Afan Forest Park – Glyncorrwg Mountain Bike Centre, near Port Talbot

What's here

The recent strong winds took a significant toll on our sites.

 

We’re continuing to assess the damage, but this will take some time.

 

We may close the car park and other facilities at short notice whilst we undertake recovery operations.

 

You should always follow any instructions given by signs or local staff including any trail diversions or closures, and beware of the danger of falling trees or branches.

 

Ongoing forestry operations

 

There are forestry operations underway in Afan Forest Park including a major tree felling operation.

 

Many of the walking and mountain bike trails are closed or diverted.

 

See information in car parks and follow diversion signs on the trails

 

Be aware of timber haulage lorries and follow instructions from staff.

 

Mountain bike trail closures and diversions

 

  • Rheilffordd Cycle Trail: closed
  • Rookie (blue) mountain bike trail: closed
  • The W2 Upper Link path: closed
  • Skyline mountain bike trail: diversions in place
  • Y Wal mountain bike trail: diversions in place
  • White’s Level mountain bike trail: diversions in place

Walking trail closures and diversions

 

  • Gyfylchi Ridgetop Trail: closed
  • Rhyslyn Riverside Walk: closed
  • Penrhys Walk: closed

Learn more about the major tree felling operation in Afan Forest Park.

Welcome

Glyncorrwg Mountain Bike Centre is in Afan Forest Park.

Three of our red-graded mountain bike trails start from the visitor centre car park.

The car park, visitor centre and other facilities here are not managed by Natural Resources Wales.

Most of our mountain bike trails start from Afan Forest Park Visitor Centre.

Mountain bike trails

All our mountain bike trails are waymarked from start to finish and have been graded for difficulty.

At the start of the trail there is an information panel – please read this before setting off.

White’s Level Trail

  • Grade: Red (difficult)
  • Distance: 15.4 kilometres (with optional additional 2.3 kilometre black-graded loop)
  • Climb: 405 metres
  • Time: 1½-3 hours

This is the most technical of all the trails in Afan Forest Park and is 90% purpose-built singletrack.

A 6 kilometre sheep-track climb gives fantastic views of the Afan Valley.

Extreme exposure on tight singletrack means ultimate thrills and long, demanding descents with rocky steps to negotiate, all leading to one outrageous trail.

There is an optional additional 2.3 kilometre black-graded loop.

For a longer ride, combine with Y Wal Trail via one of the W2 links.

Blade Trail

  • Grade: Red (difficult)
  • Distance: 23.6 kilometres
  • Climb: 570 metres
  • Time: 2½-3½ hours

The Blade Trail has lots of singletrack, offering a great trail for more experienced riders.

This trail takes you to higher and more remote sections of the forest with amazing views over the Brecon Beacons National Park.

It twists and winds through the distant forest with some tough technical climbs and descents before dropping back to Glyncorrwg.

You can also add-in a loop of the Skyline trail but make sure you are properly equipped as this extra loop takes you to a very remote area with changeable weather conditions.

The 'Ghost Train' section of this trail is permanently closed, awaiting removal. For health and safety reasons, please do not ride this section.

Skyline Trail

  • Grade: Red (difficult)
  • Distance: 46.5 kilometres
  • Climb: 995 metres
  • Time: 4-7 hours

After being closed for several years due to the development of a nearby wind farm, the Skyline Trail has been redesigned and it reopened in October 2021.

The trail shares the same sheep-track ascent as White’s Level, and continues on long, forest road climbs with sweet, flowing technical singletrack descents.

You will be treated to stunning, skyline views of the Brecon Beacons, the Preselis, the Black Mountains and the South Wales coast.

This route will test your stamina and your nerve, with technical singletrack such as sections ‘On The Edge’ and ‘Excalibur’.

There are also 2 short-cut loops built into the trail.

Visitor facilities

Visitor facilities at Glyncorrwg Mountain Bike Centre include:

  • Corrwg Cwtch café
  • Afan A Blast bike shop

These facilities and the car park are privately managed.

For more information, go to the Glyncorrwg Mountain Bike Centre Facebook page.

Afan Forest Park

Glyncorrwg Mountain Bike Centre is situated in Afan Forest Park.

Afan Forest Park is one of Britain’s iconic mountain bike destinations and a popular place for walking.

The forest park is situated in the Afan Valley, a former coal mining valley just a few miles from the M4.

You can discover some of the valley’s heritage features along our trails in the forest park.

Other trails in Afan Forest Park

Explore Afan Forest Park from the car parks at these three other places:

National Forest for Wales

Afan Forest Park forms part of the National Forest for Wales.

The National Forest will:

  • create areas of new woodland
  • enhance existing woodlands
  • restore Wales’ irreplaceable ancient woodlands

It will form a connected ecological network running throughout Wales, bringing social, economic and environmental benefits.

Parts of the network will eventually form a trail running the length and breadth of Wales, so anyone can access it wherever they live.

For more information go to the National Forest for Wales website.

Visiting safely

We want you to return home safely after your visit here.

You are responsible for your own safety as well as the safety of any children and animals with you during your visit.

For advice and tips to help you plan your visit here go to Visiting our places safely.

Changes to trails

See the top of this webpage for details of any planned closures or other changes to the trails here.

For your safety, always follow instructions from staff and signs including those for trail diversions or closures.

We may divert or close trails whilst we undertake maintenance work or other operations and we may need to close other visitor facilities temporarily.

In extreme weather, we may close facilities at short notice due to the risk of injury to visitors and staff.

Organising an event on our land

You may need permission from us to organise an event or to carry out some activities on our land.

Check if you are allowed to use our land.

How to get here

Glyncorrwg Mountain Bike Centre is 10½ miles north east of Port Talbot.

Postcode

The postcode is SA13 3EA.

Please note that this postcode may not take you to the car park if you use a sat nav or navigation app.

We suggest you follow the directions below or use the Google map on this page which has a pin on the car park’s location.

Directions

Exit M4 at junction 40 for Port Talbot and follow signs onto A4107 towards Cymer.

Follow the brown and white signs for Afan Forest Park from the roundabout.

Go past the car park for Afan Forest Park Visitor Centre on the right.

Continue for 3 miles and go through Cymer.

Then follow the brown and white signs for Glyncorrwg Mountain Bike Centre.

What3Words

View this place on the What3Words website.

Ordnance Survey

The Ordnance Survey (OS) grid reference for the car park is SS 872 984 (Explorer Map 166).

Public transport

The nearest mainline railway station is in Maesteg.

For details of public transport go to the Traveline Cymru website.

Parking

The car park at Glyncorrwg Mountain Bike Centre is privately managed.

For more information, go to the Glyncorrwg Mountain Bike Centre Facebook page.

Contact details

The car park, café, mountain bike shop, toilets and other visitor facilities at Glyncorrwg Mountain Bike Centre are privately managed. For more information, go to the Glyncorrwg Mountain Bike Centre Facebook page.

There are no Natural Resources Wales staff at this location. Contact our customer team for general enquiries during office hours, Monday to Friday.

Related document downloads

Blade Trail guide PDF [1.2 MB]

Other places in South West Wales

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