MTB Wales trip. Help required.
Discussion
In need of some PH guidance!
Going to Cardiff for business on the 16th January and planning to take the rest of the week off and go riding as its a 4 hour trip to get to Wales so thought I would make the most of it.
So far i'm planning on driving up to Wrexham on the 16th, hotel for the night then ride at Llandelga on the 17th.
Now the part of the plan I'm stuck on is where to go for the 18th. I'm meeting a group of friends and doing Bike Park Wales for that weekend so I'm heading back down towards South Wales. On the hit list so far is either head to Longmynd Trails or Brechfa. Where else should I be looking?
As its Jan time going to guess its going to be wet/raining most the time so ideally somewhere that rides well in those conditions.
Any recommendations would be appreciated!
Going to Cardiff for business on the 16th January and planning to take the rest of the week off and go riding as its a 4 hour trip to get to Wales so thought I would make the most of it.
So far i'm planning on driving up to Wrexham on the 16th, hotel for the night then ride at Llandelga on the 17th.
Now the part of the plan I'm stuck on is where to go for the 18th. I'm meeting a group of friends and doing Bike Park Wales for that weekend so I'm heading back down towards South Wales. On the hit list so far is either head to Longmynd Trails or Brechfa. Where else should I be looking?
As its Jan time going to guess its going to be wet/raining most the time so ideally somewhere that rides well in those conditions.
Any recommendations would be appreciated!
I always enjoyed Nant yr Arian and how it took out into the sticks away from the forest, but still had some good man-made singletrack. Could imagine the exposed remote sections be a bit dicey in winter if there's snow / ice down and you're riding solo.
http://www.mbwales.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/...
http://www.mbwales.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/...
Edited by Harpoon on Tuesday 18th December 16:25
I’m based near Mold.
Firstly, dont underestimate the journey from Cardiff to Wrexham. Minimum of 4 hours going via Monmouth, Hereford, Shrewsbury etc.
Not too many places to stay in Wrexham, there’s a Ramada and Premier Inn. Would recommend you take the bike into the hotel at night to discourage the local tea-leafs.
I’ve done both Nant yr Arian and Brechfa. Both excellent in different ways. Nant is very exposed, so maybe not great in winter. Brechfa is very quiet but has some great trails.
One route I’ve done is Telegraph valley to the side of Snowdon.
There’s a loop that starts in Llanberis that heads over to Waunfawr, then back up the Rangers path until Telegraph. I did it in reverse, but going acw would mean a full descent of Telegraph valley.
Again epic scenery, deserted riding and again maybe not best in Winter.
HTH
Robert
Firstly, dont underestimate the journey from Cardiff to Wrexham. Minimum of 4 hours going via Monmouth, Hereford, Shrewsbury etc.
Not too many places to stay in Wrexham, there’s a Ramada and Premier Inn. Would recommend you take the bike into the hotel at night to discourage the local tea-leafs.
I’ve done both Nant yr Arian and Brechfa. Both excellent in different ways. Nant is very exposed, so maybe not great in winter. Brechfa is very quiet but has some great trails.
One route I’ve done is Telegraph valley to the side of Snowdon.
There’s a loop that starts in Llanberis that heads over to Waunfawr, then back up the Rangers path until Telegraph. I did it in reverse, but going acw would mean a full descent of Telegraph valley.
Again epic scenery, deserted riding and again maybe not best in Winter.
HTH
Robert
Fetchez la vache said:
wobert said:
One route I’ve done is Telegraph valley to the side of Snowdon.
In January?Seriously?
Weather reports seem to indicate 7cm of snow up the currently. You can probably add gales into that...
Never had a bad day at Brechfa.
Probably better to stick with trail centres, although Deggie can often be closed due to inaccessible access roads / car park.
Thank you all for the replies.
I should be leaving Cardiff around midday on the 16th so have given myself the rest of the afternoon and evening to get up to North Wales.
Look to of finalized my plan for those 2 days, planning to stay at Old Skool MTB next to Coed Y Brenin for a couple of nights, should give me a variety of choices to ride for few days with CYB, Llandegla, Penmachno and Anthur Stiniog all reasonably close.
Then head down to BPW to meet a group of friends for the weekend.
Should be a good 4 days riding in Wales, keeping fingers crossed for at least 1 dry day!
I should be leaving Cardiff around midday on the 16th so have given myself the rest of the afternoon and evening to get up to North Wales.
Look to of finalized my plan for those 2 days, planning to stay at Old Skool MTB next to Coed Y Brenin for a couple of nights, should give me a variety of choices to ride for few days with CYB, Llandegla, Penmachno and Anthur Stiniog all reasonably close.
