Black Mountains Cycling

ta@Oxford · Post by **ta@Oxford** » 4 Dec 2007, 12:19pm

Hello,
A couple of us are planning a cycling trip for next spring from Oxfordshire, through the black mountains to South Wales. Having never been to the Black Mountains before, I was wondering if anyone could tell me if roads around that area would make a good cycling route. (we would all have racing/road bikes.)
Or, if anyone could recommend any good traffic-quiet, long stretches of road in anywhere from say, Nottingham downwards.

best wishes,
TA

megilleland · Post by **megilleland** » 4 Dec 2007, 10:52pm

The main routes across the Black Mountains and Brecon Beacons run North/South and you will probably be travelling East/West. If you want to enjoy the area travel through to either Cheltenham, Tewkesbury, Ross on Wye, Monmouth, Hereford to get to Hay-on Wye (north end of Black Mountains) or Abergavenny (south end of Black Mountains).

There are not many roads over this area. The main roads, which you may wish to keep away from, skirt the edges of the National Park. The two main cycling routes you could use are:
National Cycle Route 42 - Lôn Las Cymru
http://www.breconbeacons.org/content/vi ... le-touring

or the Taff Trail (the section from Brecon to Merthyr Tydfil)
http://www.tafftrail.org.uk/index.html

Good site for the Brecons Beacons area and adjoining tourist areas:
http://www.visit-brecon-beacons.co.uk/b ... park.shtml

Cycling in South Wales
http://www.southernwales.com/downloads/7.pdf

ta@Oxford · Post by **ta@Oxford** » 6 Dec 2007, 4:28pm

thanks very much for that - all very helpful. Does the Taff trail have a suitable surface for road bikes for its entire length?

AMC · Post by **AMC** » 6 Dec 2007, 10:21pm

If I remember correctly the taff trail from Cardiff to Brecon is tarmaced, although the Merthyr/valleys area is disused train track with the usual complement of broken glass (& fantastically lairy 12 year old boys.) We took very minor tarmaced roads over the hills around Brecon, so I think it would be fine. Perhaps someone without alzheimer's will correct me if I'm wrong though. It was a beautiful route anyway, well worth it.

manybikes · Post by **manybikes** » 7 Dec 2007, 10:39am

Having done much of the Taff Trail etc this summer (was there one?) I would advise on some really strong tyres if you are using "road/racing" bikes. OK on a proper tourer but I'd have some doubts on skinny rubber

DaveP · Post by **DaveP** » 8 Dec 2007, 11:44pm

From Merthyr it's only a few miles to Pontypridd where you can access the Celtic Trail, mainly Sustrans 47. You can go East to Chepstow or West (Low level version only for road bikes) to Swansea and on to the Gower and Pembrokeshire.
Had a good trip in Sept looping Camarthen Fishguard Pembroke and Swansea, and on the strength of that would draw your attention to the South coast between Kidwelly and Gowerton. Gravel tracks in Pembrey Forest, and the sound of cars from the Motor Sport Centre (You wont actually encounter any!). Tarmac, mown verges and sea views in the Millenium Park that covers the rest of the distance - basically, its the longest Promenade ride in the country
Thought it might give you something to aim at!