb back up the byway to the clearing and rejoin the black (left at the clearing) follow the black to where it meets the blue then do the full blue descent (ignore the black sign turning left) at the bottom turn left onto the fire road and climb back up to meet the black, take the right into the downhill and follow all the way back to the start but do the green final descent rather than the black (or both if you have time)
E-bikes are banned at Brechfa. Sorry.
Did all three on my ebike about a month ago...Gorlech was my favourite by far (although as the post above, the last descent on the green is an absolute hoot and way better than the final black descent).
I went to CyB the next day. Wish I'd stayed at Brechfa - CyB felt like a contrived rocky horror show in comparison!
Always one, isn't there Flashy? What if I wear special shoes whilst riding, would that make it OK?
Great info everyone else, thanks. About the only thing I remember about Raven is that I was that knackered by the end that I didn't enjoy the final descent anything like as much as I should have. The frustrating climbing and pointless loss in elevation mentioned also rings a bell too....hoping it will be cracking on the E-Sommet though!
My favorites are the red Gorlech and the 'dark blue'.
Dark Blue- From Abergorlech follow the Green/ Blue. Once past the Black split off, follow the forest road and then take the first forest road off to the left. It's a gentle but persistant climb. Eventually you will see a 'walkers only sign' on the RHS, soon followed by the Raven crossing from L to R. Follow the Raven downhill, at the base follow the Blue and then choose the Blue climb, not the Black. After the climb and the great descent (avoiding the Black/ Raven fork to the left) you will be spat out at the Green again. Do not follow it, turn left and then follow the steep forest road climb on the left soon after. You will meet up with the Raven again here,to be followed to the final Green descent which is much more fun than the Raven back to the carpark.