Mountain Biking
The Land of Mystery and Enchantment. The holiday cottages are ideally located for exploring West Wales on a mountain bike. West Wales includes the counties of Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, and Pembrokshire. Some of the off road routes include:
Mountain Bike Routes
Llys-y-Frân reservoir - The Llys-y-Frân reservoir is set in a peaceful country park of grass and mature woodland with picturesque views of the nearby Preseli Hills. The cycle trail around Llys Y Fran reservoir is seven and a half miles of off road riding that is easy to follow and very well maintained. The track is wide enough to ride two abreast and for the most part it is a hard shale surface, although there are a couple of places where you can get muddy if you wish. The route is full of ups and downs as the path does not strictly stick to the water's edge, but dives into the woods around the reservoir going up and down the little wooded valleys of the streams that feed it. The fords in the bottom of these valleys are shallow and easily negotiated and the two steep downhill sections are clearly marked with warning signs. Bikes can be hired at the cafe at the entrance to the park, or you can bring your own bike and buy a one pound ticket there to ride around for as long as you like.
Nant yr Arian - Nant-yr-Arian forest sits high on the mountains just inland from Aberystwyth, and offers stunning high-level wilderness riding. With trails heading out into the epic scenery of the Cambrian Mountains, this is a fantastic area for those who like their riding rugged. Just be prepared for everything from true mountain climbs to river crossings and technical rocky descents.
Nant Yr Arian provides three spectacular mountain trail bike routes. The trails take in 35km of wild welsh countryside including some of the best man-made single track in the UK. The Continental tyres Syfydrin trail combines the best of the ‘Summit trail’ singletrack with backcountry mountain tracks for a 35km wilderness loop. The 16km Summit trail and 9km Pendam trail use twisting all weather singletrack carved into the steep valleys and ridges of the forest to create shorter, but no less challenging route options.
Nant yr Arian is just ten miles from the town of Aberystwyth on the Mid Wales coast. If you would like a copy of the trail guide which includes a detailed map of the route, click here to download the pdf version.
- Distance 16km
- Climb 310m
- Time 1.5 - 2.5 hours
- Level Suitable for experienced mountain bikers
- Distance 35km
- Climb 670m
- Time 3-5 hours
- Level Suitable for experienced mountain bikers
- Distance 16kmClimb 110 m
- Time 1.5-2 hours
- Level Good starting point, Suitable for novices
- Distance 23km
- Climb 200 m
- Time 2-2.5 hours
- Level Intermeadiate, great test of your skills
The Mach 3 - which is a 19 mile cross country ride with great views building up to a killer descent.
- Distance 30km
- Climb 500 m
- Time 3-4 hours
- Level Advanced, quality single track, leg cooking climbs.
Further details and other routes available please see www.mbwales.com.
Preseli Mountains - Pembrokeshire - The Preselis are a range of hills in north Pembrokeshire rising to 536 m/ 1,759 ft (at Foel Cwmcerwyn) and crossed by a primitive trackway along the Preseli ridge which forms the basis of the route. A site of Neolithic settlement, the eastern section of these hills is thought to have provided the bluestone of Stonehenge; this is the only known place in Britain where bluestone is found.
Ystwyth Trail - 34 km scenic cycleway, bridleway & footway linking Aberystwyth with Tregaron. Following the Ystwyth River for most its journey along the Ystwyth Valley, the trail winds through some of the UK’s finest countryside offering breathtaking views within landscapes that dramatically change with the season of the year. www.ystwythtrail.org.uk
Rheidol Cycle Trail - A 15½ mile route on scenic minor roads and specially made tracks (way marked) between Aberystwyth and Devil's Bridge.
Local Bike Hire, Repairs & Guides
New Image Bicycles and Bike Hire
Pwllhai
Cardigan
Ceredigion SA43 1DB
Tel: 01239 621 275
eMail: tom@newimagebicycles.fsnet.co.uk
Web: www.newimagebicycles.co.ukSummit Cycles
65 North Parade
Aberystwyth
Ceredigion
SY23 3JR
Tel: +44 (0)1970 626061
www.summitcycles.co.ukCilcennin
Lampeter
SA48 8RS
Ceredigion SA48 8RS
Tel: 01570 470079
eMail: cyclemart@cyclemart.co.uk
www.cyclemart.co.ukNewport Cycle Hire
Newport
Pembrokeshire
Tel: 01239 820008
Mobile: 07837101136Mike's Bikes - hire and repair.
17 Prendergast
Haverfordwest
Pembrokeshire
SA61 2PE
Tel: 01437 760068
eMail: info@mikes-bikes.co.uk
www.mikes-bikes.co.ukFurther information relating to cycle routes around west Wales please view the following Web sites.
www.walescyclebreaks.com
www.mbwales.com
www.mtbbritain.co.uk
www.edinburghbicycle.com
www.sustrans.co.uk