Afan Riding: A Long Weekend of Epic Trails and Breathtaking Views - by Myles

Recently Sam and I spent an incredible long weekend riding in Afan, Wales. The trip was breathtaking, not just because of the stunning views, but also thanks to the long, technical climbs that pushed us to our limits.

Day 1: Forest of Dean Warm-Up

We kicked off the weekend on Friday, leaving Eastbourne in the early hours to hit the Forest of Dean for a warm-up session before tackling the big climbs at Afan. After a hearty fry-up, we hit the trails, which were in perfect condition. The day started with flowy blue trails, but we quickly worked our way up to some more technical double blacks, with Ski Run being a personal favourite. The climbs here are relatively easy so we managed to squeeze in nine runs, with only one minor crash, before calling it a day. Satisfied with our warm-up, we headed off to our campsite in Afan, ready for the bigger challenge ahead.

Day 2: Conquering The Blade

Saturday started much like Friday—with another fry-up, fuelling us for the beast ahead: The Blade. This red-rated route starts from the valley floor at the campsite/café and quickly throws you into about 90 minutes of relentless technical climbing. Tight switchbacks, rocky obstacles, and the views down into the valley and through the woodland made it tough but rewarding. The experience brought back memories of our Moab trip last year, with its similar rugged, scenic trails.

Once we reached the top (or what felt like it), we rode through rolling singletrack that snaked through the woods before spitting us out into the middle of a vast wind farm. We took a quick break so Sam could try to figure out the camera on his new iPhone at the base of a towering wind turbine. After soaking in the surreal landscape, we rode back into the forest, through a mix of natural and man-made sections of trail that flowed beautifully together.

After four hours of solid riding, we finally reached the final descent—a thrilling 30-minute stretch of fast, rocky technical trail. It was intense but absolutely worth it. We rode down sketchily but safely, and I felt a huge sense of accomplishment. As someone who’s been on an e-bike for a few years, pedalling a 170mm enduro bike around Afan without complaining about the climbs felt like a real win—even when e-bikers and people on more sensible bikes breezed past us!

Day 3: A Quick Final Loop

On Sunday, we kept things short and sweet. We wanted to get home in good time, so we opted for a much quicker loop at the other Afan trail centre. This loop featured about an hour of climbing, followed by an equally fast descent. It was the perfect way to end the weekend—a bit of fun without the exhaustion of another full day of riding.

Afan: A Hidden Gem

As bike parks have become more popular in South Wales, it’s clear that classic trail centres like Afan have been somewhat overlooked by the majority of riders. However, for those of us who love a good uplift or don’t mind a short climb, Afan offers some of the best riding out there. It’s a more rewarding experience after a long day of true mountain biking, especially when you only see a handful of other riders. It really makes you feel like you’re out in the wild.

And of course, the pint at the end tastes so much better after a day like that!

Afan may not be on every rider’s radar these days, but it should be. It’s challenging, scenic, and incredibly satisfying—a proper mountain biking adventure.

To find out more about Afan biking, try these links:

https://afanforestpark.com/mountain-biking/

https://www.mbwales.com/listings/afan-bike-park/