Words: Rachel Bennet | Pics: Dan Griffiths/Moonhead Media
The lush forested valleys and friendly villages of Carmarthenshire have long been on the MTB map, thanks to the well-established trail centre at Brechfa Forest and the hidden gem that is the Cwm Rhaeadr descent. We headed over to this unspoiled corner of the UK to check out Wales’s newest bike park – Hafod Trails.
Where: Hafod Trails, Llansawel, South Wales
Trails: Two blue trails, three red trails (two sharing the same first half), one black trail. Each descent lasts between five and 10 minutes.
Climbing: Uplift only – takes about three-and-a-half minutes.
Why ride here? A beautiful location, exceptional vibes and super-fun trails for all levels
A family business
Hafod is the product of Alex and his sister Charlie, along with Charlie’s husband Tom – a dynamic trio driving the vision for this bike park. You’ll often find Tom and Alex crafting trails, when the latter isn’t busy conjuring up ingenious ideas for their uplift trailer. Meanwhile, Charlie ensures seamless operations behind the scenes, juggling the myriad tasks that come with birthing and nurturing a venue like this. And, as Charlie confides, there’s no shortage of “stuff” to contend with.
While currently only open at weekends and on bank holidays, the Hafod team have kindly unbolted the gates today so we can check out the park, and have invited 15 or so riders to share this little slice
of bike heaven with us. The compact layout of the trails means we don’t need to worry about keeping everyone together to get the shots we need. This is fortunate, because the riders quickly disperse once the uplift is up and running.
Keeping to the family theme, Alex and Charlie’s dad Mike is our helpful uplift driver. After cruising along a fun connecting trail from the car park, we roll down to the pick-up point, where we’re treated to the first
of Alex’s crazy inventions.
Grand designs
The uplift system is like nothing we’ve encountered before. Bikes are rolled effortlessly onto a flat trailer, where the rear wheel is secured in a bracket and the tyres are clamped in place using a simple bar and lever. This design offers numerous advantages – even small kids’ bikes can be transported safely, loading is easy and the process quick, allowing more runs for everyone.
The trailer is pulled by a Toyota Hilux pick-up truck, which has a frame in the back with enough seats for keen riders. Currently, it has an open top, which is fine when it’s dry, but a covered version is in the works and will be much appreciated on Wales’s wetter days.
After the short uplift, you’re deposited at the top of the hill, out of the trees and surrounded by beautiful views across Wales. The Black Mountains stretch out in the distance and there are forested valleys all around, all looking like heaven to explore by bike.
From here, trails snake down in different directions, disappearing into the trees. Many of the riders are already blasting down their chosen lines, eager to discover the joys that lie in the dirt below. Snapper Dan and I take a more considered approach, remembering that we’re here for work – although there will be a lot of play, too!
Working hard or hardly working?
First, we cruise down a blue trail to check out the photo potential. It’s immediately clear we’re going to have no issue getting some sweet shots here – Peek-a-Blue is fast and fun, weaving through lush, vibrant trees with smooth berms and friendly tabletop jumps. If you have the skills and the speed, there are transitions all over the place to help you create your own enjoyment.
We grab Vince Mason, a local lad with style for days and numerous tricks up his sleeve, to session this trail. One of the best parts of working for MBUK is meeting riders from all over the place and seeing what the sport means to them. I can tell that Vince is incredibly excited to have this facility right here on his doorstep, and it’s a credit to the design of the park that this young shredder, who’s ridden here a lot, is still getting joy from these trails. They may be short, but they’re most definitely sweet.
It’s tough to resist the urge to just ride and get as many laps in as possible, but I have to remember that we have photos to snap, so we decide to check out some of the other trails. Dan ditches his camera bag and I join him for a scouting run on the black trail, Life’s A Beech. This one starts with some fun doubles, which can be rolled if necessary, followed by a series of super-fast turns. You then enter a section of beech trees, before descending to the house, located halfway up the bike park and home to the Hafod crew.
After crossing the gravel, the trail drops back into the forest via a stone drop-off with a steep landing.
I opt for the chicken line to the left – a technical, off-camber, rooty, narrow section with a drop to one side, down the wooded bank. It takes focus and proves tricky, but allows me to bypass the scary-looking drop. The trail continues back to the uplift area with a natural feel, with some spicy rooty sections that fire you into tight right-handers and plenty of technical features to keep you on your toes. This is undoubtedly a black run.
