Afan Forest Park – Gyfylchi, near Port Talbot

Welcome

Gyfylchi is in Afan Forest Park.

It is home to Afan Skills Park for mountain bike riders.

The ruins of Gyfylchi chapel stand next to the car park - look out for the information board.

Walking trails

The walking trails are waymarked from start to finish.

Look out for the information panel at the start of the trail.

Find out about walking trail grades.

Penrhys Walk

• Grade: Moderate
• Distance: 3.6 miles/5.7 kilometres
• Time: 2 hours
• Climb: 856 feet/261 metres

Enjoy panoramic views along the ancient ridgeway track which connected Baglan church on the coast to Craig y Llyn north of Glyncorrwg.

You can see all the way to the Carmarthenshire Fans (peaks) on a clear day.

Gyfylchi Ridgetop Trail

• Grade: Strenuous
• Distance: 6.9 miles/11.2 kilometres
• Climb: 1434 feet/437 metres
• Time: 3½ hours

The Gyfylchi Ridgetop Trail crosses the River Afan and climbs through woodlands to the hilltop.

There are panoramic views of the valley.

The trail then goes past two sets of ruins – Nant-y-bar farm and the 18th century Gyfylchi chapel, once a shrine to Welsh Methodism – before it descends to the car park. 

Mountain bike trail

All our mountain bike trails are waymarked from start to finish and have been graded for difficulty.

At the start of the trail there is an information panel – please read this before setting off.

• Find out about mountain bike trail grades.
• For a list of our mountain bike trails and information to plan your ride, go to mountain biking.
• For more information about mountain biking in Wales, go to the Mountain Bike Wales website.

The Wall

• Grade: Red (Difficult)
• Distance: 18.7 kilometres
• Time: 1½-3 hours
• Climb: 746 metres
• Alternative starting points: Afan Forest Park Visitor Centre and Rhyslyn
• Trail information: For a longer ride, use the 4 kilometre long link route (W2 Link Trail) to join the White’s Level trail. Linking these two trails together is a challenging 42 kilometre ride. The White's Level trail departs from Glyncorrwg Mountain Bike Centre.

Boasting some of the best singletrack descents in the UK, this trail traverses the north side of the Afan Valley.

It varies from fast, open and flowing to tight, technical and rooty.

Great views of the valley and coastline open out at different points, and in places the steep-sided slopes can feel exposed.

Afan Skills Park

Afan Skills Park is suitable for more advanced riders.

The skills 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.

There is another skills park on the Rookie trail from the Afan Forest Park Visitor Centre for less experienced riders.

Afan Forest Park

Gyfylchi 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, and you can discover some of the valley’s heritage features along our trails.

Explore Afan Forest Park from these other car parks:

• Afan Forest Park Visitor Centre – main starting point for mountain bike and walking trails in Afan Forest Park
• Glyncorrwg Mountain Bike Centre – starting point for waymarked mountain bike trails
• Rhyslyn – picnic site with walking and mountain biking trails

Visiting safely

We want you to return home safely after your visit here.

You are responsible for your own safety as well as the safety of any children and animals with you during your visit.

For advice and tips to help you plan your visit here go to Visiting our places safely.

Changes to trails

See the top of this webpage for details of any planned closures or other changes to the trails here.

For your safety, always follow instructions from staff and signs including those for trail diversions or closures.

We may divert or close trails whilst we undertake maintenance work or other operations and we may need to close other visitor facilities temporarily.

In extreme weather, we may close facilities at short notice due to the risk of injury to visitors and staff.

Organising an event on our land

You may need permission from us to organise an event or to carry out some activities on our land.

Check if you are allowed to use our land.

How to get here

We recommend you follow these directions or use the Google map below which has a pin on this place’s location.

Gyfylchi is 7 miles north east of Port Talbot.

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.

The Ordnance Survey (OS) grid reference for the car park is SS 807 954 (Explorer Map 165 or 166).

The postcode is SA12 9SP. Please note that this postcode covers a wide area and will not take you directly to the entrance.

View this place on the What3Words website.

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 is managed by Bryn Bettws Lodge.

For more information go to the Bryn Bettws Lodge website.

Contact details

The car park is 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.