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Ella Maclean-Howell: An Olympian’s Guide to Mountain Biking in Wales

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Ella Maclean-Howell has dreamed of competing in the Olympics since she was a schoolgirl watching the likes of Becky James and Dani King winning gold medals for Team GB at the Games. 

Next month, the 19-year-old from Llantrisant will be the one inspiring young girls across Great Britain to get on their bikes when she’ll become Wales’ first ever Olympic mountain biker.

Ella’s first experience of an off-road trail came when Welsh Cycling took her from the track and into the mountains.

Ella said: “At first, it was something very different and out of my comfort zone. I was used to road and track. But Welsh Cycling took us to Afan Valley to do mountain bike sessions to build up our skills more generally.

“I really got into it then. It was easy to get to and I’d even go down with my family to get some extra sessions in. And I then tried out a Welsh league event and thought I’m not bad at this!”

From Eryri to the Afan Forest, Ella has ridden many of the mountain biking trails in Wales and wants to encourage others to give it a go themselves so that they too can experience the fun and exhilaration of mountain biking.

Whatever your level of experience, there are different trails across the country to suit you. So, here’s Ella’s lowdown on the best mountain biking trails in Wales.

Image: SW Pix

At first, it was something very different and out of my comfort zone... I then tried out a Welsh league event and thought I’m not bad at this!
Ella Maclean-Howell

Ella’s recommended mountain biking trails in Wales

Afan Forest Park, Port Talbot

Great for: Beginners

Afan Forest Park is a brilliant place to get started if you’re new to mountain biking. I had lots of sessions here with Welsh Cycling when I was growing up. There is a rookie trail which is graded green and a skills area for less experienced riders. There is also a 2.4km blue loop for those wanting to take it to the next level.

Coed y Brenin, Dolgellau

Great for: Riders of different levels

There’s lots to do at Coed y Brenin in North Wales – I like it because there’s something for everyone and it’s great for families. 'Yr Afon'is a yellow trail which is good for beginners as is the skills area. They’ve got a lovely pump track so you can practise jumps. But if you’re more of a seasoned rider and looking for something a bit more gnarly, you’ve got the 'Dragon’s Back' trail, which is graded red, and then you’ve got 'The Beast' – graded black. This is a three-hour ride and not for the faint-hearted.

A cyclist takes a corner on a mountain biking trail in a forest
Coed y Brenin

Bike Park Wales, Abercanaid

Great for: Different types of trails (and a lift back up the mountain)

There are 40 trails at Bike Park Wales of different grades. It’s well-known for its downhills. It’s a bit like a ski resort in that you can get a lift back up the mountain in a minibus which can be handy! It’s good for technical skills but you can also go for some longer rides and on gravel trails. It’s well worth a visit. 

Bwlch Nant yr Arian, Aberystwyth

Great for: Wellbeing rides with amazing views

Bwlch Nant yr Arian near Aberystwyth has some amazing views. It’s a really nice place to ride and some of the longer trails mean you can be riding for three to four hours.

There are some challenging trails here like the 'Syfydrin' which is 36km and graded black. There’s also a skills park with rollers, berms, tabletops, hips and bowls. There’s other stuff to do here too like feeding red kites, play areas and a café. 

Cwmcarn Forest

Great for: Adult coaching

Head to Cwmcarn Forest and there are some fantastic trails with views over the Bristol Channel. You do need some more experience to tackle these but there are some brilliant downhill trails. There’s a cycle shop on site which offers coaching days for those aged 18 and over.

Mountain bikers smiling on a hill overlooking Cwmcarn Forest
Cwmcarn Forest

Mountain View Park, Caerphilly

Great for: Junior Coaching

There are loads of junior coaching sessions available at Mountain View Bike Park near Caerphilly, suitable for different age-groups. You can even take your two-year-old on their balance bike. But there’s also lots for grown ups to enjoy too and there’s a café on site.

Smilog Woods, Pontyclun and Garth Mountain, near Taffs Well

Great for: Improving skills

I can’t complete this list without mentioning Smilog Woods and Garth Mountain as they are near my home in Llantrisant and I went a lot when I was improving my skills. Smilog Forest is a downhill mountain bike base and Garth Mountain offers some pretty steep sections. These are both quite tricky so they’re great if you’re looking for something more difficult.

You may also like:

Natural Resources Wales has some really handy info on how to pick the right grade trail for you and some top safety advice.

It’s also worth checking out British Cycling’s mountain bike skills videos.

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