Elan Valley Mountain Biking

Elan Valley mountain bike trails are in the Cambrian mountains in Powys, mid-Wales. For XC trail riding, they have 1 blue, 5 reds, and 2 blacks. It's a great scenic area for mountain biking with a rugged, unspoiled feel dotted with iconic reservoirs and dams. There are also two nearby short downhill runs, a blue and red (car park by Nantgwyllt Church).

It's also close by to both Coed Trallwm (just 5 miles south) and the Irfon Valley.

Trails

Check out the GPS and Region tab to download the GPX or KML files.

The Ant Hills (Blue)

• The Ant Hills is an 1 - 1.5 hours/ 9 km route. It starts at Clive Powell’s bike shop. You head out on the old Aberystwyth mountain road for roughly 1km before turning left over a road bridge that crosses the stream of Nant Gwynllyn. A short section of ‘B’ road links up with the Wye Valley. The downhill takes you back to Cwmdauddwr and Rhayader.

Around Caban (Red)

• Around Caban is a red route around 15 km long. It starts at the Elan Valley visitors centre and heads around the reservoir and valleys.

Roman Camp(Red)

• The Roman Camp is a red route that starts from Clive Powell Mountain Bikes in Rhayader. Takes in the Elan Valley reservoir, dam, the valley, etc. Takes around 3-4 hours/ 32 km

Nannerth Loop (Red)

• The Nannerth Loop is red graded and takes around 3+ hours at 29 km. You start from the Cwmdauddwr car park. Takes in valleys, moorland, singletrack, reservoirs and dams. /li>

Golf Links (Red)

• The Golf Links route is around 13 km. Starts from Cwmdauddwr Car Park and is graded red

Wye Valley Loop (Red)

• The Wye Valley Loop is approximately 2+ hours and 19 km in length. It starts in Rhayader, heads through Cwmdauddwr, the Elan Valley Trail, etc.

Black Cottage (Black)

• The black cottage route is a black trail lasting 3-4 hours and around 30 km in length. It is a technical trail.

Elan Epic (Black)

• The Elan Epic, as the name suggests, is an epic 7+ hours/ 60 km route. Starts in Cwmdauddwr and covers the Elan & Claerwen Valleys.

Downhill

The Red

• A 1km track with drop-offs, tight bends, bermed runs and jumps 

The Blue

• A 1.5km track with fast flow, berms, and jumps
• Both the blue and the red downhill runs are free and located from the car park by Nantgwyllt Church

Share

• If you have ridden any of the mountain bike trails in the Elan Valley area, then please share your experiences with the community and add a review, pictures, videos, maps, and or routes to the trail listing.