[Closed] Brecon Beacons / Black Mountains Route Advice

I was there last week Sam. There was another group staying in the B&B we were at who did the Black Mountain route on the day we did the Gap. They said there was loads of hike a bike and they didn't really have a good day. Beyond that I can't help you. The gap's a great route, offroad as soon as you pass over the canal. The tramroad up is hellish. Why don't you do the Gap on your 2nd day and do another route on the way over n down. Mix up something around the Mynd perhaps? hopton/stiperstones etc.

Thanks jekkyl, we'll be coming from different directions so The Mynd wouldn't work for everyone.

Anymore suggestions?

maybe drop welshfarmer an email. He seems to be the man in that area with lots of knowledge, see his comments on my old thread:
http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/the-gap-ride-from-brecon-gpx-wanted
perhaps he could suggest a 'not so hard' black mountains route or something else in the area. The gap backwards with some other stuff thrown in? or something else on the way? like round the malverns, just south of Worcester. http://singletrackworld.com/trailguide/uk/south-west/the-malvern-hills/
'snot so far off the M5 on way to talybont then.

Aye, PM me with some group details and I can sort you a route 😀

see! 😀

Also you might consider staying somewhere else, as the two pubs in Talybont left a lot to be desired. One of them (the star inn) was minging and we couldn't tell where the toilets ended and the bar started, looks like it hadn't been done up since the 60s. & the only lager they could offer on draught was Carling or green Carlsberg 😕 *upchuck*
The white hart inn at least had San Miguel on but there was distinct lack of comfy seating, just hard wooden chairs! lol.

Some routes on our blog - have a look at the Mynydd Troed and Llangorse one - that would work well as long as it's not too wet:
http://www.drovercycles.co.uk/mountain-biking-in-wales-three-routes-near-hay-on-wye/

Otherwise the Pontsticill Crossover is a good ride but uses a similar climb to the Gap out of Talybont so you might not want to do that twice. The Crickhowell Red from the MTB Brecon Beacons route pack is also good, especially if it's dry - one of my favourite descents in the area (fast, flowing singletrack from high up).

Beyond that, welshfarmer does indeed have lots of good local knowledge in that area.

Also you might consider staying somewhere else, as the two pubs in Talybont left a lot to be desired. One of them (the star inn) was minging and we couldn't tell where the toilets ended and the bar started, looks like it hadn't been done up since the 60s. & the only lager they could offer on draught was Carling or green Carlsberg *upchuck*

Lol, star inns one of my favourite pubs, real ale, real people and a real pub. But then it would be a bit sad if we all liked the same thing.

http://www.starinntalybont.co.uk/

** CAMRA's Brecknockshire Pub of the Year for an amazing seven years in a row (2009-2015)! **

Right, firstly, thanks for the info, welshfarmer I'll drop you a mail in the week.

Drover, your red ride looks good. Where might I find the MTB Brecon Beacons route pack, I assume you mean [url= https://www.beacons-npa.gov.uk/shop/product.php?id_product=27 ]this[/url]??

Secondly, I was under the impression that both pubs where pretty goo? Though I did ring The Star today to book a table and was told that it was up for sale so weren't taking bookings that far in advance?

Haha, the Star Inn was a firm favourite with us when in the 6th Form. All pile in a couple of old bangers and drive out there for a evening of real ale fuel binge drinking. I remember my mates car was running really rough so I had a look and found 2 of his HT leads no longer attached to the plugs very well. Found a coke can in the gutter and fashioned up some terminals and stuck them on. Perfect. He reckoned the car had never gone so well since he had had it 🙂

Happy days