Bike shop and hire centre to remain open at Coed y Brenin

The team at Beics Brenin have confirmed that the bike shop and hire centre to remain open at Coed y Brenin Mountain Bike centre in North Wales.

Credit: Beics Brenin

Press Release

Last week, NRW announced proposals to close visitor centres at Nant yr Arian, Ynyslas and Coed y Brenin. We have been instructed by NRW that while budgets exist to keep the centres open until April 1st 2024, there is a risk that the visitor centre cafe at Coed y Brenin could close sooner, possibly as early as October. It is important to stress that nothing has yet been decided, NRW staff are in union consultations and this process will take around 45 days to complete so we will not have anything confirmed until later in the year. However, from what we know at this point it appears NRW have no plans to close the trails.

NRW support our continuation on site, so right now, it is business as usual for Beics Brenin. Assuming no further bad news of service cuts, it is our intention to remain open as we have done and continue to offer bike hire and bike shop from the site. In addition, our partners Pedal MTB will continue to provide lessons, courses and guided rides. Our existing tender is set to run until 2028 and we continue to plan and forecast for this period until instructed otherwise by NRW. We currently have no information about a timetable for change or any idea of what the future plans for the visitor centre and trails at Coed y Brenin are.

A group of local stakeholders have now formed a cooperative, Caru Coed y Brenin, to investigate the feasibility of a local body taking over the management of the centre and possibly its trail network in the future. We are working with this group and support its aims. At the same time we continue to work closely with NRW to ensure continuity of service on site at Coed y Brenin through the implementation of their change process.

This year, the forest park extended its trail network with the addition of over 100km of signposted gravel/adventure routes earlier this year, no small project. Knowing how much work went into bringing these new routes to life, the announcement of such serious cuts is of course, extremely saddening.

Coed y Brenin has a unique character and offering that continues to provide a valuable alternative to the experience offered by uplift bike parks. Here, riding remains free at the point of access on trails that are easily accessible and cater for all ability levels. If you value this, the best thing you can do to continue to visit and support the centre by using its trails.

As far as we are concerned, Coed y Brenin remains very much open for business. Summer is bringing thousands of new and returning visitors to the centre to enjoy its vast trail network which remains a thriving hub of UK cycling. We plan to do all in our power to ensure Coed y Brenin continues to deliver great riding and access to the outdoors that can be enjoyed by all.

Beics Brenin team.