Distance: 18.5km
Climb: 725m
Grade: Black
Time: 2-3 hours
Rating: 4.5/5
Tough opening climb separates those who are fit from those who aren't but the rewards for your investment are some seriously thrilling downhill sections.
Unfortunately this isn't a full review. I will have to return to Brechfa at some point to finish the Raven Trail as my riding partners and I only completed the first half, missing a second climb and the final descent to link up with the Gorlech trail and complete a mammoth 26.5mile journey with 4500 ft of ascent.
However for the purposes of this review I shall refer to the sections of the Raven trail only and will update at a later date with a fuller account.
The trail starts from a very basic car park with little in the way of facilities. In all fairness there are plenty of places one can grab a drink, nip to the loo etc within the village of Brechfa, which is only a stones throw away. Plus, I'm not sure that a massive trail centre would be right image for this area. It has a very subtle and tranquil quality. Less is more. It's like its a little secret, tucked away out of sight.
Being so far west, the place is never very busy. In fact you'd be going pretty fast, or slow, to meet any one whilst actually on the trail. This is not, however, a sign of a bad trail. This is, by far, one of the most interesting and fun trails I have ridden. In fact the Raven here, Gorlech and the smaller Cwm Rheaedr up the road make for one hell of a weekend.
Passing through the large Raven's Wings starting gate, the trail itself begins with the, ever present, fire road climb. Thankfully this does quite quickly give way to pleasant singletrack. The surface chopping and changing between compact stone gravel, to loose and wet earth. With very little let off, except for two switch backs, the trail continues to steepen for what feels like an eternity. Just when you think you've crested the hill it continues - out of sight.
Anyway, you do, of course, reach the top eventually. What follows is a long descent. Broken up in three sections, each very different. The first a rhythm section of tight turns and sweeping singletrack with a loamy/ rooty surface cut up with loose rock and damp earth. It emerges on to a fireroad with the next section beginning directly opposite.
The next section is fast and has a very natural feel to it. It sweeps through the oak woodland on dense earth trail and begs for you to ride faster. And, why not, as there are no major surprises along this short part. It traverses the hillside, following the contours and loosing very little altitude for the speed your going.
However, do keep your eyes peeled as the following section is remarkably different. The trail turns down hill and gets very steep indeed. Utilising massive berms cut in to the very bedrock of the hillside to keep you rubber side down. These berms are not your average smooth offerings either. These are rough as old boots, the various formations - visible where they have been cut through - create a rumble strip affect as you pass over them with very little option but to commit.
These eventually tame to 'normal' sized berms a bit lower down but retains its warp speed setting before spitting you out in to a clearing at the very base of the valley.
The blue trail, which has essentially followed us round, on a parallel track thus far, re-joins for the following fire road climb. A light incline along an oak lined track offers plenty of time to catch your breath and regain your composure before embarking on the next section of singletrack.
This was equally as fun as the first downhill but for different reasons. The nature of the trail here became very natural, tight and twisting. Reminiscent of trails back home where the line weaves its way through the ancient woodland, tracking around and over any obstacles, in a bid to leave as little trace as possible of our existence. Obstacles become less consistent with the drops, dips and rollers of a typical trail centre and more variable like a true off piste trail. It's rooty. It's up and down-y, its twisty and great fun.
As you complete the section you, again, come out on to a fire road, which happens to be the very top of the final climb of the Gorlech trail. It is here that we made our escape and joined the red trail - please see my other review for a low down of this trail - and complete a loop of this also. This meant getting to do the red descent twice (can't complain as its great).