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Risca Bike Park and Cwmcarn Trails

Risca Bike Park and Cwmcarn Trails
Avg 4.71
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
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Number of Reviews (151)

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

  • Information:
  • Type: Purpose Built Centre
  • Grades: Blue,Red,Black,Ungraded
  • Riding: Cross Country,Downhill,Pump Track,Wild Trails
  • Facilities: Car Park,Toilets,Visitors Centre,Cafe,Bike Wash,Bike Hire,Bike Shop,Uplift
  • Distance(s): 1-5km, 5-10km, 11-20km
  • Country: Wales
  • County: Near Newport
  • Website: Cwmcarn Trails and Risca Bike Park
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Description

Cwmcarn mountain bike centre is in Newport, South Wales. There are five main trails, the Blue Pwca, the Twrch Red XC, the Cafall Red XC the Y Mynydd Downhill Track, and another Downhill track called Pedalhounds. Cwmcarn also has a pump track and a myriad of off-piste/enduro-style tracks in the Risca area referred to as Risca Bike Park. Risca Bike Park is unsanctioned and non way-marked.

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Pwca Trail (XC)

  • The blue grade Pwca Trail is 2.3km long. Great for novices and for a warm-up lap.

The Twrch Trail (XC) 

  • The Twrch Trail is 18km long with 300m of climbing and takes about 1-2 hours to ride. It has one of the most technical and scenic climbs which rewards with a flowing, smooth and fast single track down. The ups are rooty and have numerous obstacles. 
  • The first phase of a two phase project to connect Cafall and Twrch is also available to ride. This is 6km of red track which brings you back on yourself from the Twrch i.e. currently doesn't yet connect to Cafall.

Cafall XC

  • The Cafall Red trail is 12.48km long. Climbing up to altitudes over 400 metres the new XC trail is called 'Cafall' after King Arthurs lead hunting hound that chased the wild boar 'Twrch'.
  • It has tough climbs and tight hand-built singletrack sections combined with technical descents.

The Y Mynydd DH Track

  • The Y Mynydd DH Track is built for those getting into downhill as well as advanced riders. It achieves this by having a course that splits into two sections (a red and a black). The black has a length of 1750 metres and a drop of 250 metres and the red has a length of 1900 metres and a drop of 250 metres.
  • Both feature jumps, drops, kickers, berms, roots and rock slab drops. The course was built by Phil Saxena from Architrail.

Pedalhounds DH Track 

  • A second downhill track (1.4km) is on the northeastern slopes of Cwmcarn Forest Drive through the Ebbw Forest. This downhill track follows the line of the old club-built trail down a steep side valley in the forest.
  • Access is via the Cafall XC trail. This trail starts off with a handmade rooty section through the trees and soon picks up speed as it flows in and out of the wooded sections.
  • There are plenty of drops and technical lines with lots of roots, rock and stumps. The trail finishes off with a steep and fast jumps section before arriving back. It's an extreme graded Downhill track.

Pump Track

  • Small pump track targeted at kids. 

Risca Bike Park - Off Piste / Wild Trails

  • Lots of wild trails in the area around Risca (such as Busy Lizzie, Wacko-Jacko, Mayhem). These drop down from top of Cwmcarn trails, unsanctioned and non way-marked. Local group Risca Riders.

Clubs and Groups

Other Stuff

  • PS cycles are the onsite bike shop/ hire. 
  • Uplift bookings were available from CWMDOWN but shut in January 2023.

Share

  • If you have ridden any of these mountain bike trails at Cwmcarn then why not post a picture, video, or even write a short review and share your experiences.

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Joe M:
Avg 3.70
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

Cwmcarn

Great ride

What do you like?

Range of technical climbs rewarded by fun down hills

What could be improved?

Nothing

Would you recommend?

yes

Date written:

09/06/2023 - over 2 years ago

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1
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calko:
Avg 4.06
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

A Legendary Trail centre which still holds its own...

