Suggestions for a MTB weekend away

[HenryBee]

Thinking of going away with a mate this weekend to have a catch up and maybe do a bit of biking. We've done coed y brenin before but I'd like to try somewhere different that suits my skill level. I'm fairly inexperienced so a bit intimidated by bike park Wales etc. I've got a sub £1k hardtail to give an idea...

Ideally want somewhere that's not excessively far away from Nottingham, will be fairly cheap for one or two nights and anywhere picturesque and interesting is a bonus. Also would like it not to be in the middle of nowhere so there's other stuff to keep us entertained (pubs basically).

Anybody got any suggestions?

[Silvs]

Blue trails are fine on a hardtail at BPW. Done them all on my old rockhopper before I went full sus. Do a day there (full days uplift) and a day at cwmcarn as well some really good stuff in South Wales. There is plenty around locally which is great fun!

[anonymous-user]

here's a good "weekend away"


Friday arvo/evening: Head to wales via The Forrest of dean. Knock out the Blues/red and some DH runs at Pedalbikeaway center.

Saturday: Uplift day at BPW. No need to be scared, plenty of mellow fun flowy runs to do, with not much pedalling, win!

Sunday: Do some Brecon Beacons cross country stuff to ease your aching legs (after all that standing up at BPW). Something like the Classic "gap" route is a great Sunday option!



We did this last year and it was ace!

FoD:




BPW:





Classic GAP:

[AndyWoodall]

Nant-yr Arian or Llandegla would be my choices. Slight preference for Nant-yr-Arian as you get the trail centre feeling but with some true out in the mountains away from every other bugger biking.

[Herman Toothrot]

i'd find a bunk house off the in M4 South Wales will be £20 ish for a night have storage for bikes, go to Cwmcarn one day and Afan another. Easy from Nottingham.

[HenryBee]

Looks like BPW uplift is impossible at short notice, which is a shame cause it looks seriously good.

I'll have a Google of the other 3 when I get home, thanks for the suggestions guys. Hopefully we can find a bed as nice and as cheap as plas curig in bets y coed was Would recommend it to anyone staying in the area!

[Simes205]

Tent.
Afan valley
Glyncorrig campsite.

[wobert]

H

AndyWoodall said:

Nant-yr Arian or Llandegla would be my choices. Slight preference for Nant-yr-Arian as you get the trail centre feeling but with some true out in the mountains away from every other bugger biking.

This.....

I did Nant yr Arian last year, we saw two bikes in 30 odd miles.

Lovely single and double track, with stunning mountain views really out in the wilds.....

[ewenm]

Lake District - go to Keswick and ride some natural trails rather than trail centre stuff (although Whinlatter is there if you need a trail centre fix).

[snowdude2910]

HenryBee said:

Looks like BPW uplift is impossible at short notice, which is a shame cause it looks seriously good.

You could always ride back up that's what we plan on doing when we do a weekend there in may then if there's space to catch the uplift while you're there it's a couple of quid a time bonus. We did forest of dean at pedalabikeaway the other week and I thought it was prety good I think we're going there again on saturday I'm fairly new to MTB so can't offer much in the way of trails but if you fancy an afternoon off you can hire a canadian canoe from symonds yat for around £20 and get them to drop you off at kern bridge then float/paddle the 8 miles or so back down with a few beers.

[joema]

ewenm said:

Lake District - go to Keswick and ride some natural trails rather than trail centre stuff (although Whinlatter is there if you need a trail centre fix).

Grizedale has trails.

did the UKGE last year there and it was all on natural stuff. Amazing riding and scenery.

How about Scotland like Glentress and 7 stanes?

[ewenm]

joema said:

ewenm said:

Lake District - go to Keswick and ride some natural trails rather than trail centre stuff (although Whinlatter is there if you need a trail centre fix).

Grizedale has trails.

did the UKGE last year there and it was all on natural stuff. Amazing riding and scenery.

How about Scotland like Glentress and 7 stanes?

Yep, Grizedale is good too. I grew up plotting Lake District routes on OS maps - linking bridleways and byways to make decent rides. I get the impression the rise of the trail centre and waymarked routes means fewer people do that now, but I'd still recommend it for an adventure and exploring new places.

[AndyWoodall]

wobert said:

This.....

I did Nant yr Arian last year, we saw two bikes in 30 odd miles.

Lovely single and double track, with stunning mountain views really out in the wilds.....

Unless the weathers bad and you won't even see your handlebars.

But yes, I take your point, I've ridden there in blue skies and sunshine and its as close to MTB heaven as I believe you can get in the UK. Wild trails but with some constructed trail centre fun breaking it up. I love it there and curse the fact I spent a year around there without a bike. Then again I'd likely not have a wife either.

The remoteness and the lack of other riders and walkers also mean you have to prepare, first aid kit, decent tools and spares and generally no mobile signal either. Bloody love it up there!