Loading news…

Darren Fawr, Garw Valley Mountain Bike Trails

Darren Fawr, Garw Valley Mountain Bike Trails
Avg 3.98
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup
Number of Reviews (7)

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

  • Information:
  • Type: Purpose Built Centre
  • Grades: Blue,Black,Ungraded
  • Facilities: Visitors Centre,Car Park
  • Distance(s): Under 5km, 5-10km
  • Country: Wales
  • County: Bridgend
  • Website: Darren Fawr, Garw Valley
  • Facebook:

Trail Network & Rider Segments

Live Strava segments around this trail.

Tracks Nearby

Not loaded yetOpen full view to load
Powered by Strava

Description

The Darren Fawr mountain bike trails in the Garw Valley in South Wales consist of the Glengarw Blue and the Gellideg Black graded trails. Both trails are quite short but you can link them together to form a 6km loop.

Like this?

It's within an hours drive to the Afan Forest Mountain Bike Trail Centre.

Llwybr Glengarw (Blue)

  • The Glengarw Trail is a 3km Blue graded trail with sweet singletrack, 100 metres of climbing, great berms, and a fun descent. It is aimed at novices and intermediate riders.
  • The Glengarw Trail is named after the Glengarw Colliery, also known as the Ballarat.

Llwybr Gellideg (Black)

  • The Gellideg Trail is a 3.2km Black graded trail with approx 200 metres of climbing. It starts off on the first section of the Glengarw 'Blue' trail to join onto the black. It consists of a tough climb followed by a technical descent with berms, steep bomb holes, technical rock features, and has a section running through a natural quarry. The black is aimed at experienced and skilled riders.
  • The Langline as it is known is a short trail with steep chutes, technical corners, jumps at the bottom with a little sender to get you started for the 2 decent size tables. It is a separate trail that leads off the Gellideg.
  • The Gellideg Trail is named after the largest coal seam in the Ocean Colliery.

Off Piste/ Enduro

  • There is alot of off piste riding but you would ideally need somebody to take you with some knowledge as they are steep and some have some decent size jumps and gaps.

Other Stuff

  • The Darren Fawr Gawr Valley project was funded by the Welsh Assembly, Bridgend County Borough Council, and Garw Valley Community Council. The trails are managed by the Garw Valley Community Council.

Share

  • If you have ridden any of the Darren Fawr Trails in the Garw Valley then why not share your experiences with us and add some pictures, videos or a review to the listing. 

📍 UK MTB Trail Index

The 2026 Trail Index is just getting started, add a rating
Ampy:
Avg 0.00
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

Gawr MTB trails

I have not filled in the rating as I would give mostly 5 stars for the blue trail but low stars for the black trail. Here is why. The Black run. I have ridden it three times. For starters getting to the top is too difficult. You are always going to have to climb hard and push up some sections but it seems that the trail has been deliberately constructed to make harder to climb than it needs to be with rough large stones littering the trail making it VERY difficult for all bar the best riders to ride up. It is not so much the steepness that causes the problem, you just cannot get a flow or momentum going. Most other black trails I have ridden are good flowing trails with some very difficult sections and the odd very technical section to contend with. The Gellideg Downhill seems to have everything crammed in one on top of the other with no by-pass option at all. It may be appealing to the really hard core few but moderate to good riders are put off. The large stones in the quarry section were hitting lumps out of my bike. Whenever I go there, or ride by, nobody is using it and that is a shame. I was there on a beautiful warm and dry Saturday afternoon and I was the only one using it yet there were lots of riders using the cycle track and forest trails. If it could be smoothed off on the climb and made more flowing on the decent with a bypass on the toughest 3 sections I think it would become a far bigger attraction.

What do you like?

The Blue trail is absolute fun fun fun it just ends all to quickly. If you are a novice you can ride it slow and is still great fun and a challenge. For better riders you can really hit it hard and it is challenging and leaves you with a huge grin.

What could be improved?

The Black run.

Would you recommend?

Yes

Date written:

22/03/2015 - almost 11 years ago

Was this review helpful to you?

0
^
:
Avg 4.52
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

Gawr Blimey!

We have been to Gawr Valley 3 times. You can do the blue climb, two black runs and the blue descent in just over an hour. The contrast between blue and black is striking. The blue is a simple climb and a swoopy descent. The black is a lung buster to a desolate summit (you can see Afan Forest from the top) followed by some bermy bits, a rocky step section and some drops, really good work to get all the features into a small trail. If you are heading for Brechfa, BPW or Afan it is certainly worth calling in.

What do you like?

Great contrast between well surfaced flowy blue and ragged-edge black. Very quiet. All weather surface with very little mud. Free parking. Great views. Challenging climb.

What could be improved?

No facilities.

Would you recommend?

Yes

Date written:

19/03/2014 - almost 12 years ago

Was this review helpful to you?

0
^
Charlie231173:
Avg 4.70
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

Fantastic trail right on my doorstep, but it's a pity a few local people think it's trail for dog walking :(

What do you like?

Thought the Blue run was amazing, easy to get to and a fast quick trail, amazing views from up top

What could be improved?

Didn't enjoy the black run, too many big stone boulders, and drop offs but the more experienced rider would probably love it ,

Would you recommend?

Yes

Date written:

16/12/2013 - about 12 years ago

Was this review helpful to you?

1
^
Olwen Cox:
Avg 3.99
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

Black and it means it!

There is a café "Creation Café" within walking distance of the car park. The all day breakfast was all there!

What do you like?

Trails vary from rocky scrambles to swoopy berms Need some more fitness to get up the climb and more nerves to do the descent through the quarry. Can't wait to go back and improve!

What could be improved?

Would like to know how to link it to other trails

Would you recommend?

Yes

Date written:

12/11/2013 - about 12 years ago

Was this review helpful to you?

0
^
Kevin Pointon:
Avg 3.95
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

Garw Black to Blue

I believe that anyone starting out with mtb's should defo try the Blue trails out. Maybe do it several times to build their confidence. The Black DH could catch inexperienced riders out on the rock gardens and steep step downs.

What do you like?

I thoroughly enjoyed riding this trail but I've yet to conquer the black climb without getting off and walking. The Black descent is awesome and I love the technical stuff. I like the optional shortcut on the Black too.The Black climb should be reversed one week. I recently did the full DH at night. My friends say i'm insane. Also it's right on my doorstep :)

What could be improved?

Too short. I can do the complete loop starting at the trail centre in under an hour. Burger van should be open 24/7 :)

Would you recommend?

Yes

Date written:

11/11/2013 - about 12 years ago

Was this review helpful to you?

0
^
:
Avg 3.81
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

Top Notch

Great trails, really can't fault them. Only complaint is that facilities are basically non existent when the visitor centre is closed (No idea of opening hours, it wasn't open on a Sunday).

Would you recommend?

Date written:

10/11/2013 - about 12 years ago

Was this review helpful to you?

0
^
Loading weather...

Recommended Articles

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play