Holyhead to Cardiff

onyabike · Post by **onyabike** » 23 Feb 2008, 3:42pm

Hello All,

This is my first post on the forum but I have been reading it for a while and you all seem a great bunch. :lol:

In April (16th) i am planning a solo cycle from Anglesy north Wales to Cardiff south Wales which will be just over 200 miles. This is in aid of Cancer Research UK.
I am looking for a picturesque route going via the Snowdonia Park & Brecon Beacons Park.
I would be extremely grateful if anybody could advise a suitable route or give any advise. I will be riding a road bike so i would prefer roads instead of trails. I am planning to do this cycle over 2 days with an overnight stop in between, maybe a cottage or b&b. Again any suggestions folks?

If you would like to sponsor me for this event and raise money for Cancer Research UK please visit my site on http://www.justgiving.com/marcandrewscycle.

Many thanks for all your help.

melw1 · Post by **melw1** » 23 Feb 2008, 3:56pm

Here is some info on North Wales cycle routes, mainly on road:
http://www.cyclingnorthwales.co.uk/pages/rides_routes.htm

Good luck! Sounds good fun!

Edited to add - I presume you've already seen the sustrans stuff on Wales:
http://www.sustrans.org.uk/default.asp?sID=1090921112294

onyabike · Post by **onyabike** » 25 Feb 2008, 2:59pm

Many thanks for your help.

Any of you guys recommend good accomodation?

onyabike · Post by **onyabike** » 28 Feb 2008, 4:29pm

I have given myself about 10 hours a day of cycling.
Would you guys think that this a good amount of time to cover 100 miles.

I think that i could do it in around 6 hours per day but I want to take in the views and stop for breaks and actually appreciate what I am doing.

Can anybody from experience of this ride recommend a good overnight resting place about halfway through my route?

Cheers guys!

meic · Post by **meic** » 29 Feb 2008, 12:49am

The cycling in Wales can be considerably slower than in other areas.
I dont know the route you are taking but I find that my average moving speed can be reduced from 15mph to 10mph if I stray onto the more difficult routes.

Richard Fairhurst · Post by **Richard Fairhurst** » 2 Mar 2008, 5:14pm

(My first post here too...!)

I can't recommend Lon Las Cymru, the Sustrans route (NCN 8 ) between Cardiff and Holyhead, highly enough. I cycled it in four days a few years back and enjoyed it greatly. It's encouraged me to discover many more parts of the National Cycle Network, but this is still my favourite.

The parts through Snowdonia and the Beacons are suitably impressive, of course, but the bit I enjoyed the most was the upper Wye valley - some hugely enjoyable cycling along tiny little lanes and tracks.

I did it on a hybrid. That said, most of it would be possible on a road bike. You might want to be a little careful on some of the railway tracks at the northern end, and on the Taff Trail (Brecon-Cardiff). There are two sections you'd very definitely have to give a miss: the pass above (and southwest of) Talybont-on-Usk, which is rocky tracks, and a couple of miles of muddy forest track south of Llanwrthwl (Wye Valley).

strider · Post by **strider** » 7 Mar 2008, 4:48pm

Might off route a little but the Elan Valley is awesome. There is one long climb and plenty of time is spent cycling along the lakes. The views are breathtaking

onyabike · Post by **onyabike** » 13 Mar 2008, 2:11pm

Many thanks guys,

I will definately check out the Lon Las cycle route.
In fact i will probably buy the route plan book of it tonight