The Afan Forest Mountain Bike Centre can be found in South Wales. Afan is made up three bases. The first is Afan Forest Visitors centre itself where the Y Wall, The Penhydd, Blue Scar and the Rookie start from. The second is the Glyncorrwg Ponds mountain bike trail centre a little down the road where The White's Level, Blade and Skyline start from. The third is new and is the Afan Bike Park with it's numerous short downhill progressive runs. Together these three bases offer mountain bike riders trails and lines for all abilities.
In total there are eight main trails covering one black, four reds, another blue with red sections, one green and a bike park.
The all new Blue Scar and Penhydd re-opened on 30th November 2013. The new red graded Blade trail launched on February 14th 2014.
The Rookie (Green)
- The Rookie is a family friendly 5.5km green trail with an optional blue 2.4km extension.
Blue Scar (Blue section) & Penhydd (Red Section)
- The Penhydd mountain bike trail re-opened in November 2013. Accompanying it was a new 8km Blue section called Blue Scar and 6km Red section (called Penhydd) leaving and returning to the Afan Visitor Centre.
The White's Level (Red with Black option)
- The White's Level Red (with black option) is 15km long and has more than most trails all in one. A beautiful route up takes you to a black rocky section (you can take an alternative route) that has rocks, technical corners and is steep, steep, steep. Later in the ride there is a cheeky northshore section as well as some fun rock drops (chicken run options exist too).
- Added in 2013 was a red grade descent trail Tyn y Pant situated 70 metres up the fire road from the old start (top) of ‘The Darkside’ that takes you swooping 1,700 metres down to the valley floor. Hence two there are choices of descents now, Darkside & Tyn y Pant.
The Skyline (Red)
- The Skyline is 46km long and-has steep technical up's and down's, great scenery and best you are fit for this one. The first up-is shared with the White's where it then parts off. The descent is legendary.
- The Eastern section of the Skyline trail will be closed to riders until 2016/17 during the development of Pen y Cymoedd wind farm. Please follow the yellow diversion signs from post 32.
The Y Wal Trail (Red)
- The Y Wal trail is a swooping 24km mainly singletrack loop with epic views and breathtaking descents to keep your heart pumping all the way round. Watch out for The Graveyard section and hang on for the searingly fast final descent. Tough climb followed by fast descents. Jumps, rock slabs, skinnies, shore and rollers. There is also an extra section of trail that is a fun option on 373 of the Y-Wal.
- There is now a new section of trail on Y Wal that will work as a loop (and can therefore be ridden as much as you want) and offers riders the opportunity to have a bit of a downhill singletrack adrenaline buzz. This new section can be accessed after the Graveyard section and before the Final Descent Zigzag.
Blade Trail - (Red)
- The Blade Trail is a 24km red graded trail leaving and returning to the Glyncorrwg Visitors Centre. It is big on singletrack combined with ‘classics’ like ‘Peregrine Ridge’ and ‘Jetlag’. It shares the same sheep track climb out of Glyncorrwg with the ‘White’s Level’ trail but then the Blade takes you out to higher and more remote areas. There are tough technical climbs and fast flowing descents. Sections of note are the ‘Groovy Gully’ and ‘The Rock’ & ‘Ghost Train’ sections that will test your climbing and descending skills. There is also the option to add in the 23km top loop of the classic ‘Skyline’ trail with some amazing views to extend your ride.
W2 (Black)
- W2 is the latest trail loop to be created at Afan, linking the Y Wal and White's Level trails with a high level linking route to make 44km epic. It can be started from either Afan Forest Park or Glyncorrwg visitor centres too, with the other centre providing a welcome halfway watering hole en route.
Afan Bike Park
- Jumps, drops, berms, skinnies the lot and just built by Rowan Sorrell and the Back on Track team.
- The Bike Park is located near Bryn Bettws Lodge, Gyfylchi and can be accessed from Y Wal trail. The adult bike park has a range of different Orange dot graded runs each with different types of berms and jumps.
- Afan Bike Park is situated above the village of Tonmawr, at the Bryn Bettws Lodge MTB Centre, there is parking at the centre car park. Post code: SA12 9SP
Clubs and Groups
- Aberdare MTB Group have 180+ members with a regular 30+ on each ride and often ride Afan and CwmCarn.
- Check out the Three Valleys MTB Club
Trail Conditions
- Each trail has its own Facebook page that enables you to check for any diversions and general trail conditions
- Skyline, Y-Wal, Whites Level, W2-Trail, Penhydd, Blue Scar and Blade.
Other Stuff
- There is now a shuttle bus and trailer service to get you to Afan Bike Park, Afan Visitors Centre and Glyncorrwg Ponds. Full details can be found here.
- Afan Forest MTB centre is just near Neath just off from Port Talbot in South Wales and comes under the regional Cognation organisation umbrella.
- In 2015 Afan took 3rd place in the iBikeRide Welsh Trail of the Year awards as well as 3rd in the XC Trail of the Year awards.
- In 2014 t took 3rd place in the iBikeRide UK Trail of the Year awards for 2014, 2nd place for Welsh Trail of the Year and 2nd place for XC/ Trail Centre Trail of the Year.
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- If you have already or do get to ride these mountain bike trails at Afan Forest then why not share your experiences with us and post a pic, vid, favourite the trail or write a short review.
