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I'm on holiday in Wales (Gower Peninsula) all of next week and want to try some different trails as I've ridden BPW quite a bit recently and want to explore.
Specifically the more DH/Enduro type stuff, although I wouldn't mind a longer ride out if the trails were entertaining.
I'm thinking of hitting Forest of Dean on the way over from Oxford on Saturday, then continuing on to the house we're staying at that afternoon.
So I won't be a million miles away from places like Afan and Cwmcarn, which of those would be worth checking first and is there anything else nearby I should look at too?
Pretty well covered in this post, I was up there 6 or 7 weeks ago. (Its fantastic)
http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/places-to-go-in-south-wales
Afan is fine. About 40 min from the east side of Gower.
But if I were you I'd keep it properly local and head to Clyne Woods and/or Kilvey Hill. Lots of good trails and exploring to be had.
Clyne has a waymarked trail (with two very different descents) plus some other stuff - like lots of berms and drops. Easiest way is to park at the car park where the cycle path joins the seafront cycle path and then cycle up to the pond from there.
Kilvey is a bit more full on and has a range of DH and enduro trails which basically all in the same place. Have a look on strava for the locations.
A bigger ride would combine the two together, otherwise there's enough for a couple of hrs in each location.
^ sorry but that link barely scratches the surface
I don't think you will find much that fits the DH/Enduro bill on the Gower but slightly further afield I would recommend some riding in the Brecon Beacons or Black mountains - longer rides probably but bigger downhills. Great time to be riding this way as it is drier though avoid hills with bracken as you won't be able to see the trail!
If you have not done the Gap it's a classic downhill. I also did some riding starting at Treorchy last year that was pretty interesting and challenging.
Thanks for that, there's a few places in that thread I've not heard mentioned before so I'll look them up when I get home. Maybe get some GPX files downloaded for the longer stuff if they are available!
I don't think you will find much that fits the DH/Enduro bill on the Gower but slightly further afield I would recommend some riding in the Brecon Beacons or Black mountains
I expected I was going to have to drive a bit, so I don't mind heading back East towards Afan or Cwmcarn for some better riding.
I had also looked at BMCC but isn't that the place that specify dedicated full face helmets only, so my Bell Super 2R won't qualify.
Check out Blaengarw
Sprinter2139
I'm about 20mins north of Gower in the Swansea Valley.....some awesome enduro style trails here, happy to show you around, or the off piste stuff in Afan.
If your driving you could head west from Gower and go to Brechfa Forest. Do the red though, it's miles better than the black.
@rob8624- where are you? I'm in Garnant. You are correct, there is some really great riding hereabouts 🙂
Hi Ambrose. I live in Pontardawe, locally I ride 'Loamworld' mainly, if you've heard of it. Great trails.
The Red at Brechfa has diversions due to felling though, was cutting out the main climb last time I rode it but is changeable. The Black has some great sections, just not much flow. I love it!
There's absolutely tons of off-piste stuff due to a fairly relaxed attitude towards access in post-industrial landscape, but much of it is rather difficult to string together. You could try using the Strava heat map to find the places with the splodges of activity.
If you're on holiday though I'd look for Afan, Brechfa or some obvious routes over the hills like Sarn Helen or something - many of these are documented as 'classic' loops.
There is also a very pleasant loop around the Gower on bridleways but it's not in any way challenging.
I had also looked at BMCC but isn't that the place that specify dedicated full face helmets only, so my Bell Super 2R won't qualify.
We went to BMCC a couple of weeks ago, and full face helmets weren't compulsory just advised(same as BPW), most people had them on but a few in our group weren't wearing them and were fine. So you'll be fine.
You can see them at the beginning of my video here; and I am sure one of the lads had the Bell Helmet with the detachable chin guard too.
I'd think Kilvey, Clyne and a trip round loam world would be more than enough to keep you occupied for a week on holiday.
Kilvey is no worse for rain, Clyne gets a bit boggy if it rains a lot.
There are more technical trails on Gower but they are all pretty cheeky and definately more xc in elevation (i.e no big long descents)
Here's some local lads doing the alpine trail on Kilvey. As featured in Dirt magazine. Plus amazing views of Swansea bay and Gower!