Please note that Lady Bagot’s Drive, while built as a carriage drive and having been a popular cycling route at least as far back as the 1920s, is officially only a footpath in terms of Public Rights of Ways. It’s popular with walkers and families and there are apparently a couple of recently repaired kissing gates to negotiate. So be prepared and, as ever, ride courteously and at a speed appropriate for the surroundings. The tarmac lane on the other bank of the river is fine, though has bit more climbing.
Caveat emptor, as they say in Rhufain.
OS Map (zoom in for more detail):
Download file for GPSRoute directions PDF (right click to download)
GPX file (right click to download)
Ridden on 25th April, 2016 – my seventh Welsh lost lane. I started from the small car-park adjacent to the play-area in Rhewl which is just off the advised route. I rode 34km with 610m of height gain.
This is a ride of memories for me as the route passes my grand-parents house and also the grave-yard in which they’re buried as is my mother. The views from the ridge-road are well-worth the long climb to get there ! Fortunately I had a tail-wind for most of the climb but the road is quite exposed and would be hard work in a strong Easterly. On the day I rode, the Bluebells and Wild Garlic in the woods at the start of Lady Bagot’s Drive were majestic.
“Gair i’r gall” – try to find time to appreciate the river as it winds its way down the valley alongside Lady Bagot’s Drive. I was a little too busy watching the track and wished I’d stopped to appreciate the quiet valley a little more.
What a ride and what a lovely part of the world.
Some dim distant childhood memories of visiting family graves up in Saron, no idea whos! Will have to stop for a look around.