Then head down to BPW to meet a group of friends for the weekend.
Should be a good 4 days riding in Wales, keeping fingers crossed for at least 1 dry day!
wobert said:
I’m based near Mold.
Firstly, dont underestimate the journey from Cardiff to Wrexham. Minimum of 4 hours going via Monmouth, Hereford, Shrewsbury etc.
You're kidding, right!?Firstly, dont underestimate the journey from Cardiff to Wrexham. Minimum of 4 hours going via Monmouth, Hereford, Shrewsbury etc.
I do Swansea to (north) Liverpool in 3.5hours in a 2004 1.9 diesel with 299k miles on it. It's not a fast car by any means ad Google maps says 4hrs 7mins.
Ignore Google maps if you're a competent driver (I'd like to think most PH'ers are!). Google Maps says 3hrs19 from St Mary St in centre of Cardiff to Wrexham, so it's likely to be 3hrs or less.
Aside from driving times, I'd have first asked what kind of bike you're riding (how much travel would be the prime question, followed swiftly by an honest self-evaluation of your skill level). The reason I ask is because there are some incredible trail centres around that require a bigger bike and a decent degree of skill/experience like Revolution Bike Park. If you've got the bike for it, sack off every other plan you've made and go there as your 'number 1' choice. Fit everything else around that. If you'll be on an XC bike or are a beginner/intermediate rider, give miss.
I live in the area, some good suggestions here.
Mynd - some good riding, the marked routes are all fairly XC but there is some very steep technical riding (some cheeky) . Can be windy and bitterly cold this time of year.
Penmachno - will be soaking.
Marin trail - good fun trail, takes a couple of hours.
Revolution bike park - will be wet and muddy and you have to pay for the uplift, but it's always wet and muddy. Good fun riding, but very steep, slippy and much more technical than anything else in the area.
Antur Stiniog - paid uplift, much more rocky less muddy and less technical than Revs.
Eastridge - small trail center, no facilities - good fun should be riding ok this time of year.
Hopton - likely a claggy muddy hell.
Nany Yr Arian - Lovely ride in the summer, the Sydfian trail will be wet this time of year. More out there feel than most trail centers.
I would recommend Dyfi forest, rides well in the wet and awesome riding - it's not a trail center so no marked tails (although can be linked with Climac-X), I can provide you with a GPX of the route if you want.
Mynd - some good riding, the marked routes are all fairly XC but there is some very steep technical riding (some cheeky) . Can be windy and bitterly cold this time of year.
Penmachno - will be soaking.
Marin trail - good fun trail, takes a couple of hours.
Revolution bike park - will be wet and muddy and you have to pay for the uplift, but it's always wet and muddy. Good fun riding, but very steep, slippy and much more technical than anything else in the area.
Antur Stiniog - paid uplift, much more rocky less muddy and less technical than Revs.
Eastridge - small trail center, no facilities - good fun should be riding ok this time of year.
Hopton - likely a claggy muddy hell.
Nany Yr Arian - Lovely ride in the summer, the Sydfian trail will be wet this time of year. More out there feel than most trail centers.
I would recommend Dyfi forest, rides well in the wet and awesome riding - it's not a trail center so no marked tails (although can be linked with Climac-X), I can provide you with a GPX of the route if you want.
RS4-Scott said:
wobert said:
I’m based near Mold.
Firstly, dont underestimate the journey from Cardiff to Wrexham. Minimum of 4 hours going via Monmouth, Hereford, Shrewsbury etc.
You're kidding, right!?Firstly, dont underestimate the journey from Cardiff to Wrexham. Minimum of 4 hours going via Monmouth, Hereford, Shrewsbury etc.
I do Swansea to (north) Liverpool in 3.5hours in a 2004 1.9 diesel with 299k miles on it. It's not a fast car by any means ad Google maps says 4hrs 7mins.
Ignore Google maps if you're a competent driver (I'd like to think most PH'ers are!). Google Maps says 3hrs19 from St Mary St in centre of Cardiff to Wrexham, so it's likely to be 3hrs or less.
My lad used to canoe regularly at CIWW in Cardiff, so regularly up and down to Cardiff / SW Wales (Llandysul)
Mold to Wrexham is 20 mins alone.
There is no easy, direct route, the best section of road is Monmouth down to the M4.
Fastest is going A483/A5 to Shrewsbury, then A49 to Ludlow, Hereford, Monmouth, then down to Newport then Cardiff.
Google maps says 3.5 hrs, then allow for traffic....
BTW I’ve just google mapped Swansea to Crosby north of Liverpool, 4hrs 21 mins, you must be going some to knock 50 mins off what is essentially a cross-country route...
Edited by wobert on Friday 28th December 13:15
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