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Glorious Bike Rides
Glorious Bike Rides
Route directions PDF (right click to download)
GPX file (right click to download)
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Completed on 14th August at my second attempt, a broken chain having forced me to abandon an earlier event. This was my 20th Lost Lanes Wales and I rode 65km with a height gain of just over 1300m.
ROUTE UPDATE: I found the path through the construction HQ (at 42.6km on Jack’s route description) blocked by a sturdy fence. There is a suggestion of a detour at the start of the canal-side footpath but no hint as to where this might be found! I re-traced my steps to the canal-bridge at Gilwern where I turned left over the canal. I then worked my way right and left through the lane closures on the A465 to climb Station Road. After keeping left twice and heading right at the large grass triangle I re-joined the planned route.
This is another lovely ride and the tough climb of the Blorenge is more than compensated for by the views from the top. From one glorious viewpoint I had a view to my right all the way down to Newport and across the Bristol Channel and to my left a splendid view of the Skirrid and Sugarloaf peaks.
“Gair i’r gall” – At the turning for Forest Coal Pit look straight ahead of you for a sighting of Llwyn Celyn – a medieval farmhouse which is one the finest medieval hall houses in Wales. Continuously occupied since the 1480s it was finally abandoned in a state of considerable dis-repair in 2014. It’s now thankfully being sympathetically repaired and restored by The Landmark Trust.
Did this today In Glorious winter sunshine…First Lost Lanes Wales and it’s a cracker…One big problem at the minute however is that the Glangrwyney Bridge (roughly 39.5km) is closed to traffic and has big fences on the SE side…I had a very precarious climb down off the bridge and through a field only to find that the road is undergoing a full rebuild…I’d suggest Not crossing the bridge in Llangenny and down though Crickhowell, over the river and then through Llangattock to the canal…East along the towpath to rejoin the route in Gilwern
Good point, and you made the correct diversion during the works.
Tried using the GPX file and Garmin says it’s 0.24 miles long. Please can it be updated for other people using it in the future.
Hi Liam
This is a bug with Garmin Connect rather than with my GPX file. It’s the same GPX file that generates the map you see on the route info page. A way for Garmin users to solve it is to run it through gpsvisualizer.com.
Jack
I road this route yesterday 19th May 2022 and there a few points to bear in mind if you are planning to follow the route. First of all it is a cracking route with superb scenery and little traffic on the lanes but navigation can be tricky as it is easy to go wrong as there are many by lanes connected to the route. I downloaded the GPX to the Outdooractive app which tells you immediately when you deviate from the route but even so there are a few specific points to watch.
1) I used Byefield lane, Tudor Rd, free car park and definitely needed a street map to get out of Abergavenny.
2) Easy to take the wrong turn to Patricio church (km 11.5).
3) Glangrwyney bridge is part closed and will be fully closed next week (Gwent council website is no help)
4) km 26.6 on the towpath after the tunnel under the main road immediately turn left through a small gate and follow rough track up hill, but there is a kissing gate which is too small for a bike before you rejoin the road
5) km27.8 Don’t be put off by the red “road closed, no turning” signs. You can cycle all the way to the summit apart from cattle grids.
I cycled this beautiful circuit 8th July 2023. The Glangrwyney Bridge is repaired and reopened. And the new Heads of the Valleys road has restored the cycle access underneath, so no route problems at all. I also used the Byfield Lane car park – free except Tuesdays. Thanks as always Jack!
Completed this route today though I set out from Pandy as I was staying at a campsite there. Great ride thanks, really enjoyed it. Some steep climbing to contend with! The road closed sign at the start of the Tiller is a bit disconcerting but by the time I’d climbed that far there’s no way I was going back down without having a look and it was fine thankfully!
Just completed this today. Great ride and beautiful countryside. A few updates. At around mile 18 there is a sign saying the road is closed. It is possible to get through, it is narrow in places and gravelly where the surface has gone, and at the end a fallen tree means you have to crawl under with the bike on its side. At mile 42.6 on the route notes after coming off the canal and going up the path there is a kissing gate obstruction that you can’t fit a bike in because it is too small. You have to be able to lift the bike over the gate, not easy with an e-bike. Further up the last hill after mile 44.4, there are signs warning the road is closed. It is closed to four wheeled traffic as the side is falling away and there is now a huge steel fence that virtually blocks the road for about 250m. It is possible to walk alongside the fence and get through.
Hi Jack
What a fantastic route, my favourite quiet narrow lanes bike ride. Really enjoyed.
I would advise doing it on a dry day as the lanes would have been very slippery as some were so steep. we walked quite a few steep climbs. Also at the bottom of some descents there was a lot of wash away gravel on the corners. The only bit we were confused on was at about 26.6 miles where you go under the dual carriageway and take a left to get onto the Heads of the Valleys road. That road is so busy and fast we decided to avoid it and carry along the canal path to bridge 97B and cycle up the Tumble road to get to the Blorenge instead. I think we could have got off at an earlier bridge and rejoined your route, but we were quite tired by this point. This route would also be suitable for a gravel bike due to the build up of gravel in the lanes, I dont think many cars use it. Fantastic route to explore. Thank you.