South Wales MTB Weekend

(17 customer reviews)

Ride info

Days: 2 (Sat-Sun)
Style: Trail / Big country
Level: 6

MTB Ride Level 6

Accommodation

2 nights B&B
Alpine lodge
Ensuite rooms
Bike store & charging

Distance

Day 1: 27 mi | 44 km
Day 2: 21 mi | 34 km

Ascent

Day 1: 3,200 ft | 975 m
Day 2: 2,460 ft | 750 m

South Wales MTB Weekend

(17 customer reviews)

17-19 May 2024
26-28 July 2024
Deposit
from £125
Total 
from £295 (non-residential) £405 (B&B)

Click HERE if you would like a ‘private trip‘ in 2024

South Wales’ legendary mountain biking offers a perfect combination: the ancient wild terrain of the Brecon Beacons and the endless fun of carefully crafted trail centre singletrack. In two days, we experience the very best of both worlds.

Booking more than one room? Select occupancy and room type for your first room, add to basket, then repeat.

South Wales. For some riders, it’s their first taste of big country mountain biking. For others, it’s a reliable, nearby destination to return to whenever they feel the call of the hills. Some riders are drawn to the legendary trail centres, while others crave the wilderness.

Whatever your preference or experience, welcome to Wales, the unique Marmalade way. Here’s how we do it…

Day 1 – Singletrack Saturday

Trail centres in Wales are among the best in the world. Afan Forest Park is one of the oldest and most popular, and is the ideal starting point for our South Wales mountain biking weekender.

Day 1 is all about finding your flow on the best of the 100km of epic singletrack on offer at Afan. Your guide is one of Marmalade’s professional British Cycling Level 3 MTB leaders – with many years’ experience on these fantastic all-weather trails. We’re there to help – whether with section-by-section advice or just with reassurance and trail-side repairs.

After a day of action, we return to our comfy accommodation, Afan Lodge, to refresh and refuel.

Day 2 – Natural, Raw and Remote Sunday

After a day on groomed trail centre routes, it’s time to hit the wilds! What a treat we have in store for you on day 2…

After a hearty Afan Lodge breakfast, we pack up and head north-east, just over an hour into the Brecon Beacons National Park. We rendezvous at our new base for Sunday’s big country adventure: the village of Talybont-on-Usk. 

‘The Gap’ is consistently voted in the top five of the UK’s finest mountain bike rides. It is one of our absolute favourites. Starting from Talybont-un-Usk, we climb gradually, with stunning views, across the reservoir before crossing the moorland to take on our first rolling descent of the day. ‘The Gap’ cuts between the peaks of Fan y Big and Pen y Fan before topping out at over 600m. The glacial landscape is simply breathtaking, bettered only by the long exciting descent that finishes our day.

We wrap up day 2 at the Bike Hub, where showers and bike wash facilities put us in a fit state for the journey home – but not before a hearty meal at the New Inn, Bwlch – one of our favourite Welsh pubs.

Want to know more about this famous route? Read our blog post about ‘The Gap’.

Details for our South Wales MTB Trips

We have put together this weekender to combine the best location, the best trails and the most relaxing times off the bike each evening. Whether this is your first visit to the trails of Wales, or you’re returning for more fun, we’re looking forward to riding with you.

To read the full terms and conditions please visit them here. Thank you.

South Wales MTB weekends Mountain Biking the gap afan brecon beacons guided rides

Day One: W2, Afan Trail Centre
  • Duration: 4-7 hours ride time
  • Distance: 27 mi | 44 km
  • Elevation gain: 3,200 ft | 975 m 
  • Technical Grade: +Advanced Beginner (minimum)
Day Two: The Gap, Brecon Beacons
  • Duration: 3-5 hours ride time
  • Distance: 21 mi | 34 km
  • Elevation gain: 2,460 ft | 750 m
  • Technical Grade: +Advanced Beginner (minimum)

Minimum of 12 months mountain biking experience with regular blue and red trail centre singletrack experience

See ‘Is this for me tab’

Any questions, please contact us

Full details of our South Wales MTB trips are below, along with additional information on the other tabs. If you have any questions at all please do not hesitate to contact us.

