Brechfa

Raven and Gorlech MTB Trails in Wales

Brechfa has three trails, the Raven – graded black, although there are no jumps or drops, not for beginners but not beyond reasonably skilled riders. Gorlech is a red graded trail that is made up of three climbs each followed by a descent. You can ride each trail on its own, each having its own starting car park, or you can ride them as one ride. Riding the two trails as one is best done from the start of Raven with Gorlech sitting in the middle of the ride. The ride is 32-36km depending if you complete all of it or shortcut, ti should take around 3-5 hours depending on conditions, fitness and if you ride both fully.

There is also the Derwen Trail is the starting point for families and novices and a great introduction to mountain biking.

There are free car parks with picnic and BBQ facilities. The Black Lion pub, Abergorlech just round the corner from the car park services those riding the Gorlech trail. The Forest Arms is in Brechfa village welcomes muddy mountain bikers.

Cwm Rhaeadr is about twenty miles northeast of Brechfa and whilst the trail is only short it is well worth a ride if you are in the area and have time.

Raven

An 18.5 km trail that debuted at the Brechfa Enduro, the Black graded Raven trail effortlessly mixes up the more traditional narrow woodland singletracks with Brechfa’s signature brash descents.

This undulating trail sweeps between trees and flows sinuously into berms creating a ride that involves the forest’s unique environment, from dark spooky mossy overhangs, steep rocky berms and wide open bike park to the magnificent Douglas fir Northshore Bridge.

Gorlech

Named after the river Gorlech, what this 18.5 km trail delivers in views and scenery it certainly backs up with terrain and excitement. The trail is a hard, fast, all weather surface which becomes more and more exciting as your skill level and speed progresses.

Railing perfectly sculpted berms and huge switchbacks, jumping the step up jumps and tabletops and grinning all the way to the bottom of the exhilarating final descent.

Brechfa: Raven & Gorlech

Combining both trails, this ride starts on the Raven trail and around the halfway mark splits on to Golech. You can follow the signed route or if pressed for time or don’t fancy the full loop with all the climbing you can shortcut and miss out the second climb. The shortcut is a bridleway at the bottom of the first descent, turn left between the fire roads on the left bank of the stream, rather than right up the hill.

Distance	34km (18km each trail)
Time	3-4hrs
Climbing	900m
Starting location	Raven car park Gorlech car park
Pubs, cafes	The Black Lion / Forest Arms
Parking	Raven car park Gorlech car park
Route	View Route on Komoot View route on Garmin View Route on Strava Download GPX

If you are making a trip of it there is plenty to explore, especially if you are coming from the M4. Cwm Rhaeadr is a short distance away, Cwmcarn is not far off the M4 then Tintern and Redbrook are not far from Bristol.

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