Introduction - how this blog works

The idea of this blog is to share some of my favourite bits of mountain biking with the world. Principally so that you too can enjoy the bits I've enjoyed. And avoid the bits I've hated. So many people have given us advice on biking since we started - what bikes to buy, where to ride, how to ride. So this is my chance to feed a bit back to that body of knowledge.

I'd really welcome your comments - what have I raved about that you thought was awful? What gems did I miss when I visited your local riding spot? Is a bit that I said was awful actually sweet singletrack in the summer or when you're riding well? Comments will help this resource be improved for all readers, and also give me some hints as to where to ride next!

I've written a load about what we've ridden over the last year, and grouped it geographically. My plan is to add to it in the future, hopefully using the tags to keep each region together, though I haven't quite worked out how it will work yet. I may just need to start all over again in a year to keep things organised more sensibly - I'm not really sure a blog is the most sensible format - but it seems the best for me as I'm not terribly motivated to learn any more code than the day job necessitates.

Tuesday, 8 November 2011

Doethie Valley

The Doethie Valley is rumoured to be the longest piece of legal natural singletrack in the UK. I'm not sure if this is true or not, but it is certainly long (about 8km) and certainly single (never wider then 30cm). It feels very remote and quite special, but it is not really technical, just demanding of concentration!

I think there's only one sensible way to ride the valley in an overall loop of 25km. It is often labelled as beign a long and committing route but I don't think it is particularly more so than most natural rides. You start the ride in the Llyn Brianne car park (784485) and ride anticlockwise around the reservoir. The track rises above the reservoir, leaves the trees and eventually gets to the Most Remote Chapel in Wales at Soar Mynydd (785533) (according to the Singletrack article). From here you take the steep doubletrack west until you almost cross the Doethie Fawr river (757534). This is the start of the singletrack which you follow all the way to Troed-rhiw-ruddren (771479) then you take the shortest route back to the start.

To make a whole weekend we cna recommend combining with the trail centre at Cwm y Rhaiadr, though do not be tempted by any loops across moorland to the west linking up to the final descent. The tracks are indistinct and you will end up pushing more than riding!

For accommodation the campsite at Rhandirmwyn is very pleasant but expensive as its a Camping and Caravanning one. The pub and cafe in the village are also excellent.
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