Cafall Trail, Cwm Carn

Grade: Red
Distance: 15.5km
Elevation: 795m
Time: 2 hours
Rating: 3.5/5


Challenging climbs and some quality descents but far too many stiles. They break up the trail too much and ruin the flow (although I suppose it's no worse than having to open a gate - btw I hate that too).

The first 1-1.5km of this route shares the same trail as its older brother, the Twrch. Splitting at the gate house for the forest drive and heading off up the opposite side of the valley. It also shares a similar rocky character to the Twrch over much of its length, although this is not exclusive and does diversify in the wooded at the peak of the climb; becoming quite earthy.

With this in mind it is worth highlighting that due to the prevailing character, like its brother, the Cafall will ride pretty well in wet or dry (I have tried both) but due to a distinct lack of detritus, the earthy top sections are definitely better in the dry - they become pretty slippy in the wet.

The trail is somewhat dominated in the early stages, not unlike Twrch, by a fairly hefty climb. There are no severe gradients to deal with. Just a single, drawn out and slightly undulating climb - but it keeps on going for quite some time and partly explains the number of uphill pics and lack of downhill ones, sorry.

During the climb, you are treated to a couple of brief interludes, one being a quick fire descent in to a small hairpin gulley with flowing stream but, over the short bridge, the climb continues. The second, about 2/3 of the way up, by a short fire-road section before entering the wooded, and earthy, top section.


The following descent only drops about a third of the gained altitude but is super fun with a tight but flowing, wooded trail; navigating around the trees like precision engineering. With a markedly steep earth bank rising to your side, there are plenty of apexes that are just willing you to strike a pedal to throw you off. It could be quite intimidating for some but with some conviction you can get a real buzz here. A final rocky chute spits you out in to the open and the trails heads to another climb section.  

This section is similarly tight and twisty climbing to roughly the same altitude that has just been lost. Once at the top however, bar a single, very steep 20 yard interruption, the route is all down from here on in.

Cafall, much like Twrch, is essentially one big up and one big down. The descent, however, unlike Twrch is compartmentalised in to three consecutive sections. Not broken by small inclines or natural features unfortunately but, instead, by man made stiles that define the start/end of each - a feature present on many of the welsh trail centres. I think one reason for their presence is simply to provide some respite on the descent and to temper enthusiasm in lesser skilled riders, as the cumulative speed and technicality could become taxing over an extended spell. These styles are irritating to be frank as they limit the trail from gaining flow for any real sustained period.  Sure the individual sections area fun but together they would be awesome.

The upper most part starts on mud trail. Tight and twisty as before but this soon gives way to pine littered bedrock - the rocky character so typical of much of the trail, and this part of wales, in general. If you've ridden Twrch, then you'll know what to expect. The trail is a bit more open than Twrch but harbors a few more switch backs, which slow the pace down. It is hard to replicate the kind of speed achievable coming down the final section on Twrch but this trail is as much fun. Current design seems to favour big berms and flow rich trails and this is evident here and the tight, twisting upper sections provide a definite variety in trail conditions.



The final part is a fairly tame section back to the car park but Cafall links so nicely on to Twrch that I rarely bother with it. Instead, by completing Twrch in the same ride, you get the original (and proper), final descent to the car park; and that is the best way to do it.

When I wrote up about Twrch ( link here) the trail centre was undergoing some changes. The car park was improved and an additional toilet/washing facilities building was added in the car park area. This has now opened, together with a small bike shop and workshop for trail repairs. The shop is actually an approved servicing centre for certain shocks and forks, so you can double up and catch a ride whilst the can is serviced.

Cwm carn has become a particular favourite of mine over the last 12 months or so, partly because of the location to me and secondly because of the growing variety of trail. But also, the facilities are great and ever improving. It is a great place to ride.

Guiting Power

Distance: 28.5km

Climb: c.450m

Grade: Red

Rating: 3/5

"good, solid route, of classic style, with plenty of visual and technical stimulation to warrant investment of time and energy"

This route is not particuarly demanding, yet it is a ride typical of its Cotswold setting. The starting point is already high up in the Cotswold Hills and therefore there is not the grand opening climb one might expect when tackling a well-known range of hills or a classic route or the expectant 'final descent' so typical of modern trail centres. With the exception of the escarpment running northeast-southwest, the Cotswolds are not peaky mountain but rolling high wolds. The trail itself is adapted from the route as described by Tom Fenton in his Cotswold mountain biking guidebook.

"we came down there and now we're heading up there" (Mint Sauce), mirroring the natural landscape in which it is set, this route has a rolling character of continuous short climbs and descents. Following a quick uphill blast out of Guiting Power village and a gentle warm up along a country lane, the route diverts on to farm land and heads downhill through long grassy fields  - a quick road jaunt at the bottom leads you to a stony track that follows the river Windrush before heading uphill and away from the stream.

This section of the ride is very tranquil and a beautiful part of the trail. Emerging from the woods the route crosses further open fields, this time inhabited by sheep (and sheep eggs, as someone kindly pointed out on the cleave hill post - if you don't like getting dirty I suggest you give up mountain biking) - happily grazing away and keeping the natural singletrack well defined.

The trail leads to the village of Upper Slaughter, revisiting the river bank of the Windrush. Head straight through the village and out along a tarmac lane (approx 1km) until you reach the byway finger pointer - head up the stony double track, taking time to admire the wildflowers that decorate the verges and the bees that service them, before reaching the brow of the hill and heading back down the other side. Descending along trail, adjacent to tall bramble hedgerows before entering a pine copse and arriving back at the river Windrush again at Aston House.

Head uphill and look for Aston Farm. Pass through the farmyard and follow the singletrack across the field and in to the woods. The following 2-3km of singletrack is my second most enjoyable part of the ride. It weaves sinuously around the trees like slalom posts and undulates up and down like a roller coaster. On a dry day it really flows quite well eventually emerging adjacent some heavily overgrown scrub land and  heading in to one of the quicker descents of the ride (although short), finishing at the bank of the river Windrush, again.

It is the most flowing and thrilling section of the ride from a pure riding perspective. As good as it is, however, it doesn't match sections of Bredon hill or Cleeve hill for both duration or technicality.  Nevertheless it is there to be attacked and enjoyed and certainly adds to the overall content of this route.

Follow the Windrush for 1 or 2 km along the Holst way before crossing the river and heading up a steep climb and around the back of a local golf course, followed by another descent - the trail leading in to and out of the village of Naunton. The long road climb that follows is a drag but eventually becomes a stony track and leads in to quarry country. The trail leads past the quarry works before eventually leading in to the fastest and longest descent of the route down a fairly rocky chute of trail, the ending section prior to emerging on to the road is probably the most technical.

A road blast takes you past the Halfway House inn at Kineton. This pub offers a welcome break with good beers and food on offer and with only a ford crossing and a 2km cruise along a smooth stretch of trail back to Guiting Power to follow, one can take advantage of the mid ride bevvy. There is also another nice pub in the middle of the village for post ride drinks, if you prefer.

There's a good car park near to the village football ground, which is essentially free. It has a donation box, which you can use if you wish.