That’ll do, Pig
After a quick lap of Life’s A Beech, we gather some riders to showcase the finely-sculpted berms at the top of the hill. Katie Sutton, a downhill rider and bee conservationist; Rowan Kaya (aka @little__row), who frequently shreds at Dyfi Bike Park; and Polly Williams and Tim Dowling, who’ve come down from Aberystwyth, all cruise down Peek-a-Blue again – one of Polly’s favourites – and rip around the berms for Dan’s camera.
Halfway down, we peel off onto Seeing Red. Once in the woods, this red trail transitions into a loamy delight with numerous line choices, chutes and drops, eventually spitting us out, ready to head back to the car park or across to the uplift. Naturally, we’re bound for the latter.
After lunch, I discover my favourite trail on the hill, Earth Pig. It’s one of the more natural runs at the park, with fast, flat grassy corners that demand every ounce of focus to navigate, before smoothly transitioning into loamy singletrack that gives a sense of being off-piste – this trail is on-point! Alex tells me it was cut in for a Western Bike Events enduro held here, and they decided to keep it largely as it was and see how it developed. This track will no doubt morph over time and will likely be completely different the next time I get to ride it.
As time creeps on, there’s no sign of anyone getting bored of the five (and a half) trails, and the energy soars to new heights. Hattie, Ben and William, the young shredders, inject some infectious enthusiasm as they effortlessly clear tabletops and tear through berms, offering a glimpse into the future of Welsh mountain biking. It’s a heartwarming sight – witnessing the next generation embrace the thrill of two wheels with such gusto. In fact, it’s cool to see how psyched riders of all ages are at Hafod.
The last train
As the day nears its end, Alex rallies all the riders to the top for a split train down two adjacent trails – Space Melon (blue) and Reddy Steady (red). With Charlie co-ordinating, we kick off simultaneously
for Dan to capture an epic drone shot of the crew. Alex and I lead the charge, ensuring everyone stays in line. While my team nails it, the other side get a bit too wild, resulting in a pile-up and a redo for Dan’s snap. Another run? Ah well, it’s a tough job, but someone’s got to do it!
For round two, I switch to Reddy Steady as Alex leads the other half down Space Melon. This time, we ace it and cruise to the finish. With the photography wrapped, Dan ditches his camera bag and hits the trails for a few more laps, and I gladly join him along with Vince and a few others, including William, all reluctant to call it a day just yet. Eventually, though, it’s time to pack it in, allowing Mike to park up and rest.
The family atmosphere at Hafod, fostered by its passionate mountain biking owners, feels palpable. A key aim for Alex and the team was to cater to younger riders. With the mix of bike park-style and natural tracks here, coupled with the swift uplift, they’ve already hit that goal, and even for older riders, the trails make for an unforgettable day of riding.
Leaving Hafod, I can’t wipe the grin off my face, feeling both satisfied and inspired by the day’s adventures. The camaraderie and excitement among the riders, many of whom had never ridden here before, hints at return trips in the very near future. When people have so much passion for something, it brings a whole new dimension to the experience.
The trail network isn’t extensive, by any means, and the runs are short, but this is a bike park very much in its infancy, and speaking to all those involved, it’s clear that there’s much more to come. We’re looking forward to watching Hafod Trails develop over the coming months and years – it’s definitely an exciting time to be a mountain biker in Carmarthenshire.
Essential info: Hafod Trails
Despite the limited number of trails, there’s more than enough here for a day’s riding. The vibe is top-notch, especially for kids, with short runs and quick uplifts ideal for little legs. While the trails aren’t super-technical, the black run adds spice and the natural-feeling sections through the woods are a delight. Hafod nails what it’s trying to do, making a day here a must.
Rad: Uplift is short and sweet | Trails are varied and well-made | Friendly-family feel | Stunning forest location.
Bad: Limited capacity | Car park can get muddy and is steep to access.
Getting there: The postcode SA19 7PH will take you to the park.
Facilities: Grub Hub (locally-sourced, home-cooked food), uplift, basic spares for sale.
Contact: www.hafodtrails.co.uk
Nearby bike shops: BikeWise and Run in Lampeter are a friendly shop with bikes and parts for sale, plus bike servicing. Cyclemart in Cilcennin are e-bike specialists, with a fully-stocked workshop and e-MTB service centre.
Accommodation: www.discovercarmarthenshire.com
Other riding: Just across the road, Brechfa Forest has natural trails in tranquil woodland. Twenty miles north, Cwm Rhaeadr has a fantastic long singletrack descent.
Check out Hafod (from 00:12), Brechfa and Cwm Rhaeadr in this clip from Discover Carmarthenshire: