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Nah, I don't think so, it's absolutely classic water erosion
There are foot peg marks in the gully caused by the bikes - at least there were the last time I was there.
A few of us from the southwest are off to Afan coincidentally on the weekend of the shop/cafe closure.
Rough idea is Cwmcarn Friday, Afan Saturday and BPW Sunday and W2 at Afan. However a couple of those coming know some of the off piste stuff at Afan so we might do a mix of trail centre and the other stuff. Looking forward to it but a shame to hear the cafe is closing - wonder if any decent bargains will still be there or whether it'll be a mix of leftover 580mm bars and 120mm stems!
There's very little left there today
Northwind. .... no worries dude!
As a local, I hate to see anything negative about Afan (everything is constructive criticism on this thread btw) being written, but things need to move on in the area.
I live within 30 mins of lots of place to ride in S.Wales, including BPW, and I'd ride the Afan Valley before there 100%. I suppose it's almost old school these days, it's not manicured so the trails are not smooth, the trails feel natural, there's not many berms, everyone says hello on the trails as you pass. IT'S FREE. forget the negative comments on here, forget trying to beat your mates times on Strava down Terry's Belly and ride Blade, it's long, mostly uphill, not looked after but it's great.
The area does need to move on though, and I do agree with opening up some of the more technical off piste stuff, making it a destination for the more experienced rider.
Anyway, let's hope the shop will re-open and the centre remains a hub of the community.
Anyway, let's hope the shop will re-open and the centre remains a hub of the community.
+1
TBH what surprised me most last time was overgrowth, especially on Whyte's Level it was encroached with brambles and woody branches and stuff all over the place, especially where there was a line choice. I know why it happens, but it's a really bad sign when it gets that bad. (bracken and soft growth is one thing, it comes in so fast but on the whyte's level black option there was a bloomin tree growing out of an option)
OTOH I think it's pretty awesome that they've integrated the offpiste option down from the bike park with signage etc, we have harder/riskier stuff that's FC managed and even built, but not actually signed.
The trails haven't kept up with the way MTB has gone with trails getting more technical.
BPW offers an uplift service and better gravity focussed trails all closer to a lot more people. You also have a lot more riding in non official centres across South Wales.
Personally I don't enjoy Afan at all. Lots of pedalling and very little reward. If they did a BPW type thing and focussed on descents with an uplift BPW might get some serious competition as the hills there have massive potential.
Me and others I know enjoy the pedally nature of Afan and I think it has some fantastic descents, better than a lot of what I rode at BPW - unless berms are your thing.
There's also a lot of memories attached to the place, so I'm saddened to hear it may be declining further.
Seen lots of Insta pics and footage of the off-piste, will try to seek some of that out as well as doing the customary W2 ride on my next visit. I won't stop coming to ride there.
I've always liked Afan because its Old School, peddaly and hard work to get to the downhill bits. Its mountain biking.
Some enterprising person could open an electric bike hire shop there and the lazy uplift lovers would then flock to Afan to go electric for a weekend.
peddaly and hard work to get to the downhill bits. Its mountain biking.
This. I like earning my turns.
Some enterprising person could open an electric bike hire shop there and the lazy uplift lovers would then flock to Afan to go electric for a weekend.
+1.
peddaly and hard work to get to the downhill bits. Its mountain biking.
This. I like earning my turns.Some enterprising person could open an electric bike hire shop there and the lazy uplift lovers would then flock to Afan to go electric for a weekend.
+1.
+ 2.....but you can stuff electric bikes, unless you are over 60....oh I am 🙂
I love Afan.
It's a trail centre, but it still feels like you're on an adventure when you do the loops, as opposed to places like BPW which are (quite literally) - bike parks.
The other trails in the area are some of my favourite that I've ever ridden, you just have to work a bit to get to ride them.
