Site Spotlight – Mountain Biking in Wales

Site Spotlight – Mountain Biking in Wales

With the school Easter break fast approaching my youngest has high hopes of sneaking off for a mountain biking trip to Wales.  Of course yours truly has been tasked with doing some research.

I have been informed that there are two types of mountain bike experience, the remote mountain trails and the more structured bike parks.  Of course the boys would spend every day being transported by van up the hill so as to get the non-stop adrenalin rush of the downhill.  My personal preference would be the more family friendly mountain bike trails in the Brecon Beacons where the large expanse of open land and bridleways offer a wild and remote adventure.

Our time however is short and hence will focus on the bike parks.  I have been reliably informed that there is one at the top of his list, the highly acclaimed Bike Park Wales.  It’s concept is simple. Picture a ski resort, remove the snow and replace the pistes with an array of sweeping, flowy bike trails and you are close. Add a bunch of adrenalin and you are pretty much there. BikePark Wales certainly appears to be an exhilarating way to spend a day (or more) in the Welsh mountains.

A rather more family friendly version, which will suit me just fine, is the recently opened Gravity Family Bike Park.  This offers those of all abilities the opportunity to experience the thrill of the uplift and downhill biking. What’s more, this bike park is situated in the Dare Valley Country Park, home to a wonderfully picturesque campsite with biking at it’s heart.  There are plenty of walking/cycling options from this site so I can see many finding it a great base for a good few days of action.

If you have more time then add on a city break in Cardiff, beach walks on the Gower Peninsula or more adventure in the Brecon Beacons. Quickly you will find that there are plenty of options to extend this trip.