While it’s only a short drive away from the M4 motorway, Cwmcarn offers up some big views and some great riding too. There are two red-graded cross-country loops that offer some decent technical challenge as well as a solid serving of climb and descent, almost entirely on singletrack.
Despite being so easy to get to, once you’re out on the trails it feels much more rugged and remote than you’d guess, with a wide variety of views and landscapes to drink in, plus nicely varied riding.
Bike wise, a short travel trail or cross-country bike is the way to go for the loops if you have a choice, but it’s totally rideable on anything from an affordable hardtail to an enduro machine, though the former will find it fairly bumpy and the latter a bit draggy.
Gravity enthusiasts have lots to enjoy with Y Mynydd downhill tracks, which are served by the Cwmdown uplift service. They’ve got big jumps, drops and some serious technical challenge that suit long-travel trail bikes and full-on downhill rigs. The waymarked trails are all properly surfaced so they’re fine to ride, no matter what the weather.
There’s also a fair amount of technical off-piste riding if you know where to look for it – and if you’re up to the quite serious challenge many of the tracks offer.
The visitor centre has a cafe with toilets and the PS Cycles shop on-site offers bike hire, spares and repairs. There are lots of (paid) parking on site too.
