Darren Fawr, Garw Valley Mountain Bike Trails

Ampy:

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.

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.

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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.

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.

Charlie231173:

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

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

Olwen Cox:

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

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!

Kevin Pointon:

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.

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 :)

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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).