Trail name: Penhydd
Centre: Afan – Visitor Centre
Distance: 14km
Climbing: 550m
Time: 1.5hrs If you’re fit on the ups and fast on the downs. 2.5hrs On average.
Grade: Red/Difficult
This classic South Wales trail returns with a couple of new sections added in for good measure. Designed to be a progression to the more demanding Afan trails but still keeping its Red Intermediate grade status, Penhydd combines with the Blue Scar to climb out of the Visitors Centre and then splits off to give a stunning trail mixing the old with the new.
Both the Blue Scar and Penhydd trails start from Afan Forest Park Visitor Centre car park and share the first initial climb. Where the Blue Scar branches off (right), the Penhydd continues to climb (left), warranting the red grading. It combines forest road climbs with some fantastic views with flowing singletrack descents and some new steeper rocky sections looping back to the Visitors Centre.
Penhydd is a nice entry level Red, but the big climbs followed by technical descents mean that this trail can be demanding and can be exposed to bad weather on the higher ground.
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