Description
Tirpentwys Trails sit on a wooded hillside above Pontypool in the South Wales Valleys, with 6 hand-carved downhill runs built and maintained by a volunteer trail crew: Grannies Fanny, Bob Gnarly, Bob More Gnarly, Dasher, Gnarlyness, and Do-Able. Expect steep, swooping berms, jumps, drop-offs, and a dedicated session area to hone your skills before you drop in. The trails are unofficial and built entirely by hand on Natural Resources Wales land, so download a route or use GPS navigation before you set off.
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The Trails
Grannies Fanny (Red)
Grannies Fanny is the best introduction to Tirpentwys: fully rollable, with large, steep, swooping berms, chutes, and jumps building towards the bottom of the run.
Bob Gnarly (Red+/Black)
Bob Gnarly features big berms with senders into steep chutes, before the trail settles into a series of tabletops and jumps through the woods.
Bob More Gnarly (Black)
Bob More Gnarly has a natural feel for a downhill run, with plenty of roots and off-camber sections. Drop-offs reach up to 5ft, dropping into steep, natural terrain.
Dasher (Black)
Dasher is a natural, steep, technical downhill run with lots of roots, tight turns, and loose, sloppy ground.
Gnarlyness (Black)
Gnarlyness opens with a large drop as a qualifier for the rest of the trail, then continues through steep, swooping berms, tight wooded sections with step on/offs, and gap jumps.
Do-Able (Black+)
Do-Able is a natural, very rooty, steep-tech trail with natural features and technical drops. The trail crew's own "+" marks it as more demanding than a standard black.
Local Organisation
The trails are built and maintained by Tirpentwys Trails C.I.C., a volunteer trail crew continuing the work and legacy of founder Ryan Bullimore. The crew rides under the #RideforRyan banner in his memory, and riding here remains free.
Getting Here
From the M4, leave at Junction 26 (Cwmbran/Pontypool) and follow signs into Pontypool, then head for Pantygasseg Road. Postcode NP4 6UL will get you close for satnav. Parking is limited and informal, so it can fill on busy days: carpool where you can. The nearest train station is Pontypool and New Inn, about 3.6 miles away.
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