Darren Fawr - Garw Valley Mountain Bike Trails

FYI. The car park at Parc Calon Lan will be closed off for the next several weeks due to temporary works on the lake. Trails are still easily accessed from the community route via the bridges above and below the lake from the street. Ta

FYI. The car park at Parc Calon Lan will be closed for the next several weeks due to temporary works going on at the lake. Trails can still be easily accessed from the community route via both bridges below and above the lake from the street.

Some much needed TLC done on the langline, tree's cut back and trail surface maintenance on the steeper sections. Still plenty left to do!

Almost all tree's cleared away from the trails & tracks. Storm damage wasn't that bad, seen alot worse here. There is one up-rooted tree on the black climb which has lifted the trail surface, it is passable with care.

All obstructive windblown trees have now been cleared from the trails 👍

| We are appealing to witnesses to a large fire in the Garw Valley which caused extensive damage to the forest and mountain side above Pont Y Cymer last Sunday 11 June.

We have identified two suspects, who are to be interviewed by officers, but we would like to appeal for any information which could be of use to the investigation especially any doorbell/CCTV or dashcam footage of people heading into the Garw Fechan Forestry on Sunday 11 June between 12:00pm and 2:00pm.

Sergeant Richard Lea said, “We would also like to reassure the local community that the incident is being fully investigated and we whilst we understand that the fire has caused considerable local anxiety and concern, we would ask that the investigation is not compromised in any way by speculation or people taking the law into their own hands.”

Please contact us quoting ref: 2300195873

🗪 Live Chat https://www.south-wales.police.uk/
💻 Contact us via https://bit.ly/SWPProvideInfo
📧 Email [email protected]
📞 101

Always call 999 in an emergency.

Or 📞Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111

Devastating fires in Darren Fawr woodland during the last two weekends with acres of habitat and land destroyed. 100% deliberatlely started with fires re-igniting all over the place. The loss of wildlife, some species being locally rare and especially during the heighth of the bird breeding season is sickening.
Please be vigilant if you are riding or walking in the area and if you see anyone up there up to no good please ring the police and take photo's if possible. There has been ongoing vandalism in and around the trails, Parc Calon Lan and Pontycymmer Lake areas for the last few months with bridges and benches being targeted.
All this land is managed by the Garw Valley Community Council to try and provide a nice and pleasant area for locals and visitors to use and enjoy, so to experience this level of regular vandalism is very demoralising and undoes alot of the work that goes in to running such a site. We have been gathering alot of information, working hard with the police and local residents and some culprits have been found and dealt with by the police.
Hope all this nonsence stops has it cannot continue as it is. Time out!

Great views of the valley today,, perfect day for strimming the black trail along the top of the hill, trail now looks more defined & clearer. All trails have been cleared over the summer so hopefully there hasn't been too much bramble in the face! 🙂

So, the trail known as the langline has had a bit of a make over. Last section where the little hand built jumps were has gone all bike park! Great work by the guys at Back on Track Mountain Bike Solutions for creating something more than I was expecting. Trail is open to ride so have fun on it. Its great to session, please dont be tempted to just push back up on the trail as on coming riders could be coming down. There is a track next to the exit of the trail where you can easily push up to the top of the black trail or about half way up. The rest of the trail is has it was if you know it. Happy riding.