Dyfi Forest in Mid Wales will already be familiar to many readers. It’s home to the popular Raw Dyfi Enduro, one of the more technical enduro treats on the calendar, and close to the Mach 1, 2 and 3 routes around Machynlleth. But there’s going to be another reason to visit soon.

Community organisation Mach-Off-Road Limited and local regeneration company Ecodyfi have teamed up, got funding from the EC, Welsh Assembly and Forestry Commission and got work underway on the punningly-named Cli-Machx trail. It’s being built by Ecotrails (you may have sampled its work at Nant yr Arian) with the help of an extensive cast of digger drivers and spadepersons.

The first phase of the project is due to be completed in October. It’s a 20km route on purpose-built trails looking over Snowdonia. “This will be a fast and furious trail with a big grin factor,” says Dyfi Trails Ranger Judith Thornton. The final 4.5km descent will become, it’s claimed, the longest uninterrupted descent on any Welsh trail, so there’s something to look forward to. The new trails will feature in a couple of high-profile events in 2005, including the aforementioned Raw Dyfi Enduro and the European Single Speed Championships.