ADVENTURE RIDE Three Little Climbs

Staying within a 10 mile radius from home has proven to be challenging when searching for new adventures. Fortunately, we're very lucky to live in an area rich in wildlife and landscapes.

One benefit of the lockdown is that it has forced me to focus on the areas close to home. I'm finding places and seeing things which I've overlooked or not explored before and it's proving to be quite rewarding.

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Overview - Three Little Climbs

Distance: 52.5 miles
Elevation: + 3319 / - 3319 ft
Duration: 06:59:10

This ride actually climbs up and down Sirhowy Valley four times. The first three climbs: Pen y Fan Pond, Manmoel, and Quoits Wood are noteworthy in that they offer a bit more challenge, whilst cycling up through Sirhowy Parc is simply blissful. I've also found a wonderful new road taking me down to Wattsville. ▼ Jump to Summary

Pen-y-Fan Pond

The first little climb is actually a warm-up for the the longer second (and much more challenging) climb up to Manmoel. To reach Pen-y-Fan Pond, the route follows a wide dual-lane road, though not terribly busy, it's also not very interesting.

However, after climbing nearly 170 feet in just over a mile, there's a lovely little path that encircles the parc and manmade pond for about .75 mile(s).

So it's one quick loop and then a short race back down to "Cherry Tree Roundabout" and the start of the next series of hills.

Manmoel

This is the big climb of the ride. It goes up and up, then it levels and goes up again. At just over three miles, it's a wonderful climb and I'm fortunate to have it so nearby.

The road continues on to Tredegar, but the pavement ends and it gets much rougher after this point. I generally, stop here for a brief moment before heading back.

The ride down is eye-wateringly fast and thrilling. There's very little traffic so for the most part you can just let her rip! For more details and images about Manmoel, check out my ride: To The Top Of Manmoel.

Quoits Wood

It's a drop in elevation of 900 feet in just over six miles to reach the crossing of the Sirhowy River at Blackwood. Once across the Chartist Bridge, I then turn north again to head up the traffic-free cycle path to Hollybush (NCN Route 467).

Now it's time to just relax and look at the details. It's thought that this route is well over a thousand years old and that Druids once walked through here on their pilgramages through the valley.

I'm thinkin' about you, Rob.

What will this valley look like a thousand years from now? Will anyone see this photo in 2120 and wonder what it is/was like?

For more images of NCN Route 467, check out my gallery: Quoits Wood.

Gelligroes and Ynysddu

Back down the path, through Blackwood, Pontllanfraith, and then Springfield, my route leads me closer to the Sirhowy River at Gelligroes.

Dark and quiet even in the mid-day, the Sirhowy flows gently under a lush summer canopy. It's rewarding to stop once in a while just to look around.

On one side of the road is the Sirhowy River. On the other there is a small quarry burried deep in the undergrowth and now filled with water making a lovely pond. Looking at one, you'd miss the other.

At the bottom of the road is a small bridge leading to Gelligroes Mill. Dating from roughly 1625, the secluded building and surrounding grounds are a step back in time. Now, however, it is time to wander.

NOTEWORTHY SIDEBAR Artie Moore & the H.M.S. Titanic The very first reception in the UK of distress calls from the H.M.S. Titianic were picked up here, at this small mill in Gelligroes, by a 26 year-old amateur radio operator named Artie Moore.   In the early days of wireless, radios only used Morse Code to send and receive messages. The distances these signals could travel were thought to be 400 - 2,000 miles at best. So when Artie Moore heard the S-O-S from the "unsinkable" Titanic - nearly 3,000 miles away, no one beleived him. Two days later, however, as international news reported of the sinking, Artie's earlier report was confirmed. He was recognised for his engineering achievement and his life forever changed.   Artie was soon after awarded a scholarship to the British School of Telegraphy in Clapham, London, where he later came to the attention of the "father of wireless", Guglielmo Marconi - who then employed him at his Avonmouth facilities until his retirement in 1947. It's a fascinating bit of history from right here where we live - which deserves more than my modest sidebar displays. And it's another example of the inginuity of the Welsh people.   Read more: Wikipedia: Arthur Moore (b.1887 - d.1949) Wales Online: The One-Legged Welshman

An interesting sidebar to my sidebar is that the current owner of the mill; David Constable lives just across the road. His unique bit of celebrity is that his candlemaking business holds the Royal Warrant, ie, he makes candles for the Queen! His work is also used in many films and television such as Harry Potter, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Disney’s Cinderella. Television shows include; Game of Thrones, Poldark, and Downton Abby. Read more...

Time to carry on... I am intrigued by the narrow road ahead. This is a new discovery! Looking at my paper map, I see that this road runs above the main road (B4251).

What a fabulous discovery! The route is very quiet and the lane quite narrow. It's beautiful. And surprisingly, in less than a mile the road leads to a small community nestled into the side of the hill overlooking the Sirhowy Valley.

Then down further, the proper village of Ynysddu appears as the valley widens and the land flattens near the river itself. Before Sirhowy Parc was fully developed with a cycling and walking path, this was NCN Route 47.

Sirhowy Parc

I re-entered the road as I passed through the villages of Cwmfelinfach and Wattsville. (I'll need to go back for some photos!) And in the blink of an eye I was at the entrance to Sirhowy Parc. It's time to turn north and head back up the opposite side of the valley and to home.

I stop here everytime to call my wife; to let her know that I'm on my way. Nine miles and nearly 900 feet. However, the first four miles through the park are easy-peasy. I can sit back and enjoy the views.

Also of note, this section is part of the much larger and longer NCN Route 47 which snakes it's way across Wales from Newport to Fishguard.

Just a over an hour ago, I was cycling through that small community on the far side of the valley. Also, it's hard to visualise, but there's a gorge between where I took this photo and the houses of nearly 100 feet - with a busy road (B4241) running far below.

One more look down Sirhowy Valley.

An old bridge makes a fine gate through which to exit the parc.

I don't normally include videos, but I ran across this one on the Internet, as ya do. Seems that Caerphilly Council made this sometime after the portrait benches were placed in Quoits Wood. Can ya spot spot this old knucklehead in it?

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Summary - Three Little Climbs

This route has quickly become my "go-to" long distance ride now that we're in lockdown. Needless to say, it is pushing my 10 mile radius limit to it's max.

It is; however, quite a nice ride. Heading up to Pen y Fan Pond is a good warmup for the longer and much more intense climb up to Manmoel Common. NCN Route 467 up to Hollybush is completely under-used by the locals, whilst NCN Route 47 through Sirhowy Parc is wonderful yet not well known.

The weather has been surprisingly fabulous, so I've been able to get out on the bike pretty much anytime I choose, its just the long distances I miss.

Thanks as always for stopping by.

Cheers! - cm

Relevant Links
Pen-y-Fan Pond Sirhowy Parc

Report Card
Ride Name:	Three Little Climbs
Start Date:	Sun. May 10, 2020
Starts in:	Oakdale, Wales, GB
Departed:	10:02 AM
Distance:	52.5 mi / 84.49 km
Elevation:	+ 3319 / - 3319 ft
Max Grade:	9.4%
Duration:	06:32:25
Move Time:	04:48:49
Stop Time:	01:43:36
Max. Speed:	34.2 mph
Avg. Speed:	10.9 mph
Weather:	clouds, chilly
Temp:	10°c / 50°f

The following NCN routes were used either in part or in whole.

Route 467 Blackwood to Hollybush Route 47 Crosskeys - Gelligroes

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