Afan Forest Park – Visitor Centre, near Port Talbot
Main starting point for mountain bike and walking...
Afan Forest Park – Gyfylchi (Afan Bike Park), near Port Talbot
What's here
Trail closures and diversions due to major felling operation
Some of our trails will be diverted or closed in Afan Forest Park due to a major tree felling operation. Please see information in car parks and follow diversion signs along the trails. Be aware of timber haulage lorries and follow instructions from staff. Find out which trails are affected and learn more about the felling work.
Additional changes to trails and other visitor facilities
- Blade Trail – the Helter Skelter section is closed for reinstatement work.
- Skyline Trail – From 3 December, the Granada section and the L3 linking trail are closed due to felling work.
Please follow the diversions.
Welcome
Gyfylchi is in Afan Forest Park and is home to Afan Bike Park.
Afan Bike Park is graded as extreme and is suitable for more advanced riders.
You can also ride to Afan Bike Park via the red-graded Y Wal mountain bike trail from Afan Forest Park Visitor Centre.
The ruins of a Methodist chapel stand next to the car park.
The car park is owned by Bryn Bettws Lodge which operates the camping and glamping site here.
Afan Bike Park
Afan Bike Park is graded as extreme and is suitable for more advanced riders.
The bike park includes several short runs where you can practice and hone your skills.
There are also two Jump lines and a harder Pro line with bigger jumps and step-downs.
You can also ride to Afan Bike Park via Y Wal mountain bike trail from Afan Forest Park Visitor Centre – Gyfylchi is situated near the final Zig Zag section of this red-graded trail.
There is another skills area on the Rookie trail near the Afan Visitor Centre for less experienced riders.
Visitor facilities
Bryn Bettws Lodge is situated next to Afan Bike Park.
It offers camping, glamping, large group dormitory accommodation and log cabins.
These facilities and the car park at the entrance to Afan Bike Park are privately managed.
For more information to the Bryn Bettws Lodge website
Gyfylchi Chapel
Calvanistic Methodists established the Hen Gapel y Gyfylchi chapel here in 1776.
The chapel was abandoned in 1826 and fell into ruin.
You can see the chapel ruins next to the car park - look out for the information board.
Afan Forest Park
Gyfylchi (Afan Bike Park) is situated in Afan Forest Park.
Afan Forest Park is one of Britain’s iconic mountain bike destinations and a popular place for walking.
The forest park is situated in the Afan Valley, a former coal mining valley just a few miles from the M4.
You can discover some of the valley’s heritage features along our trails in the forest park.
Other trails in Afan Forest Park
Explore Afan Forest Park from the car parks at these three other places:
- Afan Forest Park Visitor Centre – main car park in the forest park with walking trails and mountain bike trails for riders of all levels
- Glyncorrwg Mountain Bike Centre – starting point for three red-graded mountain bike trails
- Rhyslyn – picnic area with two waymarked walking trails
National Forest for Wales
Afan Forest Park forms part of the National Forest for Wales.
The National Forest will:
- create areas of new woodland
- enhance existing woodlands
- restore Wales’ irreplaceable ancient woodlands
It will form a connected ecological network running throughout Wales, bringing social, economic and environmental benefits.
Parts of the network will eventually form a trail running the length and breadth of Wales, so anyone can access it wherever they live.
For more information go to the National Forest for Wales website.
Closures and diversions
Sometimes we need to close or divert trails for your safety whilst we undertake maintenance work or other operations.
We may have to close a site in extreme weather, such as high winds or snow and ice, due to the risk of injury to visitors or staff.
Please always follow any instructions on site and any temporary diversion signs.
How to get here
Location
Gyfylchi (Afan Bike Park) is 7 miles north east of Port Talbot.
It is in the county of Neath Port Talbot.
Ordnance Survey map
Afan Forest Park is on Ordnance Survey (OS) Explorer map 165 and 166.
The OS grid reference for Gyfylchi is SS 807 954.
Directions
Exit M4 at junction 40 for Port Talbot and follow signs onto A4107 towards Cymer.
After 3¾ miles turn left onto the B4287 towards Pontrhydyfen.
Continue through Pontrhydyfen and after 1 mile turn right following the brown and white sign for Bryn Bettws Lodge.
After ½ mile turn right signposted Gyfylchi Bike Skills Park.
The car park is 1 mile along this narrow minor road.
Public transport
The nearest mainline railway station is in Maesteg.
For details of public transport go to the Traveline Cymru website.
Parking
The car park at the entrance to Afan Bike Park is managed by Bryn Bettws Lodge which operates the camping and glamping site here.
For more information go to the Bryn Bettws Lodge website.
Contact details
The car park and facilities next to Afan Bike Park are privately managed. For more information go to the Bryn Bettws Lodge website.
There are no Natural Resources Wales staff at this location. Contact our customer team for general enquiries during office hours, Monday to Friday.
Related document downloads
Afan Bike Park information
PDF [2.1 MB]
Other places in South West Wales
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