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Mountain Biking Weekend in Mid Wales | Coed y Brenin, Nant yr Arian and the Cambrian Mountains

Mid Wales was where trail centre mountain biking began in Britain, at Coed y Brenin in the 1990s, and it still has some of the best riding in the country. This weekend covers two trail centres and a day of guided riding in the Cambrian Mountains, with ideas for riders who want a bigger adventure.

Day one: Coed y Brenin

Coed y Brenin Forest Park, north of Dolgellau in Southern Eryri (Southern Snowdonia), is run by Natural Resources Wales. The visitor centre has a cafe and a bike shop, and the waymarked trails range from family routes to long, rocky red and black loops through the forest. Stay near Dolgellau at Tan-y-Fron Holiday Park, which has glamping pods.

Day two: guided riding in the Cambrian Mountains

Ride with a local guide who knows the remote bridleways. Mountain Bike Wales, based at Llanbrynmair, runs single and multi-day rides across open moorland and on classic long-distance routes, and suits confident riders looking for adventure. Hafren Forest Hideaway near Staylittle, in the mountains, sleeps groups of up to 13 and can provide meals.

Day three: Nant yr Arian

Finish at Bwlch Nant yr Arian, nine miles east of Aberystwyth, with trails from family loops to the long red and black routes on the open hill. Stay for the afternoon red kite feed by the lake.

Bigger adventures

The Trans Cambrian Way is a 108-mile mountain bike route from Knighton to Dyfi Junction near Machynlleth, with about 13,000 feet of climbing across the Cambrian Mountains. Most groups take three days. In the south, Black Mountain Adventure near Brecon runs guided two to three hour mountain bike sessions in Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) with bike hire included, suitable from age 12.

Good to know

• Check trail status before you go; sections close for forestry work and after storms.
• The weather changes fast on the hill. Carry a waterproof, food and a basic repair kit.
• More on our mountain biking page.