Bike Park Wales Ultimate Guide
3 minute read….
Everything you need to know
One of the UKs Biggest and Best Bike Parks!
Read on to find out everything you need to know about accommodation, nearby camping, trail info and handy info for anyone planning a trip.
A network of 40+ trails
Bike Park Wales has a massive amount of trails to choose from. You’d struggle to ride them all in a weekend!
This spreads riders out across the hillside. Even though there may be 100’s of riders out there, it certainly doesn’t feel like it.
It’s good for all skill levels
From the long flowy corners of ‘Terrys Belly’ to the HUGE senders on ‘Enter the dragon’, Bike Park Wales has you covered!
All trails are marked with ‘T,B or F’ which means you know if a trail is a ‘Tech, Blend or Flow”.
Beginners
- Kermit
- Blue belle
- Melted welly
- Off grid
Intermediates
- Sixtapod
- Terrys Belly
- Popty Ping
- Willy Waver
Senders
- A470
- Dai Hard
- Enter the Dragon
- 50 Shades of black
Uplift
It’s expensive, but it would be rare to spend a whole day there feeling like you’d want more riding. There is a constant stream of uplifts at Bike Park Wales waiting for you at the bottom. It’s possible to get 13/14 runs in a day!
On-site shop
It has a large on-site shop with everything you could need. Bike hire, Protective equipment hire, repairs and loads of the latest gear. Bring a few extra quid though, it’s not cheap.
Cafe
Bike Park Wales is home to a lovely Cafe with loads of tasty treats, meals and the beer isn’t bad either!
*Tip If you’re new to Bike Park Wales, grab a trail map from reception. Listed are all the trails graded from easiest to hardest so you can work your way up through the trails without ending up on a trail that is way above your skill level.
Where to stay
Camping
For camping near Bike Park Wales, head to Grawen camping park is situated inside the Brecon Beacons national park which is situated roughly 10 minutes from Bike Park Wales.
Open from April to October, they have modern facilities with hot showers, electric hook-ups and a laundrette. Dogs are permitted on leads.
Post code – CF48 2HS
Tel: 01685 723740
Bed and Breakfast
If you’re looking for Bike Park Wales accommodation, then Twin Trails is a B&B situated very close to the trails. It also caters only to riders! A 2 minute drive from the trails and rated 5* on Trip advisor.
- CCTV monitored, safe and secure storage of equipment.
- Bike cleaning and laundry equipment services.
- £35 per night with breakfast inc.
- Postcode – CF48 4JZ
- Call or text on – 07807 979524
Premier Inn – Merthyr Tydfil
Located minutes from the door step of bike park Wales is a Premiere Inn, prices are reasonable and you know what you’re getting. You can also add a buffet breakfast if required.
DO NOT leave your bikes in the carpark. Vehicles in this car park are a target to local thieves. The staff at Premier Inn allow you to take bikes into rooms as long as they are clean.
What bike to take?
This is one of the few places you can ride almost any bike and be ok. A DH bike would be great and so would a hardtail. It’s ultimately down to what you have.
If you ride a hardtail then stick to the blues + mellow reds and you will be fine. If you have a DH bike then prepare to be over biked for sections. The perfect bike would be a enduro 150-170mm travel.
The good
Dedicated trail crew
The team at Bike Park Wales has a full time dig crew who work their magic developing new trails and maintaining/ improving others. All the trails are built to high standards and have great flow.
Ride in all weathers
These trails ride well in all conditions as they are mostly made from compacted mud/pebble. This holds up well to avoid braking bumps and still offers plenty of grip in the wet.
Trail variety
Wether you like jumps, tech or flow as a beginner or pro, there are trails for you. Each trail is clearly marked on a map with details to make sure you don’t end up on something you shouldn’t be riding.
Atmosphere
From the moment you arrive the atmosphere is there. Everyone is excited and you instantly get the feeling you’re at a top notch facility. Not to mention this Welsh forest is pure beauty.
The bad
Cost
A weekends uplift cost has risen to around £50 per day. If you consider all the other costs involved in a weekends riding, it adds up fast. You do get a lot of bang for your buck but let’s not forget there is ALOT of other riding to do nearby which can be explored way cheaper.
Lack of steep terrain
Steep tech trails could be either a positive or negative depending on what type of riding you like.
Bike Park Wales has a few steep sections but the majority is at quite a mellow gradient. If you want steep, you can find that in abundance at Dyfi Bike Park.
Book early
Because of its popularity the uplifts fill very quickly, especially Friday – Sundays. Get a date in the diary and book in advance to avoid missing out.
Listen to the Bike Park Wales podcast here!
Final thoughts….
In early 2020, I planned a trip to Bike Park Wales which almost fell through last minute. We didn’t book the uplift in time which left us all devastated. As soon as this happened I immediately started to think of another places to ride which would deliver the same experience. The result was conclusive….. There aren’t many! (Dyfi and Dirt Farm).
The Bike Park design style has similarities to the legendary Whistler Bike Park. The folks at Bike Park Wales have really delivered something amazing, ideal for all levels of rider to progress skills and push limits. It really does give riders a taste for what it’s like to ride at a chairlift assisted bike park.
P.s They added more vans so we got to make the trip after all!
