Blaenau-Ffestiniog DH Centre - coming this summer!

Feb 1, 2012 at 2:22
by Matt Wragg  
Wales isn't just a funny little place on the edge of England with rain, sheep and strange names, oh no. Hiding away in those hills is some of the best riding you'll find anywhere on this planet. It was in those steep, unforgiving mountains that the Athertons and many other top British World Cup racers honed their skills. So when Adrian "Bud" Bradley (who is also the fastest man in the UK with a bus pass) sent through these snaps of the new DH centre they're building up at Blaenau-Ffestiniog (pronounced Bly-now Fest-in-i-og, sort of...) we got quite excited.

The new bike park in Blaenau-Ffestiniog opening this year.

Bud explains it all better than we can:

Right guys and girls, quick post up here to keep you informed of the latest news and developments of the new and exciting downhill and freeride trails being built here at Blaenau Ffestiniog, North Wales.

It will boast two black DH runs and two freeride trails with more doubles, tabletops and berms than you can shake a stick at! All built by track building legend Phil Saxena and local firm Xtreme Trails. Add to this a fantastic minibus uplift service (which will be approximately seven minutes from the bottom to the top of the trails), two pump tracks, a jump site, a visitors centre with a cafe and showers. Sounds to good to be true, right?

The new bike park in Blaenau-Ffestiniog opening this year.

Work will be completed on all facilities in early July and the trails should open even sooner! With Coed-y-Brenin, the Marin trail and Penmachno all within 15-20 minutes from Blaenau-Ffestiniog, and Llandegla 45 minutes, it will be a fantastic base for your riding - be it DH, enduro or XC.

To keep informed of progress on the trails, add Antur Stiniog to your friends list on Facebook and look out for news of a big event planned there for later on this year.

Cheers, Bud

The new bike park in Blaenau-Ffestiniog opening this year.

The new bike park in Blaenau-Ffestiniog opening this year.

The new bike park in Blaenau-Ffestiniog opening this year.

The new bike park in Blaenau-Ffestiniog opening this year.

The new bike park in Blaenau-Ffestiniog opening this year.


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Member since Oct 29, 2006
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101 Comments
  • 30 1
 Am I the only person that seems to have no idea to say the name of these places?
  • 2 3
 Just looks like jiberish to me :L im with you there
  • 15 0
 This news story has made my week!
  • 27 1
 I can say it Smile , any one else think this will be the best dh track in the uk?
  • 4 0
 maybe one of the best out of scotland time will tell i guess Smile
  • 2 0
 Phonetically it sounds like this: Blaine-ai Fest-in-ee-og.

No idea why it's taken them so long to get trails on the go up there but it looks like they're going to be amazing! Typical that I moved away from the area just as the plans were announced Frown
  • 3 0
 definitely stoked on the fact I'm less than an hours drive away from this at Uni... and just 1 hour and a half when I'm at home!
  • 5 0
 Right, f*ck cwmcarn,gunna have to go there in summer Big Grin
  • 5 0
 Think the phonetics would be more like Bly - now Fest-in-i- og - I am not Welsh or a Welsh speaker so happy to be corrected but that is how they all say it from my memory of Ivor the Engine .........sorry. Looks amazing - doesn't seem to have taken so long though has it? More please..... and I think what trail centres need is more overtaking options/lines so you can race your mates more.
  • 4 0
 Fark Cwmcarn - Frown how can you say such atrocities..

Agree though early indications look outstanding.. Snowdon and Blaenau this summer then!
  • 2 0
 My Gran lives there. SCORE! Can't wait till this is open Big Grin
  • 3 5
 Blaenau-Ffestiniog?
Gesundheit! ( i dunno how to spell it- what you say after someone sneezes) i think the welsh manner of naming things has been orchestrated by a retard with a bag of scrabble pieces.
jokes jokes.
  • 10 1
 Its funny, everyone is slagging of the way Welsh words are spelt.... The whole Welsh language has been around longer than English...
  • 16 1
 yeah canada get your own language
  • 1 0
 Spelt *is* an ancient grain after all...
  • 21 0
 Everytime I see pictures of the UK it always seems muddy and wet. No wonder UK riders are the best at riding wet roots, slippery rocks and muddy tracks.
  • 6 0
 yep, if you're starting DH in the UK there is probably a 90% chance you'll ride in the wet on your first ride lol
  • 19 0
 if you're starting DH in the UK there is probably a 90% chance you'll ride in the wet EVERY ride!
  • 7 0
 Plus when its sunny its like heaven
  • 1 0
 Yep ,I would say i'm more confident in the wet than the dry.
  • 8 0
 Hehehe. UK Downhill, like Sex Panther. 60% of the time, it works every time.
  • 1 0
 wet riding definately gives you more skill for when its dry. Having to constantly adapt to the bike hitting slippery wet stuff. Rain happens a lot in the Lake District
  • 2 0
 @propza true.. too true Razz
  • 2 0
 This is going to be so good for the UK/Welsh Mounting biking scene. Britain picking there game up! So glad i live in Wales, so many good tracks!
  • 1 0
 Dude... I have a Bok bro in law, he's been living here in Swansea S.Wales for a few years now and STILL isn't used to the mud, rain and all round wetness! It's a bit different to riding S.A anyway... but we do have some lakka trails ma broo! ;D
  • 13 0
 Interesting fact about Blaenau: It's believed that the sun has NEVER actually shone. The air itself is a bleak grey colour, making everything look like a black and white photograph.

