BIGRIDE DYFI FOREST, WALES

This issue we’ve come to the Dyfi Valley in Mid Wales, an area that’s long been on the MBUK radar. Back in 2001, work started on three MTB routes here, known as the Mach trails. These used natural tracks to the south of Machynlleth as their starting point, with the town itself designated a ‘cycle hub’ and providing a friendly welcome to travelling MTBers. Sadly, the bike shop has since closed, but there’s still a wealth of other facilities, and now, a whole load more trails through the wild countryside, too

In 2005, the Climachx trail, a new manmade route, opened 8km north of Machynlleth in the Dyfi Forest. This offered more technical riding, but retained a very natural feel, and what was then the longest descent in Wales to finish on, ‘Tony the Tiger’, which attracted