South Wales Gravel Hunting – For The Hell Of It

Photography by Wayne at Freewheel Images

Autumn can be hit and miss in the UK. There are some downright awful days that can fill you with dread of the impending winter, and some days that reveal the most beautiful spectrum of fall colours and crisp sunshine that even rivals the summer’s best days.

The first edition of For The Hell Of It.cc‘s social rides had been a washout. If it was a film the soundtrack would have been ‘Riders on the Storm’ by The Doors. Despite the downpour, fallen trees and sideways gusts, we’d all been treated to some bloody brilliant riding just on the edge of Wales’ capital city.

Seeing FTHOI.cc’s second social ride put on, it was straight in the diary (and so should it have been in yours), knowing how well these guys can put together a corking route.

FTHOI V.2

Although (almost entirely) dry from the sky, the trails were certainly not, which made for a very fruity 90km. The usual out of the city on the Taff Trail, then a fun off road climb over Caerphilly Mountain led us out heading North East, crossing over a series of valleys to Cwmcarn.

It’s well known among mountain bikers as a South Wales mecca, but often the extensive valleyside fireroad network is overlooked. We were spoilt with views out to Cardiff and Newport on the coast and across to the North Devon coastline, the sun warming our backs which was very well welcomed in the Autumn chill.

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The most fun road led dead North out of Cwmcarn to Mynydd Twyn Glas, over the high grassy moorland. What would evidently be a great rocky doubletrack in the summer was a series of pools from tyre-deep to hub-deep and everything in between. The peaty black pools gave no clues as to their depths until you plunged in with reckless abandon – in some cases literally ‘dropping in’ to pretty deep, rocky crossings. One rider muttered something about bottom brackets. I didn’t care; I was having a whale of a time.

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Halfway now, we descended back to civilisation at Abercarn and a much needed shop stop, although we were all left pretty chilly. Thankfully the rocky XC climb out of Wattsville (!) after the Sirhowy Valley Line was enough to warm us up, before the most awesome mud switchback descent off the hillside, filthy singletrack lined with soft brown bracken, the perfect airbag for any spills (and there were spills).

The final challenge was up and over Caerphilly Mountain again, on some different trails this time, then back along the Taff Trail into the city for some well deserved beers, muddy smiles and strange looks in the pub.

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At least a couple of South Welsh valleys with just a little lanes, Tudor, James and Fish really do know how to put a stonking route together. Come and join us on the next one, but until then, check out this route and let us know how you get on. Be prepared for wet feet and don’t forget your climbing legs!