Wales is a beautiful country and mountain biking enthusiasts you can find various trails catering to their ability levels. Mountain biking in Wales,s put simply, is easily one of the best places in the UK for a day of adventure. Here are some of the popular mountain bike trails in Wales:
Table of Contents
- Coed y Brenin
- Afan Forest Park
- Penmachno Trail
- Dyfi Forest
- Nant yr Arian
- Cwmcarn Forest
- Gwydir Mawr
- Brechfa Forest
- Llandegla Forest
- Snowdonia Loop
- Welsh Trails Address and Directions
Coed y Brenin
Levels of Skill Required:
Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
Coed y Brenin is one of the most popular and well-established bike trails in Wales. The trails are designed to offer various levels of ability for all types of mountain bikers. The trails have been maintained since the 90s by a team of dedicated experts, including members of the Forestry Commission, and have constantly been updated and expanded upon with feedback from experienced riders. The routes range from a nice and easy family experience to more challenging technical descents. Whether you want a gentle ride or an adrenaline rush, Coed y Brenin is for you. There is also a skills area where you can hone in on your mountain bike riding skills.
Afan Forest Park
Levels of Skill Required:
Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
Located in South Wales, Afan Forest Park is another exceptional example of mountain biking in Wales and one of the best places to go in the UK. The forest park is a great family-friendly environment where beginners on the blue routes can move up to the more advanced red and black routes for advanced mountain bikers. The trail features jumps, descents, and berms for more technically challenged riders. Afan Forest Park is also renowned for its downhill and Enduro riders, with timed stages on very hilly terrain.
Penmachno Trail
Levels of Skill Required:
Intermediate, Advanced
Located in North Wales, the Penmachno Trail is a popular cross-country route that offers exquisite scenery, making it all the more appealing to those who enjoy taking in the landscape while riding. With stunning views that feature Snowden National Park, it is a mountain bike trail that is hard to beat when it comes to going on a cycling adventure. Although it is a long flowing single track, it still has technical challenges and quite a bit of climbs and descents that will challenge any endurance rider.
Dyfi Forest
Levels of Skill Required:
Intermediate, Advanced
Located in Mid Wales, the Dyfi Forest is a very diverse and sizable forest with a good range of trails catering for all types of abilities and levels of bikers. The name of the trails is Machynlleth, and predominantly you will find the downhill routes and the cross-country biking trails more suitable for the Enduro Rider. If you are seeking more technical and challenging trail loops, you could try the ClimachX Trail. Here you will find all types of different natural features which will keep you on your toes as you cycle around.
Nant yr Arian
Levels of Skill Required:
Beginner, Intermediate
Also located in Mid Wales, Nant yr Arian caters to riders who love downhill and cross-country types of riding. As you would expect with many aspects of Wales, this trail also features beautiful surroundings and scenery overlooking valleys and weaving through hills. One of the great aspects of Nant yr Arian is that it has been cared for over the years and is well looked after, culminating in offering a mix of single track and technical challenges.
Cwmcarn Forest
Levels of Skill Required:
Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
Cwmcarn Forest is located in South Wales and the biking trail there is known as the Twrch Trail. If you like your mountain biking challenging with technical challenges, then this could be the place for you. Features include considerable drop-offs, rock gardens, and steep descents. It is a very well-maintained cycling trail with exceptional views of Wales, which is renowned for its forestry and hilly terrain.
Gwydir Mawr
Levels of Skill Required:
Intermediate, Advanced
Gwydir Mawr is another stunning mountain bike trail located in North Wales. This very popular trail bike center caters to a full range of abilities, from families to expert professional riders. Set in a forest environment, this mountain bike track is renowned for technical challenges. For the more endurance (enduro) riders, it offers steep climbs, tight switchbacks, and descents with a rocky allure.
One of the great things about the trails here is that they are very clearly and well-marked out. As you would expect with any mountain track near Snowdonia, you will never get bored of the beautiful surroundings and views as you ride through.
