Routes2Ride
Lôn Las Menai from Caernarfon to Y Felinheli
A 4-mile railway path through broadleaf woodland linking Caernarfon with the old slate harbour of Port Dinorwig (Y Felinheli) with fine views of the Menai Strait and across the water to the island of Anglesey. The Menai Strait is crossed by two famous bridges: the Menai Suspension Bridge was built by Thomas Telford in 1819-26 and the Britannia Bridge, which was originally a tubular railway bridge built by Robert Stephenson.
Classification: Easy Distance: 4 miles one way
Lôn Eifion from Caernarfon south to Bryncir
The railway path starts near the mighty castle in Caernarfon and climbs south alongside the Welsh Highland Railway past Llanwnda and Penygroes to Bryncir with wonderful views west out to Caernarfon Bay and east to the foothills of Snowdonia. Lôn Eifion’s highpoint is reached after almost 150m (500ft) of climbing, just below the radio mast, about two miles south of Penygroes, leaving you with a very enjoyable descent back to Caernarfon.
Classification: Moderate Distance: 12 miles one way
Mawddach Trail from Dolgellau to Barmouth
The Mawddach Trail is one of the most scenic railway paths in the country, running along the spectacular Mawddach Estuary. The trail starts right from the heart of the handsome grey stone town of Dolgellau and offers views across to the hills to the north rising to over 600m (2000ft). There are two atmospheric wooden bridges, the first a toll bridge at Penmaenpool carrying road traffic and the other at the mouth of the estuary carrying the railway line, pedestrians and cyclists into Barmouth.
Classification: Easy Distance: 9 miles one way
Elan Valley Trail from Rhayader
Set in the heart of beautiful, mountainous Mid Wales this spectacular trail climbs 50m (165ft) from the Elan Valley Visitor Centre past Caban Coch and Garreg Ddu Reservoirs with their fine dams and an ornamental water tower, to the end of Penygarreg Reservoir leaving you with a splendid descent back to the start. When the reservoirs are full you will be rewarded with the sight of millions of gallons of water cascading over the dam walls.
Classification: Moderate Distance: 9 miles one way
Taff Trail north of Merthyr Tydfil
This section of the Taff Trail starts just north of Merthyr Tydfil where the trail finally leaves behind the densely populated industrial area to the south and heads for the hills, passing through woodlands and over tall viaducts to the first of the reservoirs in the Brecon Beacons at Pontsticill with dramatic views ahead to the highest mountains in the National Park.
Classification: Moderate Distance: 4 miles one way
Clydach Gorge, west of Abergavenny
An almost entirely traffic-free route now runs between Llanfoist, just to the south of Abergavenny, and Brynmawr, passing high above the Clydach Gorge. The largely wooded route climbs steadily beyond Govilon, leaving far below the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal. There are some splendid old mining and quarrying ruins along the course of what must have been a monumental challenge for the railway engineers.
Classification: Moderate Distance: 8 miles one way
Pontypool to Blaenavon railway path
Climb steadily north from Pontypool through Abersychan to Blaenavon, passing through a long stretch of lovely broadleaf woodland, with fine views to the east across the valley of Afon Lwyd. With a climb of over 200 metres (650ft) up to Blaenavon it comes as no surprise that the trip back down to Pontypool is a lot easier. At Big Pit Mining Museum in Blaenavon you can experience going underground in a real colliery.
Classification: Moderate Distance: 9 miles one way
Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal, Fourteen Locks to Cwmbran
Two canals used to run north and west from Newport, one to Pontypool and one to Newbridge. Both have fallen into disrepair but the towpaths are still largely intact from Crosskeys in the west past the Fourteen Locks and alongside the M4 to Barrack Hill on the edge of Newport then north to the outskirts of Cwmbran. For such a built-up area the canal represents a fine green corridor with an excellent wide, gravel towpath and views of hills rising to over 300m (1000ft) at its western end.
Classification: Easy Distance: 6 miles one way
Hengoed Viaduct to Taff Bargoed
Ride from the mighty Hengoed Viaduct through Nelson and Trelewis to the climbing centre at Taff Bargoed. The viaduct, spanning the Rhymney River, is celebrated with its magnificent ‘Wheel of Drams’ artwork. For much of its length the trail runs parallel to an existing railway line on a specially built cyclepath. A short steep climb from Trelewis up a series of zig zags takes you past The Cascades, a dramatic water feature carrying the Bargoed Taff down the valley.
Classification: Moderate Distance: 6 miles one way
Taff Trail, Cardiff to Castell Coch
The 55-mile Taff Trail runs north from Cardiff to Brecon along a mixture of riverside paths, railway paths and forestry roads. The section described here runs from Bute Park, just north of the Millennium Stadium, to Tongwynlais, passing through parkland alongside the River Taff on an attractive, broad, smooth track. In Tongwynlais you can visit fairytale Castell Coch, a Grade I listed building described as ‘one of the most fascinating surviving relics of Victorian Medievalism’.
Classification: Easy Distance: 6 miles one way
