Trips done in this area
Sample pictures
Area summary
This area is a cyclist's paradise. It is covered with many excellent routes dominated by offroad trails with occasional road sections. The National Park is well covered by The Brecon Beacons National Park & the Black Mountains (mountain bike guide), and contains 25 official bike routes of varying length and difficulty. As well as the official routes, many of the roads, tracks and bridleways can also be followed, and there are relatively few 'NO CYCLING' signs. The MTB-Wales site also has a few extra routes.
There are dedicated forestry cycling centres at Cwm Carn and Afan Argoed in the valleys, designed as training grounds and dedicated centres for narrow bike trails, not for general leisure cycling.
The Taff valley contains the Taff Trail network (a part of the Lôn Las Cymru cycle network), a series of dedicated bike routes and roads extending from Cardiff to the far side of the National Park, over 30 Miles (50 KM) away. This in turn links to Lôn Las Cymru and many other South Wales cycling networks. The network is covered by the guide map; "Lôn Las Cymru - De/South".
Most of the mountain ridges between the valleys also have tracks that can be followed. In the area around Cardiff, there are several forests like Fforest Fawr and Coed-y-Wenallt near Tongwynlais. These are a perfect cycling ground, with trails of various difficulties criss-crossing them.
Many parts of the Gower AONB are covered with high quality bridleways and footpaths, almost all suitable for cycling. In general, there are very few hills, and the riding is fairly gentle, but there is easily enough to provide several trips. If you are interested, get yourself a 1:25000 map, and make it up as you go along.
Roads in the national park are often single lane, but drivers tend to respect cyclists and occasionally shout words of encouragement on steep sections. In the valleys, these may well be insults.
There is a Brecon Bike Bus service, that can take you and your bikes from Cardiff to various places within the national park, as well as Brecon, allowing you to cycle the Taff Trail in only one direction, if you want to.
There are several parts of Cardiff and Southern towns that have cycle lanes. Other vehicles usually respect these (pedestrians do not!) but most vehicles have little respect for the cyclists themselves. If you can demonstrate that you are better than most town cyclists by correctly stopping at traffic lights and using hand signals, you will usually be treated better.
Parking in the National Park is fairly easy with pull-ins, verges, and car parks. Most official car parks are free, private ones may require a small goodwill fee. Parking areas will usually have enough space available. Unfortunately, car crime is relatively high, so do not leave anything visible in your car.
Bike hire is available in Brecon, Abergavenny, Merthyr Tydfil, Cardiff, Port Talbot, Garwnant Visitors Centre, etc, etc, etc. It usually costs about £15 per day, except in Port Talbot where it is a little more expensive.
