Looks like a lot of Strava activity on the track up to the radio mast on the west side, but the steep bit on the east side seems to have much less activity. It looks like people ride down the steepside, presumably there's tech singletrack in the woods on that side?
I tried to ride up the zig-zag fire road on the east side last night. One of the steepest sustained trails I've tried in a long time! Then got lost a bit on top.
You mean Machen Masts 🙂 Popular and very steep trails. Not tried them myself as I always had something else on when the boys went down there. But am reliably informed that I would love them (though always said with a huge grin or a belly laugh!!!)
Ah yes, I missed the Mynydd Y Lan bit in your title, sorry, and just assumed you were on the other side of the valley. I seem to recall talk of a really steep zigzag climb on the forestry road over there too.
Hmm, not heard of the trails you were on but sounds like I need to go and investigate 🙂
Please come down and join me - more fun with two 🙂
Still bags of stuff left to investigate. But Machen woods might be out of action still. Larch trees were felled, the fire roads seem to be opened up again (saw some walkers) but I think the old trails are still going to be in trouble.
Most of the Machen trails were destroyed by the felling, there was a lot of amazing stuff there.
Try looking at the miggly moos Facebook page, and there was a Machen trail builder's page but I've dumped Facebook so unknown if it is still active.
I chatted to someone who suggested they would rebuild them. Should probably lend a hand. In the meantime there's more stuff than ever in Cefn Pwll Du, although it's not steep; and Sirhowy Valley Country Park, which is.
Email in profile molgrips if you want some routes.
I’ve ridden a really steep trail up there and a more flowy one. I need to explore it more really but it’s a bugger of a climb.
I tried to ride up the zig-zag fire road on the east side last night. One of the steepest sustained trails I've tried in a long time! Then got lost a bit on top.
If you're talking about where I think you are, there is a ton of moto tracks but not quite so many mtb tracks.
I don't know how people manage to loop those trails, as you say, that climb is meaty!