This ride on the southern tip of the Brecon Beacons national park is full of varied terrain and scenery, passing through forests and river valleys in an area know for its scenery. This is a short ride, but there are many decisions that you can make to extend it to fit the weather, riding conditions and rider fitness.
Use OS Outdoor Leisure Map 12- don't leave home without it!
Park carefully, the area has a 'reputation'!
Note, the river may or may not be there depending on the season/ weather. I've seen it bone dry, and also totally impassable. Were it not for the terrible carry in and the worrying prospect of what happens further downstream, it would be a cracking whitewater river, as it is, I've included a few alternative routes.
Park at the Forestry Enterprise picnic site on the Afon Llia, [928 165]. Climb up to road, turn right and take first left into forest at [926 166]. You are now on the Roman road, Sarn Helen. Gentle climb up through trees to top of hill, Maen Madoc, the standing stone [919 158] Now follows a two kilometre blast across and then down the hillside to the Afon Nedd Fechan. Any cavers amongst you may know of this river's reputation to rise after rain. Cross the river here, you can usually do it with dryish feet. [Crossing the ford when the water is red is best avoided. It is possible to take the track south to Blaen Nedd Isaf if the river is too high].
Photo courtesy of Carl Ryan
The steep, rocky and technical climb up from the river soon eases to reach the forest again at spot height 358m, [908 143].
For a longer ride read on, for a shorter ride skip this section.
Turn right through gate and head northwest and then north for a loop through the forest based around Nant-y-Moch, or even continue over to Penwyllt in the Upper Swansea valley. Especially good if you have a shuttle to take you back. You can get some brilliant descents into the valley if you know where to look… Try to keep it legal! Or once you have done the forest loop, ride back to Sarn Helen. The track is deceptively fast. I have clocked over 50 km/h there in the past. Enjoy the look of envy on the caver's faces as they slog over to Pwll Swnd in wellies and oversuits.
Continue south on Sarn Helen for 400m or so, turning left (east) soon after rusty old gate [907 139]. You want bomb holes; we got 'em, yessiree! Anyway, if you can tear yourself away, drop down the rocky track through the woods to the gate and then cross the river once again, this time on a bridge.
Tarmac time- sorry, but it's only 300m. Climb steeply to the junction at 912 140. Turn left (north) and take the gate/ stile on the right 200m later [913 142]. If you find a banana here it may well be mine, you can have it as a gift. Perhaps this spot should be treated as 'Advanced Base Stile' or something. Cut diagonally up rightwards into the trees to find a more definite path across the fields to a rocky area by the ancient fort [917 139].
Photo courtesy of Carl Ryan
Yes? - Follow the track down across the moor southeast to the road at Maes y Porth. [There is a BIG (seriously big, the biggest in the UK) cave-mouth across the road at bottom of lane if you are into that sort of thing]. If you are not visiting Porth yr Ogof Cave, turn left (north) to reach Ystradfellte in less than one kilometre. There is only one pub, 'The New Inn', and it is not open all day. (From my experience it isn't worth bothering- Ed)
From the pub you can rejoin the route by taking the lane at the top end of the village carpark and heading west, or you could wimp out and follow the road north from the pub, heading for Heol Senni. You will see the start of the route after about four km.
No?- probably the best choice. From the little gate by the rocky fort area [917 139] drop straight down to a poor track, often covered in cattle. There is no right of way here, be warned. Head due north, uphill, worse than it looks, towards the obvious gap in the skyline between the rocky lumpy hills. Go through the gate in the distinctive wall [920 143] and up the lovely grassy track. Follow this passing an inviting looking flooded bombhole and then over the top, to a gate [923 147].
Heaven, a whole mile of downhill, only one gate (send your mate down first to open it for you). It's grassy at first, and as you really pick up speed it gets a bit technical, but still easy. Take care by the bushes, the track has collapsed. Then nice and fast and rocky at the bottom.
Turn left (north) at the bottom [927 154] and head north along the road to the start.
Enjoy
Ambrose Hearne
Note:There are plenty of good rides available in the Ystradfellte area, based on Sarn Helen, however there are a lot of ajoining tracks which are not legal and should be avoided unless you want to risk the wrath of the local landowners. Further west there is a cracking ride around Fan Gyhirych (see legality note above), but not to be recommended in awful weather, as it climbs to almost 700m above sea level. It culminates with an awesome descent, long, fast and rocky.
Last Updated 20-11-2000
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