Yr Afon

Grade: Green

Distance: 10.8km (1-3 hours)

This trail is suitable for novices and family groups. Based on open forest roads and contouring the hillsides, it takes in the magnificent waterfalls on the Gain and Mawddach rivers and also visits the old Gwynfynydd Gold mine, the last source of Welsh gold.

There are a couple of downhill sections on forest roads, so younger riders will need to be able to control their speed.

Yr Afon is a good choice for those who have less confidence on taking a bike into more 'mountain bike' territory. The trail is good and wide although the surface is generally flat you will find it a little loose and potholed in places .

Yr Afon is a great choice for an easy outing on ebikes for those looking to enjoy the beauty and tranquility of the forest without too much challenge.

The trail still has some hills in places, notably on the way up to the waterfalls and the final climb from valley floor to visitor centre. Take a good look at the trail map where these are clearly marked.

E-asy riding?

If you'd like to make your ride a little more comfortable and fun, why not try renting a motor assist e-bike from Beics Brenin. Let the e-bikes take the strain while you enjoy the trail. Pedal assistance if variable, allowing you to make the ride as easy or as challenging as you feel comfortable with.
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Which trail is right for you? (click to expand)

trail grade	suitable for	trail & surface type	gradients & technical trail features (TTFs)	suggested fitness level
FOREST ROAD	A wide range of cyclists. Most bikes and hybrids. Ability to use maps helpful. Routes may or may not be way marked.	Relatively flat and wide. The trail surface may be loose, uneven or muddy at times. These roads may be used by vehicles and other users, including Horse riders and dog walkers.	Relatively flat and wide. The trail surface may be loose, uneven or muddy at times. These roads may be used by vehicles and other users, including Horse riders and dog walkers.	A good standard of fitness can help.
	Beginner/novice cyclists. Basic Bike Skills required. Most bikes and hybrids. Some green routes can take trailers.	Relatively flat and wide. The trail surface may be loose, uneven or muddy at times. May include short flowing singletrack style sections.	Climbs and descents are mostly shallow. No challenging features	Suitable for most people in good health.
	Intermediate cyclist/mountain bikers with basic offroad riding skills. Mountain bikes or hybrids.	As ‘Green’ plus specially constructed single track. Trail surface may include small obstacles of roots and rock.	Most gradients are moderate but may include short steep sections. Includes small technical features.	A good standard of fitness can help.
	Proficient mountain bikers with good off-road riding skills. Suitable for better quality off-road mountain bikes.	Steeper and tougher, mostly singletrack with technical sections. Expect very variable surface types.	A wide range of climbs and descents of a challenging nature will be present. Expect boardwalks, berms, large rocks, medium steps, drop-offs, cambers, water crossings.	A wide range of climbs and descents of a challenging nature will be present. Expect boardwalks, berms, large rocks, medium steps, drop-offs, cambers, water crossings.
	Expert mountain bike users, used to physically demanding routes. Quality off-road mountain bikes.	As ‘Red’ but with an expectation of greater challenge and continuous difficulty. Can include any useable trail and may include exposed open hill sections.	Expect large, committing and unavoidable TTFs. Sections will be challenging and variable. May also have ‘downhill’ style sections.	Suitable for very active people used to prolonged effort.
	Riders aspiring to athlete level of technical ability, incorporates everything from full on downhill riding to big-air jumps	Severe constructed trails and/or natural features. All sections will be challenging. Includes extreme levels of exposure and or risk. Jumping ability obligatory.	Will include a range of small medium and large TTFs, including downhill trails, free ride sections and mandatory jumps	A good standard of fitness, but technical skills more important.

Our Trails (click to expand)

TRAIL	GRADE	NAME	DISTANCE/TIME	TIPS	DOWNLOAD
		YR AFON	10.8km / 1-3 hours	Suitable for novices and less confident riders. Mainly open forest road that contours the hill to take in a view of the waterfalls. Take care to control your speed when descending on forest roads.
		MINOR TAUR	12km 0.5-2 hours	If you are already confident on a bike then the MinorTaur offers the perfect introduction to mountain biking. Graded blue the trail offers a reasonably flat and wide (no narrower than around 1.5m). You'll find a little climbing and descending, some fun berms and bumps but no really major climbs or descents. The trail is in 4 loops (3, 5, 9 or 12km) so can be easily shortened to suit rider ability. Great for kids but still great fun for experienced riders the, the MinorTaur is a good place to start your Coed y Brenin adventure.
		CYFLYM COCH	11.2km / 1.5-3 hours	Looking for the next step up from the MinorTaur, Cyflym Coch (Fast Red) is our easiest red. The trail increases in challenge as it progresses and includes some fine trail sections like Dreamtime and Uncle Fester. A great trail for those with thewir sights on tougher terrain who are looking for somewhere to progress their skills.
		TEMTIWR	8.7km / 0.5-1 hour	A short route with a challenging final descent. Temtiwr is a tougher read that contains black graded TTFs (Technical Trail Features). An undulating travers followed by a long fire road climb, finishing on a fast trio of 'The beginning of the end', 'Glide' and 'Seven Sisters'. Rocky and demanding in places, you'll need to keep your nerve and pick a good line for a smooth ride.
		DRAGON'S BACK	31.1km / 3-5 hours	Our longest red, a classic technical cross country mtb trail which had been challenging and delighting riders for years. The route holds a few tough climbs and some long fast descents. The highlight is a top-to-bottom of the Adam's Family descents: Gomez, Morticia, Pugsley, Lurch and Uncle Fester.
		MBR	18.4km / 1.5-3 hours	MBR packs highlights from both the Dragon's Back and Beast trails into 18km of demanding but thoroughly enjoyable trail riding. Highlights include the modernised 'Able' with its rocky fly-offs and a recently updated 'false teeth'. In you want to pack a large ammount of quality, challenging trails into the shortest possible route then MBR is a great choice.
		TARW DU	20.2km / 1.5-3 hours	Coed y Brenin's oldest trail yet containing its newest 'must-ride' trail feature, the iconic 'Y Slab' rock slab sections. A Coed y Brenin classic featuring many old favourites. Rocky, retro, twisty and technical in places but still an absolute blast.
		THE BEAST	38.2km / 3-5 hours	Coed y Brenin's biggest challenge, it's got the lot, fast open, tight technical, flowing singletrack and bone shaking rocky sections. A real test of nerve and physical ability, The Beast is not for the faint-hearted or easily spooked but for those who are up to the challenge this is a major MTB milestone to tick off the list. Can you face the beast?

Y Ffowndri Skills Area

AREA	GRADE	INFORMATION	DOWNLOAD
	VARIOUS GRADES	With short sections of each grade of trail along with a individual trail feature challenges Y Ffowndri (The Foundry) is Coed y Brenin's dedicated skills area. Head here to get a taste of what you'll meet out on the graded trails and to brush up your mtb skills. Trail sections for all ability levels.

TRAIL	GRADE	MORE	DIST.	DOWNLOAD
		YR AFON	10.8km / 1-3 hours
		MINOR TAUR	12km 0.5-2 hours
		CYFLYM COCH	11.2km / 1.5-3 hours
		TEMTIWR	8.7km / 0.5-1 hour
		DRAGON'S BACK	31.1km / 3-5 hours
		MBR	18.4km / 1.5-3 hours
		TARW DU	20.2km / 1.5-3 hours
		THE BEAST	38.2km / 3-5 hours