Brilliant though, can't wait to ride there.
  • 3 0
 drove through there yesterday in the sun! It was covered in snow though...
also drove through there on sunday, was pretty much driving through a cloud Razz
  • 1 0
 such a beautiful place though, Sam Wink ...
  • 1 0
 not as beautiful as you, kev
  • 1 0
 Stop it guys i'm getting emotional now
  • 1 0
 theres ony one colour in bleanau festiniog....grey
  • 1 0
 Iv always thought it looks very grey. It's a strangle place that feels like no other place iv been. Iv always thought it looks a good place for dh though!!
  • 1 0
 ye those sides of the valleys are very steep
  • 9 0
 Will we be seing a British Downhill Series race here in 2013? I've been invited up there once the tracks are built to check them out. Will confirm come July.
  • 10 0
 Exciting times!
  • 5 0
 Ffestiniog is the only place I've ever been where I've seen people fighting in the street on a Saturday lunchtime. And I've been to some pretty rubbish places in my time.

Maybe now is the time to try and get a cheap house there to rent out as a riding place with CyB just down the road one way and Marin/Penmachno the same distance in the other direction...
  • 3 0
 So excited 'bout this development... can't wait! Only 20 mins or so from home woo hoo!!

Oh yeh, this is how you say it.. 6 syllables 1. Blay (rhymes with 'play') 2. Nai (rhymes with 'eye')3. Fest (same as start of 'fest' ival) 4. In ('in') 5. i ( 'ee' as in 'see') 6. Og (as in log, dog etc)... So, after me now.. Blae nau fest in i og... Easy isn't it !!!
  • 2 0
 It would be great if English mountainbikers could learn to say ANY Welsh place name correctly (makes me cringe even worse than Yanks saying English names). With the assumption that they won't, I would find it amusing if they all pronounced Blaenau Ffestiniog like Fred Dibnah does when talking about the quarries. I've never seen an elderly Yorkshireman look so confused. If somebody could find the clip, i'd be over the moon!
  • 2 0
 These tracks are going to be sick, all pics in the article are of the first cut by extreme tracks, who were working up there yesterday in 4" of snow to ensure it's going to be good to go there for this summer.Keep it tuned to Pb, and Antur Stiniog Cyf ( translates to Ffestiniog Adventure Plc ) facebook page for more news and developments of this fantastic project.
  • 2 0
 Some great comments on here guys and rightly so, this is a massive project and will give the Blaenau Ffestiniog economy a great boost, all the knockers on here i take it have lived, or stayed in the Blaenau area at some point to give it a negative slant??????daveyboywonder makes it look like south central la!!!! it's hardly that, believe me. The bottom line is that there are going to be some fantastic riding in the Blaenau area, and there are more plans for xc loops in the next phase of the project.O yes, and for the scots to say that they cant pronounce Blaenau Ffestiniog...............unbelievable!!!!!!!!
  • 1 0
 Well guys & gals I'm very exited about this. I live about 30min away & I'm sure I'll be up there most week ends soon as its open. It's just what the area needs to bring people in. Theres loads of great riders in north Wales & will only get better. Plus all the other riders from all over. If u can u should make an effort to come down for a week end with ur mate & see how u get on in any of our welsh hills. Even if u can't read welsh,that's what satnav is for lol
  • 2 0
 funnily enough I was out on a job there yesterday and a lady in one of the cafes said.people might start buying houses there now..... doubt it very much!!!
  • 4 0
 Bydd hyn yn dda iawn i gael yng nghymru! Mae llawer o lefydd i gysgu gerllaw hefyd.
  • 1 0
 dwin hoffi coffie
  • 1 0
 Im soo looking forward to it only an hours drive from my in laws think ill be finding excuses to visit them for once! cwmcarn with its one well used track and loong uplift is booked out pretty much every day,they shouldve built this a long time ago!
  • 1 0
 For 2012 Wales gets this place.... For 2013 it gets a second - Gethin Bike Park - with the possibility of a ski lift going in. Cwmcarn gets a second downhill run to accompany the already excellent existing run. I'm in the Southeast and probably spent more than 10 weekends of last year travelling to the trail centres in Wales, mainly Cwmcarn. I recon over half of those visits were dry - some warm and sunny. Wales really is becoming a major mountain biking hub. Brilliant - long may it continue.
  • 1 0
 Looks like the MTB trails are part of a bigger tourism picture for Blaenau...

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-west-wales-15712312

"It is part of Antur Stiniog's plans to use old quarries and countryside as a hub for outdoor sports. It is due to complete five mountain bike trails around the area in July with more in the pipeline next year."
  • 1 0
 anyone else think using slippy wet rock as a berm face is a really REALLY bad idea?! i hope they will cover it over, but dirt isnt really gonna stick to it to make it a berm.....interesting!
  • 1 0
 You can all follow the guy building the trails, Mei Black from Xtreme Track on
twitter @Xtreme_Track
facebook Xtreme Track
his website www.extremetrack.co.uk where there's lots of pictures and a few videos
  • 1 0
 Is the first ever dedicated DH/FR park with its own visitor center in the world? Can anyone think of another place like this?

This is awesome. Have driven through BF a few times and it is an epic spot.
  • 1 0
 can not wait for this place to open Smile only live about 30 min drive from it so well happy for this place to be opening Smile o and i can say it as well
  • 3 0
 Awesome, roll on summer. I feel a Welsh road trip coming on!
  • 3 0
 Only an hour from the ferry port! Nice.
  • 1 0
 this year i finish education, turn 18, got a van to get here, and a new specialized status. my summer is going to be epic now this place is opening!
  • 2 0
 looks like im gonna be buying a dh bike as its 30 mins away from where i live. good work people!
  • 1 0
 Good to see some new trails being built in Wales. I used to go to Llandegla regularly when I lived in UK, since then Llangollen was built and now this.
  • 1 0
 So were gonna have Cwmcarn in the south & this in the north. They need to build some more specific DH runs in mid wales. NantYrArian is the perfect place.
  • 2 0
 Man that looks really good ! Bloody long drive though looks well worth it to me !
  • 1 0
 Hell yeah, i'm really surprised there hasn't been anything like this before around that area, but better late than never. Bring on opening day. Razz
  • 2 0
 This looks so sweet! Can't wait to ride it sometime but it's gonna be a bit of bugger to get to without a car! Frown
  • 1 0
 erm i'm thinkin another trip may be in order this year place looks sick :-)
  • 1 0
 Matt Wragg, You better hope Bud has dementia too after the comment ("who is also the fastest man in the UK with a bus pass")
  • 1 0
 Hahahaha
  • 1 0
 awh man, i was there a few months ago with my bike. had no idea about this. =[
  • 3 0
 HELL YEAH!
  • 2 0
 THIS IS SO SICK I CANT WAIT TO SHRED HERE!!!!!!!
  • 2 0
 defently going to have to buy a new dh now Smile
  • 2 0
 right on my doorstep. cannot wait to visit. Smile
  • 2 0
 same dude!
  • 1 0
 o yes i am local to this new trail haha, going to be a blast Big Grin about time WALES RULES THE ROOST
  • 1 0
 Quite far away.. might have to do a dh trip visting cwmcarn, and all the rest n the summer. worth the trek for sure
  • 2 0
 looks good, Need more specific downhill tracks in Scotland though
  • 2 0
 yes! this will be my new local Smile and hopefully my new job!
  • 2 0
 will be there in august, have caravan in nebo...
  • 1 0
 Looks like a trip up the A470 will be on order when I come home to Wales later this year!
  • 1 0
 So excited for this! I think this will be a good reason to make my first road trip to N. Wales!
  • 1 0
 Used to visit Blaenau when i was little. So sick theres going to be top notch trails there.
  • 1 0
 Wales (and Scotland) for that matter seem really cool. One day I hope to have the privilege of checking these places out
  • 2 0
 so jealous, i want more DH trails!!!!! Happy for Wales!!!!
  • 1 0
 Wow! Absolutely beautiful trail work men. Love to give it a ride when its ready. RC
  • 1 0
 Agreed, very cool construction method. Looks like it should hold up well to many many laps.
  • 1 0
 This place looks awesome! I can't wait to see what it'll look like when its complete
  • 1 0
 this is right on my doorstep Big Grin these are the mountains that i ride on a weekly basis, jelous much Wink
  • 1 0
 can't wait to ride it.. it looks mint!
  • 1 0
 A trip here will be in order soon I feel.
  • 1 0
 so where the nearest house for sale !!!!
  • 1 0
 im so exicted gonna have to get a DH bike just for this track alone
  • 1 0
 Loads of bunkhouses local to this area
  • 1 0
 Its never going to be dry enough to ride
  • 1 0
 Roll on July that's all I can say
  • 1 0
 sweet....well done...should be a blast
  • 1 0
 Can anyone pronounce the name of the place?

Looks promising Smile
  • 1 0
 ude be suprised how easy it actualy it is man !
  • 1 0
 Sweet. If they pull this off Ill be there a lot!
  • 1 0
 Wow this place looks phenomenal!!! Must....ride!!
  • 1 0
 LOve the giant rock berms, looks awesome!
  • 1 0
 it looks decent Wink
I'd love to go there ASAP Wink
  • 1 0
 just did alil sex wee.
  • 1 0
 Sweet!
  • 1 0
 noice.







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