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(9.4 Km) Turn left up this and follow past ruin of an old smelting kiln on left. keep straight on
through wooden gate ignoring left fork to farm 200 yards later. about 100 yards past
the gate is a steep grass edged single track to the right.
7. (10.2 Km) Follow this and it bends left and fords a small rocky stream. Keep going on this ignoring minor right turn after 50 yards. It's often muddy and you may have to push up the hill. About 30 yards after the climb flattens out you will see a grass edged right turn. Go down here and follow the singletrack down through two flat sections and a very short climb, then finally down and out on to the Dragons tail.
Stop press: The MBR trail now cuts
across the dragons's tail. It is still possible to
ride the tail by diverting right off the track shortly after the
path heads left across open ground. The dragon's tail crosses the
zig-zaging MBR trail with a small drop off and continues left then
right steeply down the hill.
Continue to follow singletrack in to trees and down the Sting on to wide forest road. Turn left on here and go straight on when this joins the tarmac road.
8. (12.6 Km) Go along tarmac for about half a mile to a singletrack on the left with a blue Karrimor post. Straight up this in a low gear and bear right at small junction 75 yards later. follow this to a tarmac road. Turn right on this then immediately left and across bridge. Follow tarmac road round tight left bend and up eye poppingly steep hill.
9. (15.4 Km) At cross-roads turn sharp left and go 200 yards to major forest track on right. Go up this and ignore left fork to farm after about 2 thirds of a mile then bear left ignoring right double track in to forest. The forest road goes on up through two wooden gates and finally about 300 yards after it starts going downhill you will see a grassy left fork. If you miss this the forest road is a dead end 100 yards later!
10. Take grassy fork and follow over small ditch then round right bend down WAY steep path to waterfall. The two hairpins here are lethal unless you are very good on steep stuff. I make it occasionally! When you've stopped ranting about my death wish, go across the foot bridge and follow the path past the large ant hills that give this trail it's name (the Ant Trail... Doh!) A steep descent takes you on to a narrow path, beware this is slippery when wet and sliding off to the left is unthinkable. After 500 yards the path goes straight across a tarmac road and over another footbridge at a plunge pool. Get in your lowest gear for the steep pitch straight after, (what do you mean you didn't make it? this route is for experienced mountain bikers!) Turn right on this wide forest road and go straight on at tarmac.
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Ignore left turn by house then bear right straight after where you will see the tarmac climb steeply. Ignore flatter right turn 200 yards up this (Karrimor route) and continue up almost vertical tarmac till it flattens out......eventually! are your legs hurting now?.... good isn't it! Go 150 yards further on tarmac ignoring the forest trail which crosses the road at crest. Take forest trail fork
(with new wooden gate) on right this climbs about 400 yards to a Karrimor post on the left which points down the 1700 foot singletrack. Weight back relax and go easy on the front brake takes you straight down to a spring loaded gate. Cross the tarmac road to section two which crosses a forest road to section three. This ends with a short steep drop on to an earth double track. Turn left and go round first bend, look out for a Karrimor sign pointing off to right.
Follow this section four down and back on to double track. Go downhill to major junction 100 yards later, final section is straight ahead in to trees. This last section drops you gently on to the main river forest road again (it used to dump you head first but was considered too dangerous so they re-routed it, DOH! again) Turn left and follow wide track to footbridge on right. Cross the river here and turn left then take the right fork 100 yards later. Follow this round to the tarmac road, go straight on following river (left fork on to forest road) avoiding tarmac climb to right. Follow to tarmac then turn immediate left over old bridge. Straight on through bushes brings you out opposite the Coed Y Brennin main entrance. Now you still have time for a last quick blast round the Red Bull!
Click on the button for a print
only version of the route
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