The latest addition to the trail network at Afan Forest Park was officially launched on Friday. The new red-graded trail is known as the Energy Trail and is sponsored by unrelentingly lower-case energy company npower renewables, which presumably was channelling the spirit of EE “ee cummings” Cummings when carrying out its branding “brainstorm”. This is, of course, the same npower renewables that’s building the Ffynnon Oer wind farm on the ridge above Glyncorrwg – it’s taken on the long-term sponsorship of all of the Afan trails. This thankfully means that its contribution to the Afan trail network goes well beyond some stretches of gravel motorway with construction traffic pounding along it and into more interesting realms.

At least, we assume its more interesting, but since everything in the official press release is about economic benefits, local tourism and the fact that some riders “wowed” the assembled dignitaries, including Secretary of State for Wales Peter Hain, with a riding display on a section of the new trail rather than stuff about how long it is, how much height you’ll gain/lose or really anything else, we’re struggling a bit. We do know that the new trail forms part of the splendid White’s Level loop, and is designed to reward technical skill and daring, which sounds pretty promising. There’s exactly one Actual Fact in the release – Afan is the most visited MTB destination in Wales, with visitor numbers reaching “over” 60,960 last year, up from 9,920 in 2002. Oh, and the trail sets off from the Glyncorrwg visitor centre, home of the rather marvellous Drop-Off café and ever-handy Skyline Cycles bike shop.

We can offer you a fine selection of quotes from the official launch day, though. Here’s head of business development at npower renewables, paul cowling (see what we did there?):

“It has been a very exciting day for all who attended, the mountain bike display really was spectacular. It is always great to see any investment we have made as a company put to good use, and the Energy Trail is a perfect example of how, at npower renewables, we are committed to making a real, tangible difference to the local communities in which we operate.”

“The Afan trails are important not only to those who enjoy mountain biking, but also to the local economy. Tourism contributes over £68 million to Neath Port Talbot each year, and we hope our investment in the new trail will further encourage economic growth in this part of Wales.”

Peter Cloke, of Forestry Commission Wales, said:

“The Energy Trail is an impressive route that takes riders to parts of the Afan Valley that are virtually untouched – you can’t reach these locations any other way but on a bike. It is a fantastic way to really experience the area and is a huge boost to Afan’s already extensive mountain bike offering. The impact of investment into the Afan trails has been phenomenal for the area in terms of both reputation and the economy. For Neath Port Talbot to be viewed as one of the most desirable locations in the world for mountain bikers to visit is something we aspired to when we first began work on the trails, but for this to the case just a few years later is a major achievement. None of this would have been possible without investment from sponsors such as npower renewables, and we hope this relationship will continue to produce more trails of the same calibre as Energy.”

Secretary of State for Wales Peter Hain said:

“This new project’s success is only possible thanks to the partnership that has evolved between the Forestry Commission and npower renewables. This partnership means that the trails are even more accessible, making it easier for people to get active and enjoy the stunning Welsh countryside. The commitment shown by all concerned, including npower renewables, the Forestry Commission and Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council to the economic revival of the Afan Valley is really making a difference to the surrounding community. The Afan trails are a real example of how successful this partnership process can be to help re-ignite the fortunes of struggling areas.”

Strangely unmentioned are the people on the ground who actually did the work – for the record, they include Rowan Sorrell, Rob Breakwell, Dean Gillett, Rob Howells, Richard Taylor, Andy Stevens, Andrew Walker, Julian Poffley, Ian Luff and Jason Tompkins.

And in case you’re wondering why there aren’t any pictures to go with this story, that’s because the PR company involved let us know about the trail launch with a day’s notice so we weren’t actually there, and the photos they sent afterwards are particularly appalling examples of what we like to think of as the “local newspaper” school. Honestly, we’re an MTB site, we’re interested in what the trail’s like. The supplied pictures assume that the most interesting thing at the launch was Secretary of State for Wales Peter Hain. So we’re not going to use them.

Oh, go on then, just for laughs, you understand. Here’s Peter Hain looking really very comfortable indeed and not even slightly out of place, and here he is again looking in completely the wrong direction as something actually worth looking at takes place. See what we mean?

But never mind all the PR fluff, more trails at Afan is undoubtedly a good thing, and the people behind it have a good track record when it comes to the production of fun stuff. We’ll go and check out the new trail for ourselves when it doesn’t have politicians standing on it – watch this space…

UPDATE Full marks to the Energy PR team, from whom we’ve had some further details on the new trail. The Energy trail is a 3.5km addition to the 15.9km White’s Level loop, and replaces a a stretch of forest road to make White’s “almost 100%” singletrack.

Rowan Sorrel, whose work you may have encountered at Cwmcarn, did plenty of design work on the new section, and the whole lot was built by a local trail building team including personnel from Glyncorrwg Construction.

They were kept busy by the feature-laden design. The Energy trail is clearly a section that’s designed to reward a bit of bravery, with berms, jumps, tabletops, raised Shore-style sections and four bridges over rivers. In the spirit of variety, you can expect fast, flowing sections out in the open and tight twisty bits in the woods. And you’re promised good views too (weather permitting, of course).