Afan Forest Mountain Bike Trail Centre

Bob Allen:

Great place to have right on your doorstep

Good variety of trails Beautiful scenery just off the m4 decent facilities regularly maintained (fallen trees removed) covers large area plenty of parking available Skills areas

Marc:

I love it.

W2 and skyline are epic rides. Carpark can be busy but trails seem empty (its sooo big)

Dan:

My first weekend at Afan/Glyncorrwg. We rented a house in Glyncorrwg so that was our base and where our days riding for 2 days started from. We had a 1mile ride down the old railway line to the bottom of the climb at Glyncorrwg. Great technical climb over rocky terrain that switchbacks along the mountainside. By the time you reach the fire road at the top you've covered about 2 miles of climbing. Unfortunately there is no releif as its then onwards and upwards for another mile of climbing! Day 1 we did some kind of hybrid of Skyline/Blade trail. I think alot of Skyline is shut atm for the windfarm so its only about 16miles atm but that was plenty for our first afternoon of riding. This route features the best bit of single track I've ever ridden. You get up to a fireroad at the top where some trees have had to be cut down and then drop into the deforrested area into berms, switchbacks and fast flowing harpack with a moderate downhill gradient which allows you to get some decent speed and flow - this then drops into the forest with a much steeper downhill gradient with berms, switchbacks, roots, mud, rocks and a rock garden before dumping you out onto a fire-road with some serious arm pump and a massive grin. Grin soon disappears when you have to ride the fire road back to the top - LOL! The route continues with some more good dowhill sections and a ride down a stream before you eventually take in the final rocky drop off ridden descent down the side of the mountain finishing where you started off. Day 2 we did W2 and Whites Level. Again we had the joy of that lovely climb from Glyncorrwg. Lots of technical red and black graded bone rattling descents before you pop out at the Afan bike park and cafe. We had a little play in the bike park before heading off to complete the route to the Afan visitor centre. Having ruined a tubeless valve (I can only assume I knocked it on a rock leaning over in a corner) and subsequently having 3 punctures when converting back to tubes I decided to invest in a new tyre that had better side wall protection than the utterly crap XC orientated Rocket Ron I had been running. I got a high roller 2, stans tubeless valves, enough stans fluid for the tyre and the guy set it up for me on the compressor (imagine trying to seat the bead ona mini pump?!), and 2 new tubes to pay back my mates for £55. I thought that was pretty reasonable and not much more than internet prices. The climb out from the visitor centre takes you up the escaltor before you eventually hit what seems like a never ending fire-road. Very thankful to have the granny ring to grind up this! Was just starting to get a bit miserable when we finally hit the top taking in some more down hills with a great little northshore section before finally finishing with a great run of single track down to the valley floor. IMO you need to be a competent rider to do any of the above trails!

Loads of trails Epic descents Great variety of terrain Amazing views at the top

gilesmartin81:

Brilliant, fun day out. I would happily take novice riders there before moving on to something like Bike Park Wales so they can enjoy the bigger trails.

I just spent two days at Afan riding the Blade trail on the Friday afternoon, then the penhydd trail followed by the Blue Scar trail with a friend on the Saturday. Part of going to Afan this weekend was to set my expectations for the Epic Cymru later this year. Riding the Blade was firstly a bit of a challeng after really struggling with the first climb last February in the worst weather I think I have ever been in on a bike. This time, it could not have been more different, the trail was the same, but i was in a position to enjoy it for everything it is. And what a climb, it is great fun and challenging, climbing up the switchbacks and over the rocks, I would happily have done it all day if my legs would allow. The rest of the Blade trail does not disappoint, it is fun and challenging all the way round and he descents at the end are truly amazing. next time i will add on the Skyline loop to finish the day off properly. Day two a friend joined me and we went off to ride the penhydd trail followed by the Blue Scar over lunch. As we started the first climb we managed approximately 10 meters before my buddys bike had a terminal failure, luckily the guys at the shop were on hand to hire him a decent bike to go out on and saved the day. The climb is not too challenging, but is long and a goo way to warm up the legs, I have to sayIi enjoyed waiting at the point signed as The top, just to see my buddies face when I pointed to the climb still to come. The descent from the top is brilliant, a great way to get some speed up and have a blast riding down the hill. I would say for anyone not too sure about stepping up to a red trail, this is a great way to start, not too technical, but big berms and a few fun rocky sections. A really great ride down the hill thats for sure. After a huge lunch in the cafe, we had enough time to ride the Blue scar before having to get the bike back, the start is the same as for penhydd then you split to the Blue Scar and there is a fast flowy trail back down. While not a long ride at 7km it is a good fun one and it really makes you smile.

SteveN:

Had a great day on Saturday. Started off from Glyncorrwg to attempt W2 which was a tough old climb until I warmed up. The first half of Whytes level has some great techy climbs and rewards you with fast flowing singletrack. The link road to Y Wal is a nice relaxing ride and gave me time to enjoy the views and soak up the sunshine. Y Wal has some great descents, a few small jumps and a skills park halfway round. Played in the skills park for a while before heading off to the final zigzag descent down to the bottom of the valley. Another gentle ride along the picturesque valley to the Afan trail centre cafe for a spot of lunch and a coffee. Met a couple of friendly locals who suggested I should join them around Penhydd and Blue Scar. Another fair old climb up to desolation but worth the effort. Penhydd is a great trail although we missed out the last section in favour of a fire trail climb back up to the start of Blue Scar, the Widowmaker. Another great trail although the loose gravel on some of the berms nearly caught me out a couple of times. After thanking the local lads I made my way back up the mostly fire road climb of Y Wal and along the link road to rejoin Whytes level. Loved the roller coaster and decided to take the Darkside back down. Just got back to the cafe at Glyncorrwg as my legs started to cramp up. Definitely the best days riding I've ever had.

Great variety of trails Good facilities Good all year round

Wadam00:

Best weekends riding I ever had May 2014 with 3 mates. Rode all the trails bar Skyline and we loved all of them. Started from Afan and worked over to glycorwg for lunch, which was good. Climb back up was tough in the heat but worth it for the descents (energy in think) before crossing back to the wall. The wall descent is amazing and made my weekend. The local facilities were good and the food & beer cheap.

So many different trails to ride. Excellent descents - the wall descent is amazing fun Great facilities at both Afan & glycorwg. Could not be better for a weekend riding with mates.