I'm just going to Newport Wales next weekend for a trip with a few mates. Anyone know where we could go on the bike. I've never been to South Wales so haven't got a clue where to go. Mainly just looking for some singletrack,trail type riding. Stopping at Celtic Manor so somewhere not too far would be ideal thanks guys
Cwmcarn
Celtic Manor - Nice
Cwmcarn is closest if youre looking to visit a trail center. Lots of other options though:
www.mbwales.com
Wentwood Forest is on your doorstep there. Not waymarked but good woodsy singletrack.
If you're getting in the car then Cwmcarn as others suggest or Forest of Dean about 30 minutes drive (although roadworks at Monmouth will probably make that an hour+ at the moment).
if youre doing cwmcarn the DH option (pedalhounds) at the end of the Cafall xc loop instead of the xc descent is definitely worth a go.
Loads of singletrack (natural) stuff in that area if you prefer to stay away from trail centres. Have a look on strava but you mey benefit from someone local showing you really
@Iolo - where's the trails at Celtic Manor? I did read somewhere there's some riding there, but swung by in the car for a look-see one day and couldn't find anything obvious.
No idea but I stayed 5 nights there a few years ago on a course.
I stayed in the resort Hotel. A really classy joint. The gaffer went crazy because 4 of of blew 2000 pounds in a week on food and beer on top of the room cost,
We just got drunk each night.
Ah, OK. There's been an XC race at Celtic so there must be some riding to be had right from the front door.
An XC race at the Celtic? News to me. There are one or two, ahem, interesting footpaths nearby but nothing to link into an interesting ride. As Psling says, Wentwood forest is your best bet but as it's a working forest trails are random (ie, here one day, gone the next) at best. For an interesting short blast/play though take a look at [url= http://visitwoods.org.uk/en/visit-woods/Pages/wood-details.aspx?wood=40436&site=St-Julian%27s-Wood#.U2js6Vf5Czk ]St Julians woods[/url] - loads of interesting tracks easily accessed from the Christchurch car park and small enough area not to get lost. Oh and the new Cafall trail at Cwmcarn is awesome.
+1 cwmcarn. It's the business lunch of trail centres. 2 routes, each one climb up and one big descent, both doable in about 2 hours each, minutes from the motorways.
have fun
News to me too mamadirt! Although the National Road Race TT is being hosted there this year I believe. You ever tempted to take a bmx through any of the bunkers/rough/fairways? I'm sure Sir Terry wouldn't mind 😆
Yeh, you could build a cracking 4X course on the side of that hill 😆
Its a stag do. But the person who is getting married wanted to play golf all weekend at Celtic Manor and then go into Cardiff to have a few too many drinks on Saturday night after golf and golf the day after too! A few of us would not play golf if it was for free (me included!) so I thought I would organise a faction away from hitting a little pointless white ball and do something good like doing a few rides while I'm over that way. The rest are just hitting Cardiff early afternoon who aint golfing. I just cant handle that after the bank holiday! Saturday night will be enough for me.
How far is cwmcarn from there then in the car?
The Brecon Beacons are not far away......
I was thinking that T1000
Trail centre stuff, definitely Cwmcarn is nearest. Mix of DH and XC stuff. XC climb is a slog mind. There is an uplift for the DH (original DH at least at the moment, the new one still needs a climb/push), but you can use it to get off part way for the XC.
If you don't mind a little bit further, there is Bike Park Wales in Merthyr. Uplift based bike park, All Mountain style stuff (i.e. not quite DH, but all the trails go down and fast, if you want to go fast that is, but you can ride it how you want). Uplifts are incredibly popular and very busy, booked out months in advance. Though people drop out last minute so you can pick some up late.
And then further along is Afan which is the best all round trail centre really in South Wales. Probably a bit far though.
Otherwise, plenty of other options, Brecon etc, but I wouldn't have a clue where to go.
How far is cwmcarn from there then in the car?
I grew up very close to the Celtic and parents still live there so I've been riding with that as a base for years.
CwmCarn is 14miles/23minutes according to Google Maps. My brother-in-law lives down the hill from the Celtic in Caerleon. I know he quite often rides CwmCarn from home rather than drive - it would need some time with a map but you've got the option of riding from the Celtic rather than getting in the car.
Depends how much time you've got really -
If you've an afternoon go to CwmCarn - a lap of each route will take you about 4 hours.
Afan is about an hour but has more riding options and will keep you busy for longer.
If you want natural riding rather than trail centre then you're an hour from the Brecons. Various well known routes up there - the classic Gap loop from Talybont, a good loop on the Black Mountain and another I've done a few times out of Crickhowell. I've GPS tracks if you want them or you can find maps/directions online.
If you've not ridden them before then it doesn't make sense to go further - all good.