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    Home > Bikes > Mountain Biking > Routes > Wales

    Pontypool, Mountain biking

    Aug 12, 2018 by Ian Carruthers | This post may contain affiliate links.

    Pontypool sickness


    Pontypool host some sick trails, step natural, jumps, drops features galore. The trails are cut into the hillsides to the West of Pontypool, all provide a differing level of challenge, especially in the prevailing Welsh weather. The valleys are steep sided meaning that there is a lot of climbing to get to the descents. The descents are real descents reaching gradients of 40% in places. One trail even has two or three cars buried deep in the woods some distance from the road, no idea how they came to be there.

    The first time I got to ride these trail in early 2018 it was a wet and wild night. Taking on these trails for the first time in the dark, wind and rain was a true challenge pushing me to my limits. That time the ride took longer than expected, the wind and rain took its toll on the group and towards the end there were some very quiet chaps myself included. However once we'd made the final climb spirits sawed and the descent made up for the miserable climb. What was expected despite that we had be told about it was the cars deep in the forest quite some way form the nearest road, truly a bizarre sight in the dark and mist!

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOAIhdt2t70

    So if you're into steep trails and having a good time on a bike then head over to South Wales and check outage trails around Pontypool.

    Pontypool Mountain Bike Route

    Pontypool Map
    Distance15km
    Time1.5-2.5hrs
    Climbing520m
    Starting locationBridgend Inn, Pontypool
    Pubs, cafesBridgend Inn
    ParkingCar park
    RouteView route on Strava
    Download GPX
    PhotosView Photos on Flickr
    VideosView Videos on YouTube
    Pontypool Elevation

    Wales Mountain Biking: Beicio Mynydd Cymru, is a collection of 20 classic Welsh mountain bike rides, between 12 and 50 kilometres. Grab a copy on Amazon now.
    Don't forget to check out my favourite Welsh routes!

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    About MTB Foodie

    MTB Foodie is a UK mountain biking blog covering routes, maintenance, travel and food. Ian can be found chasing awesome trails and thrills around the South West and beyond.

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    I’m Ian aka MTB Foodie… have bike, will ride! Found chasing awesome trails and thrills around the South West. Addicted to mud, gravel and hills, with a healthy balance of travel and food.

    Hit me up with any questions, enquiries or new trails to ride at: blog [AT] mtbfoodie.com

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    I’m Ian aka MTB Foodie… have bike, will ride! Found chasing awesome trails and thrills around the South West. Addicted to mud, gravel and hills, with a healthy balance of travel and food.

    Hit me up with any questions, enquiries or new trails to ride at: blog [AT] mtbfoodie.com

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