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

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.

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 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.