OVERVIEW
Afan Forest was named in the top 10 places to ride before you die by What Mountain Bike magazine and the valleys surrounding the area are equally worthy of providing some stunning trails to explore by gravel bike.
Starting on the amazing trails of Walters Arena, you’ll head into remote countryside riding through parts of the National Forest for Wales passing by abandoned mines, former tramways and disused railways that give a glimpse back into the history of the area.
Expect cracking views, mixed terrain with mostly smooth fire roads and some tasty Welsh climbs for this end of spring classic gravel ride.
RIDE HIGHLIGHTS:
- Pure escapism as you head into the countryside on remote gravel trails.
- A challenging ride with several classic gravel climbs, amazing views and flowing descents
- Get a sense of the areas mining history passing disused mines and railways
What to expect
The ride starts in Walters Arena – a private area packed with wide gravel trails. Over 80% of the route is on gravel and there is plenty of long, rolling sections either side of some sharp climbs getting in & out of the valley. The views are definitely worth the struggle to get up to the tops.
Ride difficulty
Neither route is overly long but both the medium & long routes involve a number of off road climbs. This ride is suitable for cyclists of all abilities.
Long Route ****
Medium Route ***
***** Reserved just for our hardest routes. Expect long distance & lots of challenging climbs both on and off road.
**** Typically longer rides with regular climbs which could be both steep & long. Suitable for regular riders with some training.
*** A mix of terrain & elevation. A decent day out with some tricky sections but still suitable for regular riders.
** Some harder sections but suitable for all regular cyclists
* Easy, suitable for all riders. Mostly flat route.
Technical difficulty
Expect mostly smooth fire roads through the forest but there are a few short technical sections. This area drains well so should deal with any rain. There are a couple of steep descents on gravel.
Long Route ***
Medium Route ***
***** A challenging route suitable only for experienced riders. Expect short hike-a-bike sections, a mix of terrain & loose climbs and descents.
**** Suitable for regular off roaders, the route may contain rockier sections, technical descents etc.
*** A mix of off road conditions with some more difficult sections.
** More typical UK gravel which may be muddy when wet but no challenging sections
* Smooth terrain suitable for all riders.
TYRE & BIKE RECOMMENDATIONS
This route is designed for gravel bikes but you will be fine on a hardtail MTB. We do send out tyre recommendations closer to the time. If dry, a standard all-rounder gravel tyre (45-55mm) will be ideal.
Included in entry
Fully Signed Route
Our team work tirelessly to create the best gravel routes in the UK. All courses are fully signed so you can just enjoy the ride.
Checkpoints with proper food
An epic ride deserves proper support. We have tea, coffee and cake at the first feed and sandwiches & crisps at the main feed. Checkpoints are approx every 30-40km
Accurate GPX Files
A few days before the ride, we will send GPX files for all of the route options so you can follow the course on your GPS as well as the signs.
Mechanics Available
At the rider village & at selected feed stops we have mechanics available to help with any bike issues. We also have spare inner tubes, CO2 & more.
Rider Support Vans
We are here to make sure you have a great day on the gravel. If you have any major mechanicals or need collecting, support vehicles are a phone call away.
Beer at Finish Line
You will be greeted at the finish line with a beer & food available from our food truck. Perfect to chat about your day with fellow riders.
Fully Signed Route
Our team work tirelessly to create the best gravel routes in the UK. All courses are fully signed so you can just enjoy the ride.
Checkpoints with proper food
An epic ride deserves proper support. We have tea, coffee and cake at the first feed and sandwiches & crisps at the main feed. Checkpoints are approx every 30-35km
Accurate GPX Files
A few days before the ride, we will send GPX files for all of the route options so you can follow the course on your GPS as well as the signs.
Mechanics Available
At the rider village & at selected feed stops we have mechanics available to help with any bike issues. We also have spare inner tubes, CO2 & more.
Rider Support Vans
We are here to make sure you have a great day on the gravel. If you have any major mechanicals or need collecting, support vehicles are a phone call away.
