Cycle routes of the National Cycle Network are rather diverse. In cities and towns they are mostly paved and wide enough to allow walkers and cyclists to share their use.
Once outside of town; however, they can become quite varied in style and surface. Often following small roads or repurposed rail lines, they can also work their way through manicured parks, over rough logging roads, and even across private farms.
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| Bullet holes and graffiti offer a warm welcome to cyclists and walkers alike... |
This section is not one you'll find easily. I had passed the sign previously whilst cycling the to Pontypridd and then came home to look it up on the Sustrans website (see: NCN Route 47).
The route starts below Glyncock approximately a mile and a half south of Abercynon (behind Pontypridd High School) along the Taff Trail. You'll come to its rather cheerless entry as you cross a service road behind a sports playing field.
Overview
Total Distance: 56.1 miles
Total Elevation: + 3,441 / - 3,440 ft
In its entirity; NCN Route 47 runs 128 miles from Chepstow in the east all the way to Fishguard on the western coast of Wales. However, it is broken into three sections: Chepstow to Quakers Yard, Glyncock to Neath, and Llanelli to Fishguard.
This section; from Glyncock to Neath, is not for the feint of heart. It is mostly very rough along gravel forestry roads. I used my touring bike with 700 x 32c tyres, but I'd suggest using wider and softer tyres (40 - 50c).
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| Ride Name: | Lady Windsor & 881 | |||
| Ride Date: | August 31, 2014 | |||
| Distance: | 56.1 mi | |||
| Duration: | 10:00:00 | |||
| Moving Time: | n/a | |||
| Elevation: | +3,441 ft / -3,440 ft | |||
| Avg. Speed: | 5.6 mph | |||
| Weather: | Sun! | |||
| Temperature: | n/a | |||
Following a short and steep climb along the road; the route changes to gravel as you enter St. Gwynno Forest. Immediately, you then begin another steep and slow winding climb to a high ridge above the villages of Tylorstown, Ferndale, and eventually Maerdy. The remainder of the route continues across the top of Rhygos Mountain passing through a massive wind turbine farm at Lluest-Wen Reservoir and eventually dropping down the Swansea Valley into Neath.
Once you turn off the road and head up into St. Gwynno Forest, all sounds of traffic disappear.
Briefly crossing a large farm, all that you can hear is the wind and the sheep. Yo! What up Shaun? Even the sheep seemed to be surprised to see me cycling through.
And then civilisation just disappears. No houses, no farms, no distant villages or signs of life anywhere. This is one of the most isolated routes of which I know in this part of Southeast Wales.
So if you like gravel; this is a route for you. With the exception of a couple of short sections, this is what the surface will be like for the remainder of the day.
It's a steady climb for nearly five miles surrounded by stunning scenery.
Once at the top the ridge, the route re-enters St. Gwynno Forest. It's part of the much larger Llanwynno forest that covers 2,644 hectares and includes Castle Nos.
Land slips and subsidence are common concerns through out Wales. The valley hillsides are often very steep and with all the rain we have; this is what you get.
Logging is big business in this area and alters the landscape rather dramatically, but the trees were planted twenty years ago specifically to be harvested. Within a few years this should be lush again.
It amazes me how far you can see on a clear day and for such a small country; there is so much undeveloped land.
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| However, this shot is all about the bee... |
And getting here is easy. There are no fees or barriers, no opening/closing times... you can cycle up here any time you want, year-round.
Wind turbines are being built along the clear ridges. They don't seem too intrusive at the moment. It will be interesting to see how many they install.
I haven't seen anyone for hours. No walkers or cyclists - zippo. Just me and Wales.
It's smooth cycling once over the top of the ridge. I've cycled just over 26 miles to reach this point. Cna you spot the paved cycle path below? That's where I'm heading.
NCN Route 881 & Castell Nos
Ahhh... lovely pavement. NCN Route 47 continues north up the Rhigos, but I'll be turning south here at the trail head of NCN Route 881 and heading down through the Rhondda Fach Valley.
It's a wonderful sensation to ride on smooth pavement after hours of bumpy, dusty gravel. And coasting down hill as well... it's cycling nirvana.
Looking back up NCN Route 47. Lluest-Wen Reservoir is just over the distant ridge. Another adventure for another day...
The remainder of my ride meanders along the river passing through the villages of Wattstown, Porth, and Trahavod where the Rhondda Heritage Park peaks out over the trees.
The remainder of today's ride is down the Rhondda Fach Valley following the old rail line. Ahead of me lies Castell Nos Reservoir and the bare brown knob to the left is where the medieval castle; Castell Nos once stood.
Video kindly provided by; © 2015 murphy10fs
The valley is quite narrow making it suitable for a reservoir. If you're interested, I found a bit of information on the 2009 spillway renovation. Welsh Water/Castell Nos
Red Kite can be seen flying high above some of the rocky outcrops.
Remnants of the old Maerdy Collery still survive lending a ghostly feel to the mostly abandoned area. Opened in 1875, it operated for over 115 years finally closing down in December of 1990.
Once past Maerdy, I cross over to the other side of the valley where the route changes back to gravel again as I head down into the woods and along side the Rhondda Fach River.
I followed the Rhondda Fach River past the villages of Wattstown, Porth, and Trahavod, where I could see the Rhondda Heritage Park peeking above the tree tops.
The end of my adventure was slow and relaxed. It hadn't been a long ride, but it was fairly difficult. I was tired. The last bit home from Pontypridd was mostly flat to Quakers Yard and across to Maesycwmmer. It was then just a short climb up the hill past Blackwood to Oakdale and home.
I hope you enjoyed my report. Thanks as always for visiting bikewales.
Seeya down the road... Cheers! - cm
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