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.

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

• 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
  • Subject to our standard Terms and Conditions

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)
  • Saturday Only – Afan Valley Bike Shed
  • Sunday Only – Bikes and Hikes
• Bike spares

These routes can be ridden on all kinds of mountain bike depending on your personal choice. In the right hands hardtail bikes would be sufficient, and we increasingly see e-bikes in our groups – as well as full suspension trail and enduro bikes. All are welcome. Each climb, and each descent, is taken at the speed that’s right for you, and we manage our groups carefully to ensure no-one feels left behind.

Ideally, you will have your own suitable full suspension modern ‘all mountain’ / ‘trail’ mountain bike:

• 120 mm of suspension travel with modern geometry is the bare minimal for this trip
• 140-160 mm of suspension travel on an ‘all-mountain’ / ‘trail’ bike would be perfect
• Electric mountain bikes are welcome
• Hybrid and budget bicycles are not suitable for this 2 day trip

• 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 4-6 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

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

Equipment, kit and clothing

Essentials:

• Suitable mountain bike in good working order
• Helmet (in good condition, with no damage)
• Clothing and shoes appropriate for cycling and weather conditions on the day
• Personal choice of drink and ride snacks
• Spare rear mech hanger specific for your bike

Recommended:

• Gloves
• Glasses, sunglasses or eyeshields
• Hydration backpack (min. 2 liters)
• Spare inner tubes
• Spare spokes specific to your bike wheels
• Puncture repair kit and bicycle pump
• Padded cycling shorts for comfort

What’s not included

• Bike hire – this can be booked with one our recommended local partners
• Personal clothing & equipment
• Pre, during or post activity refreshments
• Personal travel or accident Insurance

The Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust Limited (ABTOT) provides financial protection under The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 for Marmalade MTB – 5559, and in the event of their insolvency, protection is provided for:

• Non-flight packages

ABTOT cover provides for a refund in the event you have not yet travelled or repatriation if transportation was included in your package.  Please note that bookings made outside the UK are only protected by ABTOT when purchased directly with Marmalade MTB.  

In the unlikely event that you require assistance whilst abroad due to our financial failure, please call our 24/7 helpline on 01702 811397 and advise you are a customer of an ABTOT protected travel company.

You can access The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 here:  https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2018/634/contents/made 

You can find out more about ABTOT here: https://www.abtot.com/