afan forest skyline route

[Jim B]

Now that I'm blowing the dust off my mountain bike, just wondered if anyone had tackled this route.
28 miles of trail sounds interesting.
Grateful for any feedback. I like flowing trail that you can actually cycle on. I'm a complete wuss when it comes to riding along planks 4 foot up in the air.
Spent enough time on stretchers this year.

[huw williams]

Hi Jim,

Afan is really good for that kind of riding - there are a load of trails there of varying grades but all rideable and none across elevated gangways.

Also, if you're driving you'll probably be using the M4 so it's always worth stopping off at Cwmcarn Forest Drive too as it's just off the motorway. The link is here:

http://www.visitcaerphilly.com/things-t ... ls/?Ref=62

It's short but its spectacular so a shame not to do it while you're passing

The trails hold up pretty well in wet weather too, which is just as well at this time of year.

[Will]

I've done most of the trails at Afan but not Skyline although have heard it's a good long trail with - as the name suggests - nice views across the valley

It's probably less technical than some of the other trails in that I believe it involves more climing and traversing than it does descending

Afan is a great place and you'll definitely enjoy yourself

[Dombo]

Afan is a great place. There's a good shop/cafe/showers at Glyncorrwg Ponds where all the trails start. The local riders (club is also called Skyline) are often around at the weekends to show people around and Skyline is an excellent route. Beware if you're nervous about heights though as the trail hugs the hillside for a stretch and drops several hundred feet to your left.
Someone else mentioned CwmCarn, also a good place with the 10 mile Twrch Trail easily doable in just over an hour, 30-40 minutes of climbing then fantastic twisty singletrack for another 30-40 minutes. There is also a forest drive suitable for road bikes or gentler family rides.
If you fancy decent road biking and you're in or near Cardiff there are two good CRs on Saturday and Sunday - Saturday from Cyclopedia bike shop in Crwys Road starts about 9am and a more hardcore one on Sunday from Maindy stadium at 9 also. That one is either 50 or 70 miles and heads up towards Merthyr, Brecon Beacons at a brisk pace approx 18mph average on Dragon Ride type roads.

[TimN]

The skyline is good but there is a big chunk of fire road in around the third quarter, you can shortcut this though if you want to spend your time on single track. Pick up a map at the cafe, it is all signed but it is handy to have one if you want to do any shortcuts although the maps are not very accurate.

otherwise i'd have a go at Whytes (whyte lines or something) really good. watch out for a boardwalk section that is only a few feet but can be slippy and if you are "dusting off" your MTB it would be wise to have a look at the steep rocky section on the double black downhill before chucking yourself down it.

The wall is good as well, if you want a bit of downhill practice you can get a mate to drive you up, it will mean missing a bit of the top section which is really nice but it will save you an hours climb. There is some nice log cabins that you can stay in at the top of the wall, let me know if you want there deatils.

[huw williams]

[quote="TimN"] it will mean missing a bit of the top section which is really nice but it will save you an hours climb.

[Btn Jane]

Afan's trails are great. Agree with the comments that the Skyline on average can be a bit less interesting as you have the miles of forest track, recommend cutting some of the long stretches out and taking one of the cut throughs. Can get much more fun by doing that and having time left to the The Wall or Whytes Level.

Afan's great, you'll have so much fun!!

Jane

[TimN]

Don't listen to Huw Jim he is odd ,

you can do the Wall downhill in about eight and a half minutes and race you mate in the car to the bottom Top Gear style. i was so excited the first time i did it i jumped out of the car and left my helmet behind ! great move.

that said the climib is good, alot of it is on fire road but it is worth doing. but if you get to the bottom and fancy another go late in the afternoon there is another option.

PS i do not condone racing cars, bikes or anything else around forests (much)

[Dombo]

I love the trail names around that place. Whytes is named after a mine owner from way back, Skyline is obvious.

A couple of years ago we were being guided around Afan by a local lad who had helped cut a few of the trails and he took us down one called Granada.
Thinking there might be some local link with the Spanish city we asked him how it got its name. "Oh that's easy," he said, "when we were nearly done cutting we found a burned out Granada at the bottom".

[Btn Jane]

Have taken a few broken mountain bikers to the A&E department just down the road from Afan. Gets very busy on a Saturday afternoon...full of very large Welsh rugby players with their ears hanging off and feet pointing in very strange directions.

Best avoided

[Jim B]

Thanks for all the info.
Uplifts? Dropping the saddle? You'll be telling me not to wear my pointy helmet next!
Getting excited already.
One day's enough for me - taking my kitesurf board as well so heading to the beach after sampling the nightlife of South Wales.

[Dombo]

Uplifts?
Pah! Ride up. The downhill bits are better when you've earned them.
Dropping the saddle's a pain. Never seen it done when I've raced or ridden there. Just hang your bum off the back, chest on the saddle where necessary, and stay off the brakes

[huw williams]

[quote="Jim B"] heading to the beach after sampling the nightlife of South Wales.

[Elliot M]

Yes as I have found Neath is certainly, er, lively in the evenings...