Beudy Banc

Let’s say you like mountain biking, and so do your kids. And let’s say you live on a farm in the heart of the Welsh mountains. So why not build your own mountain bike trail? Well, not all mountain bikers are that committed, but Dafydd Tomos of Beudy Banc near Machynlleth recently raided his piggy bank to employ trail builder Meirion Black (whose work can be seen at Coed-y-Brenin and Antur Stiniog) to construct his own personal single track downhill trail on the family farm.The ‘Gader Goch Descent’ is a ‘beudy’ (sorry) of a trail, snaking, twisting and turning down 200 vertical metres of steep green Welsh hillside in a way that will put a smile on the face and a whoop in the throat of any keen biker.  You too can ride the trail if you stay at Beudy Banc: the campsite is a work in progress but there’s a small cabin and an eight-person bunkhouse available (call for rates). Dafydd has also mapped out a variety of mountain bike loops around the local hills all of which you can ride from the door. Some would say that having your own personal trails and a downhill too when you’re already surrounded by some of the best mountain biking in the country is a bit of a luxury; but trust me, once you’ve had a taster of Gader Goch you'll be straight back up to the top for another go. Oh, and the views ain't bad either... Take a look for yourself here.