Decent Ride in Swansea area

[Norry1]

My partner and I are staying in Swansea for the weekend in a couple of weeks time. Wendy has just got the cycling bug (3 months after me) and we would like to do a good bike ride whilst we are there.

Any suggestions?

Ta

martin

 

[accountantpete]

Constitution Hill?

 

[accountantpete]

More seriously head out to the Mumbles and beyond - Oxwich Bay is recommended.

 

[rich p]

Theclaud is a Swansea gal* - she may be along to assist anytime sone.

*banished from the home counties in truth.

 

[theclaud]

Theclaud is a Swansea gal* - she may be along to assist anytime sone.

*banished from the home counties in truth.

TBH I'd be honoured to be banished from Surrey Heath - it's Michael Gove's constituency...

What sort of ride, Norry? On or off road? Big or small? Cake-fuelled pootle or demented hill challenge?

 

[Norry1]

TBH I'd be honoured to be banished from Surrey Heath - it's Michael Gove's constituency...

What sort of ride, Norry? On or off road? Big or small? Cake-fuelled pootle or demented hill challenge?

Probably 40 miles max - I don't want to put her off. We did a 36 miler last weekend but that was mainly flat.

On road (preferably not heavily trafficked) or off-road (tracks and trails rather than real MTB) is okay -

Ideally (and this may be a bit of a challenge) not too many hills. The idea is a scenic, enjoyable ride with enough distance to feel we've earned our Brasserie meal and beers

Martin

 

[Twiggy]

Constitution Hill?

It's one way, I'd not ride down it, even with a full suspension mountain bike, a wall might fall on you.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

What sort of ride, Norry? On or off road? Big or small? Cake-fuelled pootle or demented hill challenge?

Is there any other sort?

 

[theclaud]

Probably 40 miles max - I don't want to put her off. We did a 36 miler last weekend but that was mainly flat.

On road (preferably not heavily trafficked) or off-road (tracks and trails rather than real MTB) is okay -

Ideally (and this may be a bit of a challenge) not too many hills. The idea is a scenic, enjoyable ride with enough distance to feel we've earned our Brasserie meal and beers

Martin

Hmmmm. Avioiding hills is a bit tricky, but there's a lovely flattish road that goes from Pontardulais to Ammanford via Garnswllt alongside the River Loughor. If I wanted to get there without hills I'd take the NCN 4 from Blackpill to Gowerton, then the B4296 to Pontardulais, When you hit the A48 you go straight on, except for a little right-left dogleg at the end of Alltiago Road. I'd then head West out of Ammanford via Saron, Capel Hendre and Gorslas (a few hills but nothing very scary), and pick up the NCN47 Swiss Valley cycle path at Cefneithin, which goes downhill all the way to Llanelli, and there's a nice cycle-friendly boozer just off it at Five Roads called the Waun Wyllt Inn. At Llanelli the NCN47 meets the NCN 4 again, which will take you back to Swansea along the Milllennium Coastal Path and across the Loughor bridge. All these are mostly quite good for Sustrans routes, though there are a couple of slightly annoying surfaces on the 4 if you have a road bike, and it can be busy at Llanelli on weekends.

 

[Norry1]

Hmmmm. Avioiding hills is a bit tricky, but there's a lovely flattish road that goes from Pontardulais to Ammanford via Garnswllt alongside the River Loughor. If I wanted to get there without hills I'd take the NCN 4 from Blackpill to Gowerton, then the B4296 to Pontardulais, When you hit the A48 you go straight on, except for a little right-left dogleg at the end of Alltiago Road. I'd then head West out of Ammanford via Saron, Capel Hendre and Gorslas (a few hills but nothing very scary), and pick up the NCN47 Swiss Valley cycle path at Cefneithin, which goes downhill all the way to Llanelli, and there's a nice cycle-friendly boozer just off it at Five Roads called the Waun Wyllt Inn. At Llanelli the NCN47 meets the NCN 4 again, which will take you back to Swansea along the Milllennium Coastal Path and across the Loughor bridge. All these are mostly quite good for Sustrans routes, though there are a couple of slightly annoying surfaces on the 4 if you have a road bike, and it can be busy at Llanelli on weekends.

Thanks - looks good. I'm trying to plot this on mapmyride now - and I've ordered the Sustrans map -

Martin

 

[CounterfeitKelly]

If you're thinking of following NCN 4 from Llanelli back towards Loughor I'd just say that the surface from Llanelli North Dock to the Loughor bridge is hard packed gravel (think Forestry Commission fire road...) so probably unsuitable for thinner road tyres. You can pick up the coastal road (the A484) at that point to avoid this but it does get a bit busy at times and can be a bit of a dragstrip... though to be fair, that would only last about 3 miles out of the entire ride and all the other roads suggested are generall pretty quiet. The run up from Pontardulais to Ammanford is lovely, with a possible right turn in Ammanford to take you up the Amman Valley and over the Black Mountain to Llangadog/Towy Valley/ Llandeilo (bloody big hill though).

There is also a tidy cafe in the visitors centre at Llanelli North Dock (just underneath mile mark 123 on the Sustrans map for the Celtic Trail West). The Waun Wyllt Inn is signposted on NCN 47 - I knew a graphic designer who did some sign boards for them once. Just as he was about to deliver them I pointed out that he'd got a typo and one of them advertised a Bear Garden.

 

[CounterfeitKelly]

If you want a flat ride then follow NCN 4 to Gowerton and onto Llanelli and continue west, pan flat all the way to Kidwelly. It'd be an out and back ride.

Another option might be NCN 4 to Gowerton and head along the north coast of the Gower to Penclawdd, just afterwards at Crofty take the the right hand turn immeadiately after the small industrial estate with the signs for timber yards and slate products and get on the Marsh Road (can be flooded at high tides!) and out to Llanrhidian, you can either go up the stupid steep hill onto the spine of the Gower or stop at The Dolphin at the bottom.

 

[Norry1]

If you want a flat ride then follow NCN 4 to Gowerton and onto Llanelli and continue west, pan flat all the way to Kidwelly. It'd be an out and back ride.

Another option might be NCN 4 to Gowerton and head along the north coast of the Gower to Penclawdd, just afterwards at Crofty take the the right hand turn immeadiately after the small industrial estate with the signs for timber yards and slate products and get on the Marsh Road (can be flooded at high tides!) and out to Llanrhidian, you can either go up the stupid steep hill onto the spine of the Gower or stop at The Dolphin at the bottom.

Thanks CFK. We are both on Hybrids that are used to being off-road, so gravel etc is no problem.

Once my Sustrans map turns up, I'll try mapping all the options out. Looks like you have a good choice of cycle tracks in your neck of the woods.

Martin

 

[Norry1]

Where is Ammanford? Can't see it on the Sustrans map?

Cancel that, I was looking in the wrong direction. I'm thinking it may be a ride from the Marina, to Ammanford and back. The loops sound great but I make it about a 36 mile round trip just to Ammanford and back. I'll see how brave Wendy is feeling.

Martin

 

[Norry1]

Where is Ammanford? Can't see it on the Sustrans map?

Cancel that, I was looking in the wrong direction. I'm thinking it may be a ride from the Marina, to Ammanford and back. The loops sound great but I make it about a 36 mile round trip just to Ammanford and back. I'll see how brave Wendy is feeling.

Martin

Had a brilliant ride yesterday - followed NCN 4 to Llanelli and back again. Lovely ride up through Cylne Country Park and then along the coast to Llanelli. We did 38 miles which was Wendy's longest ride, and she loved it

NCN 4 is great, with excellent signposting and great countryside.

Looking forward to our next visit

Martin