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nant yr arian?

welshkevwelshkev Posts: 9,690
edited August 2009 in MTB general
i'm looking for somewhere to go this weekend, i've done C-Y-B before, i was thinking the marin trail up at bettws but cos i've gotta drive up on saturday morning i was thinking somewhere closer.

can anyone give me any ideas what nant yr arian is like?

cheers

kev :D

Posts

  • MccraqueMccraque Posts: 819
    It's pretty...err...vast, remote, exposed in places. Some great single track descents (apart from the one that threw me over the bars and rolling down the bank in to the walkers path!)

    Great route. Brilliant if the weather is good...but pack for the worst. Take lots of food and water too. Expect some climbing...with the nice leg burner ascent at the end.

    I'm fairly fit, but that was one of the harder 30miles I have done in my time!
  • Paulie WPaulie W Posts: 1,492
    I used to ride there fairly regularly but havent been back for a couple of years. There are technically 3 routes although they each use part of the others if you see what I mean.

    The longest, Syfydrin Trail, is 20+ miles and has an epic, wilderness feel. You begin on man made singletrack in the forest and then head out into the hills for some more natural stuff before heading back into the forest for some more singletrack. There is nothing too technically difficult but you can ride the singletrack at a good speed. The climbing is what you'd expect in the Cambrians I suppose: there is a fair bit, some on fire road; a small amount on single track; some on double track; some on tarmac and some on grass tracks which is potentially a problem if there has been heavy rain for any period of time.

    I would recommend giving it a go.

    The other routes are essentially the singletrack bits you'd do on the Syfydrin linked up by tarmac or double track. You can probably knock of the Summit and Pendam trails several times in a day if you wanted.

    As an aside there is a great natural route just to the south that starts at a place called Strata Florida (at least it used to be great the 4X4s were beginning to have an impact on sections of it a couple of years ago. If you're up for the weekend it might be worth having a look at it. I'll see if I can dig out any details.
  • ThewaylanderThewaylander Posts: 8,594
    and never ever travel that far for the marin trail kev.. its not very good at all. if your in the area for some reason then sure, but i would never travel for it again :s
  • ddraverddraver Posts: 26,242
    I can reccomend both - Nant yr arian has slightly more climbing single track but i don't remember it being as difficult as the marin. If you don't fancy the marin then give penmachno a go...none of them are difficult....
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • welshkevwelshkev Posts: 9,690
    cheers guys, i think i may take a trip up there this weekend. as the other halves are coming with us, is there anywhere to leave them and keep them entertained while we're off riding? :?

    if not they'll just have to wait in the car lol :lol:
  • MccraqueMccraque Posts: 819
    I would drop them in Aberyswyth!
  • Paulie WPaulie W Posts: 1,492
    welshkev wrote:
    cheers guys, i think i may take a trip up there this weekend. as the other halves are coming with us, is there anywhere to leave them and keep them entertained while we're off riding? :?

    if not they'll just have to wait in the car lol :lol:

    Well there's some nice walks, a decent cafe and there's a red kite feeding centre at the trail head (I think) - I'm not sure this will keep them occupied for the however many hours you're out on the ride though!
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