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Cycling Areas |
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 Address
Afan Forest
Park, Cynonville, Port Talbot, West Glamorgan,
SA13 3HG. South Wales.
www.mbwales.com
Telephone
01639 850564
Accommodation
Swansea
tourism centre Tel: 01792 468321
Facilities
Car park,
Toilets, Cafe, Bike hire, BBQ area.
When is it open
All year -
round.
How much
£1for the
car park except in December. Short Stay - £1.00
Long Stay - £2.00
Season Ticket - £16.50 and concession £15.50
Prices will be reviewed in April 2005
Cycle Hire Prices
for Afan Forest Park Visitor Centre
Up to 1 hour - £2.20
1 to 2 hours - £4.30
2 to 4 hours - £6.50
Over 4 hours - £9.00
Deposit on first bike - £10.00
Subsequent bikes in party per hour - £2.50
Bike Hire is
available at 2 venues.
Afan Forest Park Visitor Centre and at the
Glyncorrwg Industrial Estate.
It is best to phone to book in advance:
Afan Forest Park Visitor Centre - 01639 850564
Bike Hire at Glyncorrwg - 079 525 77316
Camping Prices.
£1.75 per person per night
Local Club
The local
club organises regular rides and trail building
days.
If you would like to find out more about the Afan
Argoed centre go to the website below.
www.aboutbritain.com/afanargoed.htm |
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Afan Forest Park is
home to 4 world class trails, the ‘Penhydd’, ‘The
Wall’, ‘Skyline’ and ‘White’s Level’, boasting
over 100 km of singletrack heaven. Afan Forest
Park was the only UK trail destination to feature
in the ‘What Mountain Bike Magazine’ as one of the
ten best places to ride “before you die”, December
2004 issue.
The trails here have
been carved out of hillsides once scarred by coal
mining, but now the valley has been transformed
into singletrack heaven by Forestry Commission in
partnership with Neath Port Talbot Council, Wales
Tourist Board and the local community group
Glyncorrwg Ponds Co-operative.
Grading of Routes
Easy: These routes are suitable for all bikes
with wide broad tyres. They are nearly all on
roads with a gravel surface.
Medium: Suitable for mountain bikes only.
Steep climbs and sections of technical riding.
Difficult: Demanding routes including long
and/or steep climbs and long sections of technical
riding, which are mostly less than 18 inches wide. |
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Skyline
Distance: 46km
Climb: 2000m
Time: 5 - 7 hours
The latest
addition to Afan Forest Park. The trail starts
with the same climb as White’s Level – quite
rocky and technical. Skyline is a giant of a
ride. Be prepared!
Sharing the
same sheep-track ascent as White’s Level and
continuing on long, forest road climbs with
sweet, flowing technical singletrack descents
you will be treated to stunning skyline views
of Brecon Beacons, the Preselis. The Black
Mountains and the South Wales coast.
This route will
test your stamina and your nerve, with
technical singletrack, such as ‘On the Edge’
and ‘Excalibur’ sections. Your reward will be
out-stretched views and a nerve-tingling,
rocky, 6km singletrack descent back into
Glyncorrwg. There are also 2 short cut loops
built into the trail and the furthest section
‘Excalibur’ should only be attempted with
sufficient daylight hours to complete the
route.
Come well
prepared with plenty of water, food, spares
(inner tubes etc) and due to the nature of the
trail, some spare clothing. Skyline route is
subject to extreme weather changes and
temperature differences between the valley
bottom (195m) and mountain top (600m). The
weather can be wild and can close in fast. |
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The Wall Trail
Distance 23Km
Climb: 450m
Time: 1.5 - 3 hours
This trail
essentially traverses the North side of the
Afan Valley on singletrack, which varies from
fast, open and flowing to tight technical and
rooty.
Much of the
singletrack crosses some very steep side
slopes and in places feels quite exposed. The
route also shares a section of the family
cycle trail along the valley bottom so please
ride with consideration for other users.
White's Level
Distance: 24km
Climb: 400m
Time: 1.5 - 3 hours
Very technical
progressive riding trail with drops, step
downs and long singletrack climbs.
A 6km sheep track climb gives fantastic views
of Afan Forest Park, extreme exposure on tight
singletrack means ultimate thrills and long,
demanding descents with rocky steps to
negotiate, all leading to one outrageous
trail. If this was a slalom run it would be
graded black. |
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The Penhydd Trail
Distance: 22Km
Climb: 550m
Time: 1-3 hours
This is a
varied trail, which combines forest and road
climbs with tight, technical, switchback
trails through mixed woodland and open flowing
singletrack through ground with great views.
Big climbs
followed by technical descents mean this trail
is not suitable for novices and in places the
trail is exposed to bad weather on high
ground. Please make sure that your bike is in
good working order and that you are adequately
equipped. |
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Always wear a cycle helmet.
Expect the unexpected because it'll never happen
probably ....?
Give way to walkers & be friendly towards other
forest users, especially sheep.
Footpaths are for walkers only, ..... " you
know what we mean "
Ride flat-out & attack every hill, it could be
your last.
DANGER ! Keep away from all forest operations
like, S.A.S. special training op's. |
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