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Mountain biking trails

Castle Valley on Twrch Trail – Twrch Trail loop from Risca and Pontymister

Mountain biking trails

Castle Valley on Twrch Trail – Twrch Trail loop from Risca and Pontymister

Hard

5.0

(3)

68

riders

Castle Valley on Twrch Trail – Twrch Trail loop from Risca and Pontymister

01:48

20.4km

460m

Mountain biking

Hard mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the route may require you to push your bike. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: May 28, 2026

Tips

Includes a segment in which cycling is not permitted

After 17.7 km for 69 m

Waypoints

A

Start point

Train Station

Get Directions

1

6.46 km

Airtime 1 on Twrch Trail

Highlight (Segment) • MTB Park

The main line on the red-level Twrch trail at Cwmcarn, this route starts with a series of three little rock drops before turning down a long series of channeled, tight corners.

Take care where the trail merges with Airtime 2, the alternative line, and enjoy the last banked berm.

To session this trail and try Airtime 2, turn right at the bottom to take the fireroad track and singletrack back to the top.

Tip by

2

7.47 km

Odin Section on Twrch Trail

Highlight (Segment) • Forest

You'll be surprised by how flowy an uphill segment can be through the woods here! It swoops up and down along through the woodland with a few rooty sections and an optional skinny to tackle too. The corners back down to the fire road here are a real blast after all the pedalling.

Tip by

3

9.46 km

Castle Valley on Twrch Trail

Highlight (Segment) • Viewpoint

A fun ribbon of rocky single track contouring around the hillside of Medart with incredible views down the valley to Newport. There are no major features on this section which is just as well: the scenery is breathtaking enough.

Tip by

4

13.1 km

Y Mynydd DH Road Gap

Highlight • Trail

Part of the extreme-rated Y Mynydd DH track, there are two options at 'Road Gap': a large drop off the road, or a rocky roll down great slabs into a berm. The choice is yours, but neither look particularly easy!

Tip by

5

13.6 km

Twrch Trail

Highlight • MTB Park

The red graded trail loop at Cwmcarn is one of the classic UK trail centre routes. At 15.5km long, it's comprised of a long, rocky and rough initial climb, but after that big effort you're rewarded by a snaking run of surfaced singletrack that winds its way around the back of the hill before plummeting you back down to the centre.

Tip by

6

14.1 km

Cwmcarn Trailhead Arch

Highlight • Rest Area

Look for the arch to start riding at Cwmcarn, which marks the start of the red-rated Twrch and Cafall trails. Here you'll also find trail maps and information for these two trails, as well as the two downhill trails, Y Mynydd and Pedalhounds, which are higher up the hill.

Tip by

7

14.3 km

Cwmcarn — Twrch Mountain Bike Trail

Highlight • Parking

Cwmcarn Forest in South Wales consists of two red graded singletrack trails and 2 DH tracks.
Both the singletrack trails contain lots of long technical climbs as well as some long flowy descents. Rocky in places and some incredible views from the top. Both trails are clearly signposted and easy to follow although do check they aren't closed for forestry works before going.

There is also loads of fire roads running throughout the woods which could be incorporated into a ride if the singletracks become too technical.

There is a bike shop, cafe and bike wash, plus pay and display car parking facilities at the bottom where all the trails join up.

Tip by

B

20.4 km

End point

Train Station

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

8.36 km

5.45 km

3.01 km

1.84 km

1.29 km

386 m

Surfaces

9.17 km

6.86 km

2.45 km

945 m

746 m

130 m

< 100 m

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Elevation

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Highest point (400 m)

Lowest point (50 m)

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Weather

Powered by Foreca

Saturday 4 July

27°C

14°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 15.0 km/h

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