Beer at Finish Line
You will be greeted at the finish line with a beer & food available from our food truck. Perfect to chat about your day with fellow riders.
EVENT PROGRAM
20th May: GPX files and pre ride briefing sent by email to each rider.
24th May: 7.30am: Ride village at Walters Arena opens. Collecting your ride number takes approx 10 mins.
24th May: 8am to 8,45am: Ride start. We will give you a short ride briefing and set you off in small groups.
24th May: 6pm: Rider village closes.
24th May: 7pm: Link to ride times & rider photos sent to each participant by email.
ROUTE DETAILS
LONG ROUTE
Starting in Walters Arena, we spend the first 5km on gravel before a sharp road descent getting out of one valley before we climb into the next.
The biggest challenge of the day is the 6.6km (avg 6%) climb into Afan Forest – this is a near alpine length climb which takes us to near the highest point of the ride.
From here, we have 40km of rolling terrain (with a couple of short climbs) which is some of the best gravel riding in the UK. You will enjoy massive views of South Wales along with some super fun sections on smooth fire roads.
As we get close to the end we have a long gravel descent out of the valley and then we finish with a spicy 2.5km climb to the line.
Percentage of Route Off Road: 80%
Distance: 77km
7Elevation: 1,150m
Difficulty:
Technical Difficulty:
Medium ROUTE
The medium route follows the long route skipping 20km of the middle section so you still have the long, tough climb into our main valley & a long descent near the end before the punchy climb to the finish.
You can decide on the day which route you want to do, the rides split at 30km.
Percentage of Route Off Road: 75%
Distance: 56km
Elevation: 1350m
Difficulty:
Technical Difficulty:
Medium ROUTE
The medium route follows the long route skipping 20km of the middle section so you still have the long, tough climb into our main valley & a long descent near the end before the punchy climb to the finish.
You can decide on the day which route you want to do, the rides split at 30km.
Percentage of Route Off Road: 75%
Distance: 56km
Elevation: 1,350m
Difficulty:
Technical Difficulty:
SHORT ROUTE
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Percentage of Route Off Road: 40%
Distance: 104km
Elevation: 750m
Difficulty:
Technical Difficulty:
FAQs
The ride starts and finishes at Walters Arena. There is free parking onsite as well as toilets & refreshments. We will send the ride village address by email.
Yes, e-bikes are allowed on all Glorious Gravel ride. These must comply with UK law.
We have first aiders & mechanics at the feed stops. There will be a phone number on the back of your ride number – call this if you need collecting.
Camping spaces at Walters Arena are available on Friday & Saturday night. These are booked on a first come, first served basis and are available in the checkout when you book your ride entry.
LOCAL AREA
Walters Arena is an hour from Cardiff or 30 mins from Swansea.
It’s not an easy location to get to by public transport, the nearest station is Neath which is still a 25 min drive.
Make a weekend of it
We have a gravel race on the Saturday in Walters Arena, come along and race or watch the action – https://britishgraveltrophy.com/welsh-valleys-trophy/
If you are staying over for the weekend, there is camping on site on Friday & Saturday night. There is some great mountain biking nearby or try the massive zipline nearby.
Make a weekend of it
We have a gravel race on the Saturday in Walters Arena, come along and race or watch the action – https://britishgraveltrophy.com/welsh-valleys-trophy/
If you are staying over for the weekend, there is camping on site on Friday & Saturday night. There is some great mountain biking nearby or try the massive zipline nearby.
Packing list
The route takes in some remote sections. We have support vans available but we recommend you are as self sufficient as possible including:
Bike spares
2 x inner tubes suitable for the size of your tyre
If running a tubeless set up, have a tubeless repair kit including plugs and spare sealant.
Multitool | Chain link specific for your bike chain
Small pump | Brake pads (especially in wet conditions)
Personal Medical kit
1 x crepe roll bandage | Gauze or similar absorbent dressing
Assorted plasters | Antiseptic (spray, cream or wipes) | Prescribed medication
