The blue-graded MinorTaur trail in Coed-y-Brenin Forest Park has been expanded with the addition of a third loop.

The new loop – called Buwch Bren (Wooden Cow) – has longer climbs and more technical features, and extends the MinorTaur’s range to nine kilometres. The trail’s design means riders can tackle one loop (three kilometres), two loops (five kilometres) or the full distance.

“This will be it for now, but we hope to add another loop to extend the trail to around 12 kilometres, dependent on securing further funding,” said Forestry Commission Wales mountain bike ranger Andy Braund.

“The MinorTaur has quickly become the most popular trail at Coed y Brenin. It’s a great fun introduction to mountain biking for a wide range of ages and abilities and is unique in that it can be enjoyed by riders with a disability, using adaptive mountain bikes.

“It’s also working well as a great starting point for learning new off-road riding skills and gaining confidence before moving on to the more difficult trails like Cyflym Coch.”

The MinorTaur is unique in that it can be ridden by disabled people, with the width of the trail, the radius of the turns, the low gradient and technical features being suitable for adaptive mountain bikes.

The new loop includes an upgraded two-way multi-use crossing of the Mawddach gorge over an aerial bridge called Offspring. The trail approaches at either end of the bridge have been widened, the gradient reduced and some wider passing places installed to allow passage of the wider three and four wheel adaptive bikes, as well as pedestrians.

“Due to its terrain and rocky nature, Coed y Brenin has always had quite a hardcore image,” added Braund. “We have plenty of red and black grade trails but more and more beginners and intermediate riders were asking what trails would be suitable for them, but we didn’t have any to offer.

“So we decided to try to build a trail not only for able-bodied people but also for those with a disability. We gave trail designer Arran Cartwright a brief to deliver a trail that was achievable but still challenging, where you can learn new off-road riding skills and increase confidence.”