  • Dates:
    • 17-19 May 2024
    • 26-28 July 2024
      • Ride days are Saturday and Sunday
  • Places available: 8 (max.)
    • 1:8 ratio of riders to fully qualified British Cycling and MIAS Level 3 MTB Leaders
  • Total price per person: (incl. VAT)
    • Without accommodation = £295
      • We can advise on local campsites and other accommodation providers
    • Double room (single occupancy) = £495
    • Double room (couples) = £405
    • Twin room (shared) = £405
  • Twin room options:
    • Available for friends who are happy to share
    • On your own and happy to share? Please book a twin room and you will be placed with a member of the group of the same gender who has requested the same option*
      * if no one else books this option, then you will be offered the room as single occupancy based on the room rates above
  • Payment (booking 60 days or more before trip)
    • 25% deposit on booking, by credit/debit card
    • Balance due 60 days before trip, by bank payment
    • Subject to our standard Terms and Conditions
  • Payment (booking less than 60 days before trip)
    • Full balance payable on booking, by credit/debit card

What’s included:

  • 2 nights bed and breakfast at the amazing ‘ski-chalet style’ Afan Lodge
  • Bed and breakfast: Friday and Saturday night
    • Single or shared occupancy en-suite rooms available (see above)
    • Additional pre- and post-trip nights available by booking direct with the Afan Lodge
  • 2 fully guided days by either Andy Pittson or Sean Howell – our British Cycling and MIAS qualified Level 3 MTB leaders and coaches

What’s not included:

  • Evening meals and drinks
  • Travel to our Afan Lodge accommodation, onward to Talybont-on-Usk, and home at the end of our trip
  • Personal health, activity and holiday insurance
    • The above is a requirement for your participation on this trip
  • Bike hire (options available)
  • Bike spares
  • You will be at least an advanced beginner/intermediate mountain biker with 12 months regular mountain biking experience
  • You will be confident in mountain bike handling skills on at least red graded trails and proficient with operating your bicycle in the correct manner
  • The trails will include features such as roots, small to long roll-able drop-offs and loose rocks of varying sizes. The drop-offs in some places on Day 2 would not be considered roll-able and along with some features may require you to walk around or down with your bike
    • Your professional Level 3 MTB leader will dynamically manage the group and individuals during each day. There will not be any pressure to ride features or sections above your riding ability on the day
  • Certain trails will be steep in places which will require confident bike-handling skills
  • You have your own suitable mountain bike (Hybrid and budget bicycles are not suitable for this ride)
  • The ride does contain many undulating and moderately steep, technical and long climbs
  • You have the personal fitness to ride for at least 6-8 hours per day at a social and comfortable pace
  • You are aged 18 and over unless accompanied by an adult also participating on this ride
  • If this sounds a little beyond your current skill and fitness level, please contact us for other options

Equipment, kit, clothing and anything else

  • You have your own suitable full suspension modern ‘all mountain’ / ‘trail’ mountain bike *
    • 120 mm of suspension travel with modern and aggressive geometry is the bare minimal for this trip
    • 140-160 mm of suspension travel on an ‘all-mountain’ / ‘trail’ bike would be perfect
    • Electric assisted mountain bikes are welcome
  • Helmet *
  • Personal health, activity and holiday insurance *
  • Gloves and glasses
  • Knee and elbow pads if this is what you usually ride with
  • Hydration backpack (min. 2 liters) *
  • x2 spare inner tubes
  • Spare rear mech hanger specific for your bike
  • x2 spokes specific to your bike wheels
  • Puncture repair kit and bicycle pump
  • Clothing & shoes appropriate for cycling and weather conditions on the ride days
  • Padded cycling shorts for comfort
  • Personal choice of drink and ride snacks *

* without these you will not be able to take part in the guided ride Our guides carry an extensive kit to assist with trail-side repairs

17 reviews for South Wales MTB Weekend

  1. Matt Etherington

    Had a fantastic time in Wales enjoying my first big mountain, single track ride. Sean was a great guide and full of knowledge. Made me feel comfortable and confident on the ride, not even the weather could stop me smiling- loved the wildness. Looking forward to booking again!

