Best mountain bike trails in the Cambrian Mountains
cambrianescapes • 7 March 2020
If you want unfettered wilderness riding over gravel, mountains and through valleys, forests and around magnificent reservoirs and dams, look no further than the Cambrian Mountains.
The wildest set of mountains in Wales run from the Brecon Beacons National Park in the south, all the way up the spine of Wales to Snowdonia in the north.
They offer unparalleled riding with a mixture of constructed specialist tracks, ancient mountain top droving routes, sweet descents and single track challenges to suit every level.
Best of all, it’s riding without the crowds, just you, your mates and a few Red Kites wheeling around an incredible landscape.
1. The Doethie Valley
The one true love of singletrack magazines, this trail
is often dubbed as one of the best by those in the know. If it’s not written about in one of the MTB magazines for one year, it’s so unique, it’s tops the pile the next.
The Doethie Valley itself is 4 miles long, but getting to it increases the miles and route options.
Here’s an 18.6 mile route, taking in Llyn Brianne and Wales’ most remote chapel, Soar Y Mynydd.
The end of the route is just 4 miles from us here at Cambrian Escapes….downhill all the way home and, if you time it right, two pubs to stop at to replenish yourself and discuss what just happened.
Skill level:
Challenging, narrow paths. You need to bring food, water and tools with you
Highlights:
The Doethie Valley, Llyn Brianne dam and reservoir, Soar Y Mynydd, the most remote chapel in Wales
The Tywi Bridge Inn and the Neuadd Fawr Arms
are a downhill from the end.
2. Towy-Teifi trail
Named after the two rivers you’ll ride along, this is 35 miles of every type of going you can think of – up high, down low including a ride around the magnificient Claerwen reservoir and a quick detour up the Devil’s Staircase, Abergwesyn (well if you’re going to do a bit of tarmac, this is the bit to do), just to get a final beasting and a fine view.
Choose your start point – Abergwesyn, Strata Florida or Claerwen dam.
Abergwesyn is nearest to us here – about 20 mins drive. Route
Highlights:
The Devil’s Staircase Abergwesyn common, feel the burn
, Claerwen Reservoir and dam in the Elan Valley.
Skill level:
You must be a competent navigator and be able to take all your food and drink with you. Bar the visitor centre café in Elan Valley, there’s no other refuels, it’s just you and the wilderness and a lot of fun.
3. Elan Valley
Gorgeous Elan Valley, home of sensational Victorian Dams and engineering and totally bike friendly to boot…with a café in the Visitor Centre to head to at the end (or the beginning) of the day.
*Please note that the Claerwen Sunken Road is closed from January 2020 to January 2021 for repairs.
Enjoy climbs and views of two valleys and reservoirs, including a few steep climbs and a sweet section of single track.
Highlights:
Breathtaking views of the Wye Valley and Black mountains.
Some good sections of descent
Skill level:
Red trail
Distance:
29km
B. Elan Epic
An epic tour of all six reservoirs and dams. Steep climbs, open hills, woodlands and lots of good descents. It’s everything you want for a day that says you’ve absolutely maxed it.
Distance
60km
Skill:
Black
Highlights: You get to see all the reservoirs and dams and choose your favourite.
Grab a coffee at the Visitor Centre on the way in and the way out..
4. Cwm Rhaeadr
Everybody’s darling. A surprisingly poky red run,
just 4 miles from Llandovery and a mile from us here at Cambrian Escapes and Dark Skies Camping.
Much loved by its regulars and graded by MBR. *Please check for updates with Natural Resources Wales
as timber felling is taking place as of March 2020 and some of the trails are closed
Distance: 6.7km including the ascent.
Skill level: Red
Highlights:
A great downhill through a forest containing the highest waterfall in Carmarthenshire. Time it right and you can head on downhill to the Neuadd Fawr Arms in Cilycwm to rehydrate after all the fun.
5. Bwlch Nant Yr Arian
Bwlch Nant-yr-Arian
Forest offers stunning high-level wilderness riding in the epic scenery of the Cambrian Mountains. You can enjoy everything from true mountain climbs to river crossings and technical rocky descents. Syfydrin trail
Wild desolate and lonely, this trail takes in swooping single track, technical double track and mountain tops.
Highlights: Mountain top views, technical sections, river crossings and a café to kick start and end the day. Welsh cream teas are a speciality.
Distance:
30+km
Time:
5 hours or more
Difficulty. Black. Not to be underestimated – recommended to ride with someone.
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