wolverhampton to wales ride

[Bigjase]

does anyone know a good bike route from wednesfield wolverhampton to aberdovey in wales. I'm trying to plan a route but don't know which one is best. One that i was thinking was to go down towards the a5 in cannock and along the a5 and take it from there. any suggestions please. Plus if anyone would like to join me and my mate your more than welcome. planing on doing it in a couple of months.

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

What do you want from the trip? If you're looking for the shortest route it would involve a lot of A roads, which would be busy and not that pleasant, especially when you get into the Welsh mountains where there are few alternative routes for motor traffic so you'll be sharing with everything that moves.

If you're after a more relaxed tour I'd suggest National Cycle Network route 81 as far as Llanidloes then route 8 to Machynlleth where you can join the A493 to Aberdyfi. Link to the map on the Sustrans website. The Sustrans routes do tend to take the scenic way, so it would be more distance and hillier but some shortcuts can be taken, for example taking the B4386 from Shrewsbury to Westbury, Worthen and Stockton, then turning northwards for Forden, Leighton and Welshpool would avoid the hilly section over the Long Mountain.

Perhaps the best thing would be to get the OS maps for the area and plot a route. Landranger maps 126, 127, 135 and 136 will cover the places you're looking at. The latest issues of these maps have the NCN routes included as green dotted lines which makes following the routes easy.

I hope this helps a bit.

 

[gavgav]

I echo Phil's sentiments. Personally would keep well off the A5 on a bike. It's bad enough in a car!!

 

[JonUK4]

My brother rode this years ago - bridgnorth - craven arms - machynlleth - aberdovey. All fast B roads so you'll need to stay aware but it'll be quieter than the A5.

Something I'm working towards as well but it might be a while for me.

I can remember someone in halfords, wolves, mention that there's a regular ride that way if you want to go with a big group.

 

[booze and cake]

Hi Jase. Do you have a satnav? And do you have plenty of gears,preferably a compact or a triple?

I don't live there now but grew up in Powys and though it is amazing cycling country it is pretty hilly and lots of the minor back roads are lacking in signs. There are lots of drovers roads that don't bother gradually climbing the hills like in France but go directly up the steep bits, gradients of over 15% are common. Road surfaces can be a bit sketchy too so I'd opt for fatter tyres if you can, at least 25's to make it a bit more comfortable.

Phil sounds like he knows the Shropshire side very well so I'd heed his advice and definitely avoid the A5. If I was you I'd get the train to Shrewsbury or Welshpool and then go from there. Its less than an hour on the train.

Here's a hilly route I've just cobbled together from Shrewsbury to Machynlleth that follows some of Phil's suggestions and mostly avoids A-roads.

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/4195253

Check out the profile of the finish, pretty much downhill all the way for the last 8 miles.

The A470 and A458 look OK on the map but are very busy roads and not fun to cycle. If you are into amazing scenery I'd highly recommend the road over the top from Llanidloes to Machynlleth on the above route. Its one of my all time favourites. On a nice day it has jaw dropping views, it may be a bit lung busting but its totally worth it. Check out some of the pictures of that section on this site:

http://www.gps-routes.co.uk/routes/home.nsf/RoutesLinksCycle/machynlleth-to-llanidloes-cycle-route.

If you wanted more hills I'd also recommend heading from Forden up to Montgomery then up and over Cefn y Coed, from the top its downhill all the way to Abermule where you can pick up the route I've plotted above.

I'm not sure of the section from Mach to Aberdovey so I've not done that bit. I do recall a route I did years ago that avoided the A-road and went through Happy Valley, that was great but can't find a route for it.

Anyway just my 2p worth. Have fun.

 

[Bigjase]

Thanks for your help guys It will be a couple of months but for such a big ride I know it's got to be planned right. Going to do it for charity to so it makes it more worth while. Off out today for another ride 50 mile from wolves to bridge North . Think I may have got this cycling bug

 

[bikepacker]

I have done this a few times leaving from my brothers home in New Invention. Here is my route:

Head out through Codsall, Ryton, Ironbridge to Atcham. Use the old Shrewsbury by-pass to get to the B4386 to Westbury then follow the lanes through to Welshpool, there are come climbs on this road but not too severe. After Welshpool use the main road to Mallwyd unless you want very hilly routes. Towards Machynlleth there is a small lane which parallels the main road to the right and can be used to by pass the town onto the Aberdovey road.

 

[Bigjase]

Thanks bike packer I like the look of that route. Slowly building up to it so looking at doing it in a couple of months.

 

[BlackCountryBloke]

Hi Jase, have a look here: http://www.aberdoveybikeride.co.uk.
I haven't ridden it but I've signed up for this years!! I was concerned that it might be too hilly for me but I'm assured that it's not too bad. In fact, someone described it as "pan flat"

 

[Bigjase]

Which route do you guys recommend on the www.aberdoveybikeride.co.uk site the long or short route. Which one is the quietest and less hills.

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

Out of those two I'd go for the short route. Partly because it spends the least amount of distance on A roads, but mostly because just before checkpoint L on the long route there is a massive climb to do (must be about 600-700 feet in about 1.5 miles).

The thing that does concern me about both of those routes is that they take you round the Shrewsbury bypass. There is no way I'd ride this section of road. It can be avoided by going across country from Atcham to Minsterley. Have a look at the route this event takes.

 

[welsh dragon]

I wouldn't do it. The roads are far too busy. Perish the thought

 

[Bigjase]

Thanks guys I've got 12 weeks to get the route planned.

 

[bikepacker]

I wouldn't do it. The roads are far too busy. Perish the thought

I have done it 3 times in the last 4 years and never thought it a problem.

 

[welsh dragon]

I have done it 3 times in the last 4 years and never thought it a problem.

Your a brave man. Fair play to you sir.