  2. Nick

    Back from an amazing weekend in Wales. Great first day in Afan on the single track followed by ticking off the Gap, even a full on down pour didn’t stop the smiles at the end.
    Really well organised trip by Sean and expertly led. Started terribly with a puncture before we left the car park, but Sean sorted it in no time!
    Already looking forward to coming back next year

  3. Valerie Jordan

    Just finished a great weekend in South Wales. Sean is a great leader – always calm and smiling, and gets the whole group working as a team. I rode tracks I never thought I was capable of (and I am pushing 70), thanks to Sean’s encouragement and useful tips – and he didn’t mind at all if I got off my bike to walk over particularly tricky rocks!

  4. Jonathan Blackmore

    Great weekend of natural riding in Wales. Sean is a great guide and created an awesome experience for all. I will be back next year.

  5. Aaron McConnell

    Great 2 day in the Welsh country side this area is awesome and Sean knows it so well. Had a mechanical problem broken wheel Sean was quick to help got me down the mountain to the nearest shop for the bike to be fixed for the afternoon session. Marmalade are well organise. I will definitely recommend this to anyone one of any level.

  6. Peter s

    Great adventure in Wales with single-track at afan, great accommodation, great people, big climbs and bigger descents. Then Brecon Beacons with big mountains and mountain weather followed by knarly descent and a relaxing road and towpath back to the carpark no one was left behind and Sean’s always on hand to give advice.

  7. Sue Fergusøn

    Two days of great guided riding with Sean in South Wales – wonderful singletrack to shred with cheeky climbs built around Afan and then big country riding from Talybont-on-usk – climbs followed by superb gnarly descents. As usual Sean was able to give overviews of the trails and enabled everyone to give it their best with humour and great banter from all – we will be back again for another Marmalade extravaganza!
    Thank you

  8. Andy C

    A fantastic weekend in the Welsh rain, Sean knows the trails like the back of his hand and was an excellent guide as always, will definitely be back again for another trip with Marmalade MTB!

  9. Ian Mahon

    Awesome guided trip to Wales, simply superb. I’ve used Marmalade MTB for guided rides for the past few years and they always deliver a great experience. I definitely recommend Marmalade to everyone.

  10. Shane Gavin

    Wow! As a first timer to guided tours, the trip to Wales surpassed all expectations. Breathtaking scenery, challenging routes, and a genuinely great bunch of people to enjoy it with. Fabulous guides (Andy and Rachel) were super friendly and knowledgeable. You’ll definitely see me on more Marmalade tours in the future. Just as long as I get the ok from the missus…

  11. Mark W

    I’ve just returned from another Wales trip with Marmalade. I’m running out of superlatives! Fantastic two days, excellent riding, accommodation, food and people. Quite simply the best MTB tour operator there is!

  12. adam

    They say that Wales never fails and they’d be right. What a fantastic weekend of riding. Great group of fellow riders and fantastic guides made for an unforgettable experience. Even the weather played ball. Will definitely book another trip.

  13. johnbsuek

    Fantastic 2 days biking, Sean and Andy inspiring and helpful company, organisation so smooth you didn’t notice. Great weather but probably wouldn’t have mattered! Definitely recommend to all levels

  14. banc293

    April 22, great weather, accommodation, food and two amazing days. Loved the incredible single-track of Afan and the scenery and high level bridleways on The Gap, in the Brecon Beacons.
    We had two guides, both Sean and Andy, who were very easy company, knew the area well and gave us each some nudges to improve our riding. Yes I would recommend!!

  15. Mark Wild

    So, this was my third trip with Marmalade and it just gets better and better! Sean seems able to organise everything, even two dry days of riding in Wales when the Met Office forecast predicted some serious rain! This trips combination of the Afan trail centre and the classic “Gap” ride in the Brecons was absolutely perfect. It was all topped off with great accommodation, good food and a really decent group of fellow riders. You really couldn’t ask for more! Thank you Marmalade MTB.

  16. Mark Bennett

    Wow – what an amazing trip! The perfect blend of the fun forest singletrack of Afan forest and the open mountain tracks and breath-taking views of the Breacon Beacons. All expertly arranged and guided by Sean and ridden with a really great group of like-minded riders. Thank you Sean and Marmalade MTB.

  17. Richard Mason

    As always with Sean and Marmalade, an epic trip with all the ingredients to make for a spectacular weekend – great singletrack at Afan and the rugged beauty of the Brecon Beacons, together with a great group, lots of laughs and plenty of handy tips. I would definitely go again, it was that good.

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