Lôn Las Cymru

[wynn]

I am in the very early stages of planning a 7 day ride on Lôn Las Cymru (Holyhead to Cardiff) for summer 2013. Has anyone done this recently ? - I am probably going to camp along the route - any comments or advice please. First obstacle is to get from Harrogate to Holyhead - train or coach ?? Any advice would be gratefully received - thanks in anticpation - Wynn

[meic]

There is plenty in the forum about this already but unfortunately the search function doesnt work for three letter words (like Lon and Las).

viewtopic.php?f=16&t=66103&hilit=cymru
viewtopic.php?f=16&t=61008&hilit=cymru
viewtopic.php?f=16&t=62929&hilit=cymru
viewtopic.php?f=16&t=53160&hilit=cymru

I found these four searching under Cymru and there was plenty more. Which tempts me to say "Cymru Am Byth".

[vernon]

Seven days is a very generous time allowance. As for getting to Holyhead, I took the train from Leeds and found it straightforward.

There's plenty of camp sites around and the Sustrans maps are sound.

Be prepared for wetness. I was lucky to have only one major downpour.

[meic]

I was lucky to have only one major downpour.

Did that by any chance start near Llangefni and end around Taff's Well?

[james01]

We did this ride in summer 2011. It took 5 days (middle aged riders, full camping gear carried). Taking 7 days is a good idea, you get more time to stop and admire the gorgeous views. Plenty of campsites along the way - do your research before you set off. We also listed B&Bs on the route in case of foul weather but didn't need them. Sustrans signs aren't always in place, be prepared to stop and double check. Fit low gears, I used a 17" bottom gear and by golly I needed it

[kilroya]

I'm going to do it next summer also. Ferry from Dublin to Holyhead. Down to Cardiff and the across to Pembroke. Ferry back to Rosslare and cycle back up to Dublin. Have the two Sustrans maps and a general tourist map of Wales (8k=1 Inch) kindly donated by a guy over here who did it in the last few years or so.
I'll be camping all the way also.
Had planned to do it in three days. Is that possible? 3 X 80 miles? Fully loaded, Surly Disc Trucker.
Just did the Raid Pyreneen this summer with a bunch of guys in July (Nice n warm , up in the 30's some days!!)
Last summer was doing 80 miler average 3 day loaded camping trips over here in Ireland albeit on flatter ground.

So, three days!!

[james01]

Had planned to do it in three days. Is that possible? 3 X 80 miles? Fully loaded, Surly Disc Trucker.
Just did the Raid Pyreneen this summer with a bunch of guys in July (Nice n warm , up in the 30's some days!!)
Last summer was doing 80 miler average 3 day loaded camping trips over here in Ireland albeit on flatter ground.

So, three days!!

Hmm...I'm sure it's possible, but you'll be spending an awful lot of waking hours in the saddle. It's hilly on the Northern section, and if you get days of Southerly headwinds like we did your average speed plummets. Some of the route is off-road, in particular most of the last section Merthyr to Cardiff. There are lots of stops for gates, shared paths with dog-walkers etc which slow you down.

[kilroya]

Fair enough. I've the option of going from Cardiff up instead. Just have to cycle down to Rosslare from Dublin to get the ferry. Six of one really.......
Generally would be on the bike by 7am. if touring. Summer, bright about 5/6am I suppose. So, 10mph. 8 hours. 7am. till 3pm. Seems feasible! Aware of the hills involved but not cycled them. Not interested in killing myself either re: schedule, maybe 4 days then.

[bam]

I also intend to do this trip early summer next year. I tried it last September from Holyhead down as far as Corris and loved it but chickened out in fear of the climb after Machynellth, or rather the return jouney. I only intend to go as far as the cycling museum at Llnadrindrod Wells. The things that struck me about Wales was the spoken Welsh language especially around Caernarfon and the amazing stone buildings on further south. The climb out of Dolgellau on the sustrans route up to the falconry farm at Peny Bryn is tough but worth it, just allow loads of extra time. The pass on the main road is much easier which I took on the way back. Also from Holyhead I took the old A5 on the way out which is much quicker and more direct, but the Sustrans route on minor roads which I took on the way back is also very good just a little longer.

[welshwoodsman]

I'm going to do it next summer also. Ferry from Dublin to Holyhead. Down to Cardiff and the across to Pembroke. Ferry back to Rosslare and cycle back up to Dublin. Have the two Sustrans maps and a general tourist map of Wales (8k=1 Inch) kindly donated by a guy over here who did it in the last few years or so.
I'll be camping all the way also.
Had planned to do it in three days. Is that possible? 3 X 80 miles? Fully loaded, Surly Disc Trucker.
Just did the Raid Pyreneen this summer with a bunch of guys in July (Nice n warm , up in the 30's some days!!)
Last summer was doing 80 miler average 3 day loaded camping trips over here in Ireland albeit on flatter ground.

So, three days!!

I did it last year from holyhead south after cycling from home to fishguard, rosslare,dun laoghaire-holyhead.
3 days is possible,but it would be long days,especially if the weather's bad. Then there's the ride from cardiff to pembroke which would be over 100 miles.

[wynn]

Thanks for the advice everyone - much appreciated

[Vorpal]

There is plenty in the forum about this already but unfortunately the search function doesnt work for three letter words (like Lon and Las).

You can get round that viewtopic.php?f=14&t=70955 In this case, 'Cymru' is probably the best search term, anyway.

[kilroya]

Could some kind soul help me here with a basic route from Pembroke Dock to intercept the Lon Las Trail please. Coming over from Ireland to hopefully do it in July.
Have the Wales Tourist Map & both LLC maps. Just need a suggestion on which way to join the dots.
Cheers.
Option of sailing into Fishguard also so whichever......

[meic]

Both Pembroke Dock and Fishguard are within a couple of hundred yards from The Celtic Trail (route 47 or 4).

They are both miles and miles away from Lon Las.

The South end of Lon Las is only slightly closer than the North End. Roughly where would you like to intercept and heading which way on the Lon Las?

[kilroya]

Sorry......heading South to North. I'd like to intercept around Brecon area.
Are the A roads ok. St. Clears to Carmarthen on A40 looks bad.