Bwlch Nant yr Arian has announced plans to build a new mountain bike skills area at the popular mid-Wales trail centre.

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This new purpose-built track will be a chance for locals and visitors of all ages to practise riding a mountain bike and perfect their technique before tackling the larger and more challenging routes.

Nature’s gym

Gareth Owen, Bwlch Nant yr Arian Visitor Centre Manager, Natural Resources Wales said: “We’re proud to look after such a special site where people can get active – get healthy and enjoy nature’s gym.

“This new area will have a number of loops where riders from beginners upwards can have fun and practise some essential skills.

“The work will start on Monday [21 November]. We hope the work will be finished by Christmas but this will of course be weather dependant.

“It’s a great addition to all the other facilities we provide in a spectacular setting at Bwlch Nant yr Arian.”

People can keep up to date with progress and find out the latest news by following Bwlch Nant yr Arian on Facebook.

Nant yr Arian’s comeback

The new track will be built in a landscape which is slowly evolving. Three years ago, most of the trees around the visitor centre were cut to slow the spread of a disease called Phytophthora ramorum which attacks Larch trees.

But now more than 12,000 trees have been replanted and Natural Resources Wales (Nant yr Arian’s owners) continues to plant more trees in the area.

Gareth continued: “The site for this has been carefully selected so that it doesn’t affect the view over the lake. After the work has been completed, the area will be landscaped and trees planted around the track.”