Brechfa Forest
Levels of Skill Required:
Intermediate, Advanced
Brechfa Forest is another great mountain bike trail located in the south of Wales. This one is large and offers a wide range of abilities, catering to anyone who loves mountain biking. Featuring the Gorlech Trail, which is a red graded route, this will offer you a perfect mix of flowing track and technical aspects to test your riding skills. It is a lovely and beautifully maintained bike trail, and superb views of the surrounding hills can be enjoyed.
Llandegla Forest
Levels of Skill Required:
Intermediate, Advanced
Located in North Wales, Llandegla Forest is where you will find the Coed Llandegla Trail Center, offering a good range of trails catering to all types of abilities. As you would expect, the trails are always well-maintained, offering the perfect mix of flowing single-track trails and challenges of other technical nature for stop. Known for its scenic beauty, you won’t be disappointed with the views on offer as you cycle around on your mountain bike. There are plenty of surrounding hills and valleys to explore.
Snowdonia Loop
Levels of Skill Required:
Advanced
As the name suggests, Snowdonia alone is a popular tourist spot. And it doesn’t disappoint when it comes to offering a superb mountain biking experience. Often, the views can be breathtaking as you get to explore and look over the Snowdonia National Park. It can be quite a challenging trail, so it may attract more intermediate to advanced enduro mountain bike riders. It comes with steep and hilly climbs and very rocky descents and is also known as a loop.
However, whatever your level of mountain bike riding, you will find this to be an epic mountain biking adventure!
Welsh Trails Address and Directions
| Destination | Address | Directions |
|---|---|---|
| Coed y Brenin | Dolgefeiliau, Ganllwyd, Dolgellau LL40 2HZ, United Kingdom | From Dolgellau, take the A470 towards Ganllwyd. After about 5 miles, turn right onto the B4416 and follow the signs to Coed y Brenin. |
| Afan Forest Park | Afan Lodge, Port Talbot SA12 9SP, United Kingdom | From the M4, take exit 40 and follow the A4107 towards Pontrhydyfen. Turn left onto the A4109 and follow the signs to Afan Forest Park. |
| Penmachno Trail | Blaenau Ffestiniog LL24 0AQ, United Kingdom | From Betws-y-Coed, take the A5 towards Capel Curig. After about 1 mile, turn left onto the B4406 and follow the signs to Penmachno. |
| Dyfi Forest | Machynlleth SY20 8AX, United Kingdom | From Machynlleth, take the A487 towards Aberystwyth. After about 3 miles, turn right onto the B4404 and follow the signs to Dyfi Forest. |
| Nant yr Arian | Ponterwyd, Aberystwyth SY23 3AD, United Kingdom | From Aberystwyth, take the A44 towards Ponterwyd. After about 10 miles, turn left onto the B4343 and follow the signs to Nant yr Arian. |
| Cwmcarn Forest | Crosskeys, Newport NP11 7FA, United Kingdom | From Newport, take the A467 towards Risca. After about 4 miles, turn right onto the B4251 and follow the signs to Cwmcarn Forest. |
| Gwydir Mawr | Gwydir Forest Park, Betws-y-Coed LL24 0EU, United Kingdom | From Betws-y-Coed, take the A5 towards Capel Curig. After about 1 mile, turn left onto the B4406 and follow the signs to Gwydir Mawr. |
| Brechfa Forest | Carmarthen SA32 7RL, United Kingdom | From Carmarthen, take the A485 towards Lampeter. After about 9 miles, turn right onto the B4310 and follow the signs to Brechfa Forest. |
| Llandegla Forest | Ruthin Rd, Llandegla, Wrexham LL11 3AA, United Kingdom | From Wrexham, take the A525 towards Ruthin. After about 8 miles, turn left onto the B5430 and follow the signs to Llandegla Forest. |
| Snowdonia Loop | Betws-y-Coed LL24 0AH, United Kingdom | From Betws-y-Coed, take the A5 towards Capel Curig. After about 1 mile, turn right onto the A4086 and follow the signs to the Snowdonia Loop. |
