Machynlleth
The old Welsh capital in the south of Snowdonia, Machynlleth has a unique Alpine atmosphere and rich trail menu.
The original Mach 1-3 trails take you as far out into the wilderness as you want to go on natural, but no less challenging trails. Meanwhile the more recent cli-machx trail winds you high into Dyfi forest before firing you down superbly technical singletrack descents that seem to go on forever.
Once the capital of Wales, Machynlleth is now the British capital of alternative technology with a thriving Bohemian community. Waymarked routes of varying length and difficulty take you straight from the centre of town into fantastic mountain and valley scenery. With everything from mixed road and valley trails to long forestry climbs, traversing mountain singletrack and sketchy slate ravine descents on the longer routes there's something for every level of rider. The Dyfi forest to the north of the town offers excellent forestry freeriding too.
The trails in this area are a good example of people power. Local mountain bikers and business people formed a community group known as
Dyfi Mountain Biking, who aimed to publicise the great mountain biking in the area and boost tourist income. The group successfully fundraised to waymark the Mach 1, 2 and 3 routes on rights of way around Machynlleth, and then to build trails in the Dyfi forest, with the help of a community regeneration group, Ecodyfi.
The group also has a part time mountain bike ranger; Judith Thornton who does maintenance and organises publicity.