Blade Red Trail from Glyncorrwg — The Afan Valley

Get ready for a challenging mountain biking adventure on the Blade Red Trail, a difficult route spanning 14.9 miles (23.9 km) with an elevation gain of 1744 feet (532 metres). This trail, which typically takes around 2 hours and 25 minutes to complete, winds through a luscious green forest, offering incredibly fun and flowy machine-built singletrack. You'll encounter a mix of tough technical climbs and fast flowing descents, with sections like 'Groovy Gully' and 'Ghost Train' testing your skills. As you climb out of Glyncorrwg, you'll be treated to great views down the valley, and later, amazing views over the Brecon Beacons. The varied forest landscape provides a constantly changing backdrop for your ride.

To start your ride, head to the Glyncorrwg Mountain Bike Centre, which serves as the official starting point and provides amenities for riders. The trail shares its initial "sheep track climb" out of Glyncorrwg with the White's Level trail, offering a fantastic singletrack climbing challenge right from the start. This route is categorized as "Red / Difficult," meaning you'll need a good level of fitness and advanced riding skills to tackle it. Be prepared for some sections that might be so challenging you may need to push your bike.

The Blade Red Trail is a relatively modern addition to the Afan Forest Park network, having opened in 2014. It has quickly become a significant part of the Afan Valley's extensive mountain biking offerings, solidifying the area's reputation as one of the UK's premier mountain biking destinations. If you're looking for a longer experience, you can extend your ride by connecting to the 23-kilometer 'Skyline' trail loop, which offers additional singletrack and breathtaking views, including sections like 'Peregrine Ridge' and 'Jetlag'.