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- Finding My Inner Big Kid at Mountain View Bike Park
Finding My Inner Big Kid at Mountain View Bike Park
With the Easter holidays having some lovely weather to get into the outdoors, I took the kids to Mountain View Bike Park near Caerphilly and was very impressed with the setup, and being able to find my inner big kid again!
With the weather turning it seems like spring in South Wales has arrived, so looking for outdoor activities in the Easter holidays we decided to head to Mountain View Bike Park. It wasn't our first time there, as the kids have been on their bikes, but this time was slightly different as I've been talked into getting my own mountain bike and getting on the trails too. It's easy to find, just by the entrance to Mountain View Ranch, around two miles from Caerphilly and five miles from Cardiff.
Last time out I took my laptop and worked from the café whilst the kids enjoyed the mountain biking - good coffee, free wifi, comfy sofas (chairs & tables too) - so this time with my bike I was a little apprehensive having not done anything like this since my teenage years. I was pleased to see everything is well signposted, and colour-coded too, to make sure nobody goes over or down something unexpected!
Check Out The Trail Map
Before you set off, make sure you check the trail map to see all the routes and options. There's a big one on the wall inside the café, and the staff were more than happy to give me an explanation of where to go - green means easy, blue is intermediate, red is difficult, and black is for the experts, aptly called "severe". There are three different types of feature here - pump tracks, trails, and a skills area.
Pump Tracks
First up is pump tracks, which are a continuous, looped circuit of rollers and banked turns (known as berms) which are designed to be ridden without pedalling, although this does take a bit of getting used to. There's a short beginner loop so you can get the hang of it before progressing to "Big Pump", which is the blue/moderate option - both of these are smooth tarmac which makes it a nice easy ride. Even as a beginner it was easy to progress onto Big Pump, with several areas to drop in and out of the loop as you look to develop the pumping motion to keep your speed up without pedalling.
Mountain Bike Trails
Heading towards the trails following my son, he confidently lead me off towards the green loop to start us off. As we were heading downhill my thoughts were already turning to cycling back up, however I was pleasantly surprised that it felt more of a loop than a steep climb back up - the green trail is aptly named "Piece of Cake" and I felt it lived up to its name as a gentle introduction. The trail map says that it should be "suitable for most people in good health", which I think is an accurate description. Next up we hit a couple of blue trails, which were longer and with more features, as well as longer return uphill sections - yes they were harder but still manageable with reasonable fitness.
The trails take you through the forest, on paths, across raised platforms, by ponds and puddles, and yes we did get a little muddy but not covered, although this would absolutely depend on the time of year and if there's been much rain.
Progression
With trails graded from green to black it's really easy to see the progression of the trails, and all the ones we saw were well signed with clear markings to show the colour grade. Next time out I'll be starting with the blue level again, but I can definitely see myself getting onto the red trails before long.
Skills Area
There's also a fab little skills area to help you learn the skills needed to improve your riding before moving to the harder trails. This again is split into different levels - the beginner drops were great fun, and I did try the intermediate run at the end of the day, although that definitely needs more work!
Back to Base
After lapping the green and blue trails, getting the hang of the blue pump track, and even giving the intermediate drops a go in the skills area I'd definitely worked up an appetite and so had the kids, so we headed back to the café for refreshments. They have a good selection of delicious sandwiches, toasties, and cakes, as well as drinks and ice creams, so you can make a day of it, plus plenty of room outside for a picnic if you prefer.
Help at Hand
All the staff we encountered were friendly and knowledgeable about bikes and the bike park, and no question seemed silly or too much trouble. They have a bike shop if you find you're missing any accessories, as well as a workshop if you have any issues with your bike.
We'll Be Back
All in all it was a super fun afternoon out - all of us burned off lots of energy, learned some new skills, and enjoyed some time outdoors as a family - plus my inner big kid certainly came out as I got the hang of the jumps and bumps! So no matter if you're looking for a new activity to try or if you're already confident on a mountain bike, then Mountain View Bike Park is definitely somewhere to consider for your next family day out.
Read more about the author: Steve
Frequently asked questions
- Is Mountain View Bike Park suitable for beginners?
Absolutely! There are gentle "green" trails to get started, and the beginner pump track is ideal for a beginner trying it for the first time.
- How much does it cost?
Adults are £15, and children aged up to 15 years are £12.
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