MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
Hi, we will be staying in Cymystwyth for a week from Saturday. That's half way between Rhayader and Aberystwyth in mid Wales. Think I can work it to get at least a couple of days out on the MTB but as we have never been there before, anyone know where best to look for natural trails?
Looking at the map, Elan Valley looks promising, as does the area around Devils Bridge. But as I'm only going to have a couple of days to get out due to kid duties want to make the most of it rather than a hit or miss approach. Can any locals advise on routes, ideally up to a max of 5-6 hrs? Thanks.
Should add, fast, swoopy and flowy trails preferred. Like a bit of gnarr too but nothing too extreme.
I recall doing a Trailquest from Devils Bridge quite a lot of years ago now (one of yours, @Pistonbroke) and there was plenty of enjoyable XC riding pretty much everywhere that tracks and/or bridleways were marked on the 1:50k. Nothing gnarr though, that wasnt the idea. Cant advise on specifics after all these years, sorry.
This is a good start for routes - https://www.mbwales.com/agents/elan-valley/
It lists some green, blue, red and black options towards the bottom. One comment is if you are following the marked trails is the signs are not much bigger than a 50p piece on various gate posts so fairly easy to miss.
The red or black grading seem to be because of the distance, climbing and wading trough knee deep water rather than extreme gnar but there is some fun stuff.
There is also a fun little area with a blue and red short bermy trail just across the resevoir from the visitor centre.
https://www.mbwales.com/listings/nantgwyllt-blue/ is what I mention above from the visitor centre to the skills area/bermy downhill bit.
The descent down into Cwmystwyth on the Trans-Cambriam Way is great fun, it's short but a highlight of the route imo. At about the 61 mile point on this map - https://bikepacking.com/routes/trans-cambrian-way/
The section from 65 to 73 miles is good too, fire road classic XC route rather than singletrack though. In fact the whole route from Elan Village to Llangurig and back to Rhayader via the NCN81 or NCN8 / EV2 or other tracks there would be a good classic XC kind of day out.
Not sure if you have considered Nant y Arian or written it off as its not natural but as trail centres go it's pretty natural feeling. Loads of swoopy singletrack and some fun rocky bits. Also a pretty good place to take the family at red kite feeding time.
@maxcorkhill
I've just PM'd you a route that takes in most of the good stuff in The Elan Valley
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/1864613
@singlespeedstu - could you send it to me too? I’ve done roadie stuff round there but no MTB other than Kona Marathons a thousand years ago (beer-a-thons the night before were excellent).
@bullandbladder
No problems.
It doesn't go anywhere near where the marathons went.
Good ride but best not to get smashed the night before at your age.😁