BikePark Wales
Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales
- Distance
- A trail centre with dozens of graded descents
- Difficulty
- All levels, from gentle flow to expert
BikePark Wales, on the hillside above Merthyr Tydfil, is the place that set the standard for purpose-built gravity riding in the UK. With an uplift service to carry you and your bike to the top and a network of graded descents back down, it packs a full day of downhill into a format that anyone from a first-timer to a racer can enjoy.
The ride
The trails are graded like ski runs, from gentle green and blue flow trails with smooth berms and rollers, through reds with bigger features, to black and pro-line descents that demand full commitment. The build quality is excellent, and the trails are maintained to a standard that keeps them riding well in Welsh weather.
The uplift means your legs go into descending rather than climbing, so you can rack up far more downhill than at a pedal-up trail centre. It's an addictive format, and the atmosphere on the hill is famously friendly.
Know before you go
- Book ahead, especially at weekends, as uplift places and bike hire can sell out. Check what's open before you travel, as trails are sometimes closed for maintenance or weather.
- You'll want a decent mountain bike for anything beyond the gentlest trails. Hire bikes and coaching are available on site if you're starting out.
- Full-face helmets and pads are a sensible call on the harder trails, and are expected on the most serious lines.
Make a day of it
The on-site facilities make it easy to spend the whole day, with food, bike wash and a shop on hand. Many riders make a weekend of it and explore the rest of the South Wales valleys' riding while they're in the area.
The park sits within reach of other well-known Welsh riding, so it links naturally into a longer mountain bike trip.
Riding it responsibly
Ride the grades honestly. If a trail's beyond you, session the easier lines and build up; that's how everyone on the black runs started.
Respect trail closures and the dig crew's work, and look after the place. The park's trails stay good because riders treat them well.
Ride within your limits and the law. Roads and trails change; check conditions before you travel.
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