I can see the problem that if you aren't great at climbing then its a long slog for each descent, which isn't an issue at places like BPW.
the next load of money to fix it up. There's one section- ghost train? that was just ****ed, gully erosion like I've never seen, they've obviously built themselves a river. But otoh it rode hilariously for all that.
I'd drive to Afan just to session that section, for those of us who dream of barely rideable nonsense it's a Mecca...
the next load of money to fix it up. There's one section- ghost train? that was just ****ed, gully erosion like I've never seen, they've obviously built themselves a river. But otoh it rode hilariously for all that.
I'd drive to Afan just to session that section, for those of us who dream of barely rideable nonsense it's a Mecca...
Yep. Last time I rode it I was trying to work out if there was a quick way round to hit it again it was so fun. Horses for courses.
Ghost train is the best bit of the blade trail! It's like almost natural haha. The last rocky bit into the trail center is nuts in a "I'm so effing tired, omg please stop"
Is the cafe re-opening under new management or closing down for good?
Planning a trip and there needs to be a cafe!
Café at neighbouring Afan Argoed is still open. Though when I was there last week, was told not to sit down anywhere because I was "too dirty"? Acceptable in a high street café, but a mountain bike centre café?
That's a real shame. I like Afan - There's easily a long weekend of good riding in and around the valley. The off piste stuff at the Masts is worth a visit. I like Blade though I think it suffered from really shitty weather and motorbike use when it first opened. I was there when it was only a few weeks old and I think Ghost Train already looked ragged with sheets of reinforcement fabric flapping about. You can put a lot of effort into drainage but if some one smashes through it on an MX bike and you don't have the budget to repair you're lost. CwmCarn is ok but the loops are so short you need to ride both to get a decent length loop and even then it's sub 4 hours at a relaxed pace.
I suspect the thing that's hit Glyncorrwg hardest is the refurb at Afan (which is closer to the M4 so the place most visitors will get to first). The Afan centre used to be grim - the old cafe that had the feel of a prison canteen and food to match and i was never sure what the rest of the building was used for. The cafe now has windows onto a terrace and decent food (whereas the food at Glyncorrwg has never been as good as when Ian first opened it). We were there earlier in the summer and Afan was doing a good trade.
The bike shop also feels connected to the cafe and centre. The building at Glyncorrwg ponds looked good but the layout was very odd with the end that faced the car park mostly wasted.
Steve's a nice guy and his staff were good too - I wish them all the best.
That's a shame.
I haven't been to Afan however for probably 4/5 years as I found it not worth the extra hour+ heading past Cwm Carn. Plus too many stories of thefts to make it an attractive stop over and the felling ruined the place.
Was planning a bike/surf bivy mission in a couple of weeks to BPW but it's been fully booked for ages. So looking forward to Cwm Carn instead as it's been a year since I've been there.
South Wales has so much to offer as an area....
The trails at Glyncorrwg are becoming pretty unique in South Wales, they're tight, rocky single track like we had on all the TCs 5-10 years ago, but everywhere else has got wider, smoother and a lot more flowy, more bike park like, but it's nice to have the option.
I actually prefer Glyncorrwg/Afan for that exact reason - it feels more natural and less built than most centres, and once you get right out there it feels pretty lonely. This blown-out section of Blade sounds fun, think I might have to go ride it!
it was the people of the glyncorrwg ponds who did this
U wot m8?
Saw this thread resurrection and was all excited about seeing what it said....
I second 'you what mate?'
By the way, it's still a great destination and the cafe is awesome.
I, for one, didn't realise there were people living in those ponds.
@Mbnut the Café and the bike shop are run by the same family and as you say the café is great. Great food great local beer and lovely friendly atmosphere. The shop is also friendly and helpful and we always have a great time when we visit.
Odd timing for that post but it looks like Skyline is having work done at the moment for a full reopening in the summer.
Blade also had some more work to fix certain bits.