Toss up between FOD and here...in the end we did both. We came here first because it was supposed to be a bit naff and we wanted something fun (FOD) to finish the day. I wish i'd just stayed here... Every comments section on various mtb websites i'd read moaned about the twrch climb. Cafall was closed so we could only do Twrch. I must be some kind of sadist because i really liked it. It wasn't straight up, there were some undulating parts to it to make it interesting and the views and sense of achievement you get is second to none. Interestingly, the hills of Cwmcarn are at least as high as some north wales trail centres and it's far more accessible. I would say this is a really cool place to go on a fresh spring day. I do feel like the descent could be better on the twrch with the amount of climbing you do though. These days most people have trail bikes, not 100mm XC hardtails, and more swoopy sections like airstream would be great.

What do you like?

For South Wales and 30mins from the M4, it feels distinctly remote. good length trails with big climb, big descent philosophy. fun varied sections.

What could be improved?

The climb is not a bad point - i expect to climb to get some decent downhill time and the climb is technical enough to make you focus on that rather than how tired you feel! Twrch last descent could be better imo but i guess it's a classic XC trail designed for bikes of yore. Trail closures are frustrating - I will not visit again until Cafall is reopened.

Would you recommend?

Yes

Date written:

19/03/2019 - almost 7 years ago

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0
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gilesmartin81:
Avg 4.54
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

Return trip to Cwmcarn

Overall a great place to go with easy access from the M4, brilliant for a day trip (I am based near Reading) or as part of a weekend in Wales.

What do you like?

I went back to Cwmcarn after about 18 months since my last visit and rode the Twrch trail, looking forward to the technical climb, and it did not disappoint! Knowing the tabletops on the black run are good for a few runs, i managed 4 loving the big tabletops before carrying on on the marked trails. The trails were amazing as always, after some time away the place was as great as ever brilliant riding and loved the views. The facilities at the centre are great, good value car parking (£3 for the day) changing rooms a Bike Shop in case you forget something or have an unexpected bits to fix when you are there. I stopped for lunch after, the food was really good, just what you need after a ride, at a good price.

What could be improved?

I had forgotten how big the hills are there.

Would you recommend?

Yes

Date written:

04/11/2017 - about 8 years ago

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0
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wideboydave:
Avg 3.77
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

never ending ascent!

It's a great trail and has some cracking views down to the coast! As I am one of the weekend warriors, I tend to bypass the climb (which is quite technical in places) and simply ride up the road to the top car park and then session the top a couple of times before descending again. I wouldn't recommend for beginners as the level of technical features are fairly daunting, but as you progress your skills can be taken at greater speed. My skill level is intermediate: I can ride half of the reds at BPW, but I have no problems with this trail other than my climbing fitness.

What do you like?

Good facilities and well waymarked trails. Challenging trails. Great views. Opportunities for sessioning trails (easy to loop the short section at the top of the descent)

What could be improved?

The climb seems never ending for the slightly less fit! When I do the Twrch I ride up the road to get to the top and then enjoy the roller coaster down.

Would you recommend?

Yes

Date written:

21/10/2017 - about 8 years ago

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0
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Jason O'Brien :
Avg 4.42
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

Twrch

Superb trails

What do you like?

Local trails to me. The original and the best in the area. Twrch and cafall have superb climbs for fitness and skills development (but leave the E bikes at home - in fact don't buy one). The descents are superb and give loads of variety. Add the Ymynydd DH section at the end for a bit of variety and different skill base. Cafall and Twrch together make for a great few hours of fun.

What could be improved?

Occasional walkers on the trails. A few more trails would make the area superb.

Would you recommend?

Yes

Date written:

16/04/2017 - almost 9 years ago

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1
^
Paul:
Avg 4.33
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

Cwmcarn

This is my local trail and still puts a smile on my face every time I decend friendly local riders some brethren taking views from the top

What do you like?

Tracks are challenging fast flowing both trails have a lot of climbing but then you have the fun of coming back down rideable in all weather some brilliant views. Good amount of parking.shop and cafe on site shop staff very helpfull

What could be improved?

Could do with some more trails but is still grate place to ride

Would you recommend?

Yes

Date written:

04/04/2017 - almost 9 years ago

Was this review helpful to you?

2
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