Easy off-road routes in Pembrokeshire?

[GravityFighter]

Hi all

My fiancee and I are staying in Pembrokeshire after our wedding in a couple of weeks' time; near the Newport & Fishguard areas (SA41 postcode).

We are taking our cyclocross bikes and would like to do some riding. However, I'm a relative newbie so not 100% confident on the road yet.

Does anyone have any idea of good, well-paved off-road routes we could take the bikes on around there?

Fitness isn't a problem and we're happy to tackle hills and drive for half an hour or so to find good routes. Distance-wise we'll tackle anything up to 30 - 40 miles in a day.

Sustrans isn't throwing up much nearby!

Cheers, Gareth

 

[GrumpyGregry]

NCN 82 out of Newport up past Pentre Ifan, whilst on road, is pretty quiet ime, and you can follow it all the way to Fishguard. The lanes in those parts are very lightly trafficed. I've done day-rides down there where, off the A and B roads I've counted only three or four cars over several hours.

Traffic free? Well there are bridleways though none that I've ridden, e.g. up, along and over Presceli from Ty-Gwyn to Crymych and back by NCN 47, I'd call easy. Southern-half of the county has the Brunel Cycleway between Haverford and Neyland.

 

[GravityFighter]

Excellent knowledge, cheers

 

[GrumpyGregry]

I love Pentre Ifan and here's a sign of the times....

from two weeks back when I was there.

 

[Richard Fairhurst]

As GrumpyGregry says, once you're inland, the lanes are all pretty quiet. (It can be a bit busier by the coast.)

My personal favourite from Newport is the Gwaun Valley - and make sure to stop off at the astonishingly unspoilt Dyffryn Arms ("Bessie's"). NCN 47 over the Preseli Hills is beautiful and quiet, though a bit lumpy! And there's a whole nest of tiny lanes between there, Newcastle Emlyn and Fishguard to explore.

 

[GravityFighter]

Brilliant, I'll check NCN 47 out as well.

As above, fitness and stamina isn't the issue, more technique and confidence (for me)! As long as the lanes are all relatively quiet it'll be good practice though. Here's hoping for some reasonable weather as the scenery looks stunning.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Brilliant, I'll check NCN 47 out as well.

As above, fitness and stamina isn't the issue, more technique and confidence (for me)! As long as the lanes are all relatively quiet it'll be good practice though. Here's hoping for some reasonable weather as the scenery looks stunning.

My only word of caution would be...

...the lanes are narrow, often with very poor sight lines, and the occasional drivers drive like there is NEVER anyone coming the other way.

The Gwaun is gorgeous as @Richard Fairhurst says.