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Coed y Brenin Mountain Bike Trail Centre

Coed y Brenin Mountain Bike Trail Centre
Avg 4.64
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup
Number of Reviews (29)

*You can claim this trail if you are the trail owner

  • Information:
  • Type: Purpose Built Centre
  • Grades: Green,Blue,Red,Black,Orange,Accesible
  • Riding: Cross Country,Skills Area
  • Facilities: Car Park,Toilets,Bike Wash,Bike Hire,Bike Shop,eBike Charging,Showers
  • Distance(s): 5-10km, 11-20km, 21-30km, 31km
  • Country: Wales
  • County: Gwynedd County
  • Website: Coed-y-Brenin
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Trail Network & Rider Segments

Trail network status from Trailforks and recent rider segments from Strava (see full mapped routes and details in the Tracks tab).

Trail Status

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Description

Coed y Brenin mountain bike trail centre is in the Snowdonia National Park, North Wales near Dolgellau. The trail network includes 3 red, 3 black, 1 blue, 1 green, and a freeride and skills area. 

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The terrain at coed y Brenin is a combination of natural trails and armoured man-made sections. 

Being the very first dedicated trail centre in the UK it has the respect of the whole community far and wide. Today it is still one of the largest MTB centres with 7 single-track trails that cover an impressive 140 km. 

Yr Ffowndri – The Foundry Skills Area

  • The free ride zone snakes down the slope with 8 bermed turns and plenty of features to get you airborne. There is also a drop-off zone and a single track zone  Features of note are the Sideways slab at the end of the black section and the Lemming stone in the Drop off zone. There is also a bunnyhop section and a kids training zone. 

There are three red mountain bike trails:

Temtiwr 

  • The Temtiwr is 8.7km long. This is a short but technical trail – not for novices. Has one long climb on fire road and a great fun technical rocky descent.

Cyflym Coch 

  • The Cyflym trail is 11.2km long. Starting down Yr Afon Trail, Cyflym coch cuts left up a short technical climb onto Pinderosa. It then pieces together the best of Coed y Brenin’s fast and flowing trail sections. Climbs are relatively short.

Dragons Back 

  • The Dragons Back trail is 31.1km. Previous mountain biking experience is recommended should you decide to tackle this trail. Long climbs, tight singletrack and long and fast descents.

And three black mountain bike trails:

MBR

  • The MBR is 18.4km long. This predominantly open and flowing trail offers long sweeping descents through spectacular scenery. The Pink Heifer section is something special. Once at the bottom, expect to climb and then descend the “Beginning of the End”, the most technically challenging section of the trail.

Beast of Brenin

  • The Beast of Brenin is a tough 38.2km. A long distance route only for the fit. It is a combination of the Dragon’s Back and MBR routes

Tarw Du

  • The Tawr is 20.2km long. It is a technically challenging ride with twisty, rocky sections and fast flowing descents. This was the original trail here and a newly upgraded section was added in 2016 with a slab the "yslab"

MinorTaur (Blue)

  • The 12km blue trail is suitable for adaptive bikes. It is made up of four loops and gets progressively more technical through the route

Yr Afon (Green)

  • This 10.8km trail. One for the family to enjoy (although there are a few climbs). It is mainly on forest road and there is a shorter 7km option.

Other Stuff

  • Bike an hire shop on site: Beics Brenin
  • In 2015 Coed y Brenin took 3rd place for iBikeRide UK Trail of the Year, 2nd place for Welsh Trail of the Year and 2nd place for XC Centre of the Year awards.
  • In 2014 Coed y Brenin took 3rd place in the iBikeRide Trail of the Year award for Wales and 3rd place in the Trail of the Year award for XC.

Share

  • If you have ridden any of these mountain bike trails at Coed y Brenin then why not post some pictures, videos or write a short review to the listing and share your experiences with us.

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Bigmick:
Avg 4.52
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

Coed y Brenin

One of the original trail centres and possibly the best. Big trails with a real 'out there' feeling. Big climbs followed by big descents. The surface is good and holds up well in any weathers. Lots of variety of trails with options to lengthen shorten your route as you ride round. Be prepared for rocks as there are a few, but it adds to the fun.

What do you like?