I much prefer Afan to CwmCarn but it could really have done with all being based out of the same centre. With the 2 plus the cafe at the top it's no surprise businesses have struggled.
Skyline reopening? That would be great.
any idea of timescales and any idea as too what the new skyline route will be? Similar too before or simply a name share?
Nope, I've got no further info unfortunately. Try sticking a question on the Instagram post
Well they’re stating 46k so that sounds like the old Skyline (44k of fireroads followed by a decent descent 😉 )
It doesnt feel that it was that many years ago that you had to get to Glyncorrwg before 10am to get a space in the carpark. Every weekend it was packed.
The cafe and bike shop used to do great buisiness. I guess mtbing has been losing its popularity for a number of years now. How long before road biking follows a similar pattern?
It seems that most of the people I used to mtb with progressed onto road bikes after a few years (probably as the weight dropped off and wearing lycra didnt look so silly) ... what is the next fad after road bikes? motor bikes?? e-bikes??
I loved the old Skyline...felt much more remote than the rest of them. And it had some lovely singletrack sections (which may not be so nice now as a lot of the trees have gone)
Not been to BPW then!! I guess that has got to be a major factor in less people going to Afan/Glyncorrwg.I guess mtbing has been losing its popularity for a number of years now.
Now’s the time to get a decent uplift service, combine Afan and Glyncorrwg (as mentioned earlier in this thread) and pitch the combined trail centre as a more enduro version of BPW? Plenty of places to park the T5’s, opportunity to have racing and camping and, close to surf on the south-west coast. Maybe even run some roadie sportives out from the centre.
I can’t really see it happening. It’s quite a long way for most people and the locals don’t seem interested. However if the long-talked about adventure resort even happens it would be amazing & totally transform the entire area!
Apparently the adventure resort has had some planning permission so expect more investment in the area.
Afan had been busier the last few times I've been than in years. Glencorrwg less so but I think it's just a case of trail centres losing out to bike parks and the increasing choice of off piste style stuff. Even FoD will take traffic away from Glencorrwg that it wouldn't have 5+yrs ago.
Went to Afan for the first time a couple of weeks ago and did W2. Absolutely loved it. Yes some hills but some great scenery and interesting trails, with awesome singletrack and fun descents.
I went there weekend before last. First time. I’m pretty new to MTB (roadie, got a hardtail last summer). I have done Cwncarn (Twrch) once. I absolutely loved it!!
We stayed in Afan lodge, great location, great food.
We did The Wall first, then had lunch as the café in Glencorrwg, which was perfect btw, food was spot on. Then did Blade. Omg it was hard on my hardtail and no skill haha, especially the last rocky descent to the café!! I was so tired, I walked a couple of those last bits as arms were totally dead and couldn’t see beyond the rocks, next time I will ride those, they were fine. But so much fun! Although it was very tiring, the views at the top made it worth it (shame about the vast tree felling though)
I loved Cwncarn, but think Afan more so. I’m not had the opportunity to ride any bike parks yet. But [as I’m still new] I’ve not really into jumps etc. I love the natural single track stuff. Amazing. More!
haha yeh I know what you mean. I rode Blade on my hardtail a few years ago when it first opened, that last descent nearly rattled me off the bike! it was a bit much tbh and I've been riding hardtails for 20+ years. Can't wait to get there this year and put my new Anthem through it's paces 🙂
I've had many good days out there (going right back to the 9feet.com days) but the last few visits it's felt overdue for some maintenance. The "upside" of trail centre riding should be decent riding conditions all year. Afan has a lot of sections that are now permanently wet and muddy so there's better natural riding to be had when it's dry and offers little benefit when it's wet.
It's not fun on a hardtail - the level of armouring on most of it means the suspension does a lot of work even on the climbs.
the afan volunteers are repoening the old genesis trail on the penhydd trail in afan
Where's that can you show location on a trail map if poss?
Not been there for years and get the trail names muddled up with the renames etc! 😁👍