Base yourself at one of these mountain bike hubs for a few days’ great riding, says Max
With spring fast approaching, we can once again start to plan some fun MTB trips around the country. If you prefer natural riding to trail centres or bike parks, then one of the ‘cycle hubs’ dotted around the UK is a good place to head. Providing facilities and a warm welcome to riders, these were first pioneered, many moons ago, in Wales. Some of the original ones still exist, such as Rhayader in Powys and the revamped Talybont Bike Hub, start of the classic Gap ride. Today, they’ve been joined by a number of private venues, from Mud Treks in Carmarthenshire – who introduced alpine-style chalets for UK MTBers – and The Lodge at Staylittle, in the Cambrian Mountains, to the Dales Bike Centre in Yorkshire, along with the three below.
The relatively new Bike Ranch Snowdonia is just a short ride from Coed y Brenin trail centre, not to mention a host of great natural riding. Based at Cae Gwyn Farm, it offers accommodation for all budgets, with camping, a pod, a bunkhouse or a comfortable house to stay in. It also has its own jump line, with in-house skills coaching and guided rides available, too. Plans for the coming year including the addition of a food truck and drop-off area, developments to the jump line and even an airbag. The guys at Bike Ranch Snowdonia have kindly provided us with their favourite route from the ranch to the forest, which takes in some great natural trails, along with some of Coed y Brenin’s best manmade riding. Cae Gwyn Farm is within driving distance of a number of other MTB venues, too, including Dyfi (Forest and Bike Park), Antur Stiniog and Penmachno.
Our next destination is the Yorkshire Cycle Hub, nestled on the northern edge of the North York Moors National Park. This impressive centre offers a wide range of services, including a great bunkhouse providing comfy accommodation for large groups. There are also showers and a bike wash for all visitors, a bike shop, bike servicing and hire, plus an amazing cafe that’s so good lots of people make the journey here just for the coffee, cake and views. There are some trails being developed on the land, too, but you’re slap-bang in the middle of the moors, with fantastic natural riding in every direction. Some of the moorland trails don’t fare too well in bad weather, but with the keen riders working at the centre able to offer advice and guided group rides, and Dalby Forest not too far away, you’ll still get some great riding in.
