So, I find myself in the enviable position of very shortly having some time between jobs, and one of the things I intend to do is ride from my home in Manchester to my parents' near Cardigan.
I'm not going to monster it, so will take 3 days to roll along, eat pub food, drink pints and worry the local sheep.
First stop will be Shrewsbury, and I can sort out most of the route to there from home.
From Shrewsbury to my destination, it looks like the NCN Route 81 is what I need.
So, any exoerience, and any suggestions of where to stay between Shresbury and Cardigan (I'd prefer to have a shorter ride on the last day), greatly appreciated.
Cheers
Tom
Hmm. No-one?
It looks like the 81 takes you to Aber. The coast road south of Aber is not one I would want to cycle along.
I'd head south from Newtown and overnight in Builth, and then Llandovery, Lampeter, Cardigan.
Geoffj - thanks! 😀
I think the route splits in the region of Llanidloes, and so there is another (poss the NCN 82 - the Lon Teifi) which heads down toward Cardigan.
Any idea of the distance and terrain (i.e. how hilly) between Builth and Cardigan (I'm actually going just up the road, near Newcastle Emlyn).
A bit further than I thought - about 70 miles 😯 Not exactly an easy day!
70 miles is OK. Oh, hold on, I'll have panniers....! 😯
From Llangurig I'd recommend a beauty of a route. Go down the side of the Welsh Craft shop and onto Route 8 which takes you down the side of the river Wye to Rhayader, then down the Elan Valley road turning left over the Dam at Caban Coch to Claerwen Res, round the res and right through to Ffair Rhos and down to Pontrhydfendigaid where there's a pub with rooms. Then via Tregaron and Llandewi Breifi where you can pretend to be the only gay in the villiage to Lampeter and Newcastle Emlyn. The bit round Claerwen is a waterboard track but perfectly cyclable on a tourer or hybrid.
Very jealous
All the above is about 100k so you might want to stay in Llangurig (Blue Bell) or Rhayader (Clive Powell has a b&b and the best bike shop in the area)
Yep Definetly avoid the coast road ,Aber downwards , way to many fatalies on this road.
Clarewen res circuit yes then from Pontrhydefendigaid (BONT) to the locals , right when you come out the Abbey road from Stratta Florida opp P/O towards Ystrad-Meurig and left there down to Ystwyth cycle track and follow to Tregaron almost . thats a bit mor local knowledge for you.
Black Lion In Bont for accom n food and liquid refresh.
Bit between Claerwen and Stratta Florida is known as the monks way too.
When you thinking of doing ?
Paul, I wouldn't recommend Monks Trod as it is far too wet and exposed, the Claerwen Dam to Ffair Rhos is much better surface whilst still giving the remote feel, I'd forgotten about the old railway line across Cors Caron to Tregaron, well worth the slight detour.
Nice one, cheers chaps. 😀
Paul - going in about 3 weeks.
PS This is all road bike, so anything that isn't metalled can't be too rough to avoid punctures.
Ooh. Just been looking at Googlemaps.
Off to buy some OS paperwork tomorrow.. 😀