Great facilities, good trail variation

What could be improved?

its a long way from my house :-(

Would you recommend?

Yes

Date written:

09/12/2013 - about 12 years ago

Was this review helpful to you?

1
^
StupidMonkeyKev:
Avg 4.38
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

Great trail centre, many trails

I haven't done all the trails, there are too many, but I liked what I saw. MBR was my fav.

What do you like?

Everything you need and lots of trail options.

What could be improved?

The best trails are long so you need fitness, and good tyres for the rocks.

Would you recommend?

Yes

Date written:

08/11/2013 - about 12 years ago

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2
^
L8Rees:
Avg 4.88
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

The Beast Wales, and it is just that!

The only reason I have rated the facilities 4 is because of the £1.25 for a can of coke makes it expensive for families etc otherwise 5** please go prepared with tools etc, and an emergency plan. You may go as a boy, but you leave as a man!

What do you like?

Well where do I start, every section has its different limits, technical that it is, its a trail you have to be confident in understanding your bike and where you are, the fact that your surrounded by rocks and hard landings. Please don't think I have done a red now I can do this! you have to be mentally and physically ready as it takes a lot to finish the whole beast, climbs are there in droves, therefor you have to have PMA......hills are your friend as there are many :-) take your time and pace yourself, the downhills are worth the sweat and tears amd are most bikers idea of a wet dream! it has to be something you must do, but walk/push and no-one will shout "wimp" and its THE BEAST! Rocks and rollers to shake your bones indeed, downhills skids and views you dream of, this is one beauty that within it there is a beast. OnE LiFe RiDe It

What could be improved?

none, just so so so tough, would be great it there were less fire roads and more xc uphill, but understandably in winter you prob would not get up them, what a trail.

Would you recommend?

Yes

Date written:

12/08/2013 - over 12 years ago

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2
^
AndyP1967:
Avg 4.67
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

I visited Coed Y Brenin today for the first time and was not dissapointed. The visitor center is very good and the locals very helpful there is a small but well stocked Bike Shop downstairs and even showers if you so wish. We did the dragons back run today and it did not dissapoint. Although I should point out I was a little let down that all the climbs seem to be on fire roads and therefore not very challenging except in length. Having said that the views when you got to the top were amazing especially with the weather we had today. The grin factor came from the descents each one with something different to challenge you and the speed you gained during the descents just made them all the more sick I can definitely say I will be going back again very soon I think all in all you are provided with the perfect area to have an awesome day of riding.

What do you like?

The Downhill sections The Visitor center Condition of The Trails Improvements Are Still Being Made

What could be improved?

The Climbs on The Fire Roads

Would you recommend?

Yes

Date written:

01/05/2013 - over 12 years ago

Was this review helpful to you?

3
^
Dan:
Avg 4.67
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

Coed y brenin

Normally do the Beast of brenin with a few alterations; the first to avoid the utterly pointless fire road climb and descent (descending on a fire road whist fast, is not actually as fun as single track) that gets you to the Gomez trail section, and the second to ride Pugsleys bottom to the end of Uncle fester again, as they are fun. Lots of fun flowing singletrack to be found, as well as rocks and roots; usually have a good day at Coed y Brenin.

What do you like?

A good variety of trails good trail centre facilities

What could be improved?

A bit too much climbing on fire roads

Would you recommend?

Yes

Date written:

11/03/2013 - almost 13 years ago

Was this review helpful to you?

2
^
krisk:
Avg 4.23
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

Rocky

Lots of trails with some criss crossing each other, so it's useful to take a map with you in case you go wrong or if you want to switch route. Lots of variety and there's something for evryone from easy green up to technical black. Having said that, it is stillxc rather than dh, even the black. I didn't notice much difference between red and black, and both had significant areas of rock garden type stuff. There's a new blue downhill berm route which is great fun The visitor are is good, with bike wash facilites and knowledgeable locals in the shop.

What do you like?

Lots of variety with an easy green and a number of reds and blacks. The new blue is really good fun. Good facilites

What could be improved?

The reds are on the hard side - can be brain shaking on a hard tail.

Would you recommend?

Yes

Date written:

20/12/2012 - about 13 years ago

Was this review helpful to you?

2
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