The Spring excursion into "Wild Wales" has become a regular part of our calendar. For the past few years we have followed a similar route. This year the plan is to do the tour in reverse - mostly same roads, different views. Again we will have an easy and harder route on the Saturday, coming together for an easy ride on the Sunday.
This
clockwise route entails a change of venue, so we will
be staying at Llandrindod Wells. As usual overnight bags will be sent
up
separately so it will be possible to complete the weekend with
lightweight kit.
The evening meal will be at the Greylands Guesthouse, Llandrindod Wells (www.greylandsguesthouse.co.uk). That is also the main centre for accommodation with 'overflow' at nearby B&Bs. Please book via John Thompson - contact details below.
Nearby
is the National Cycle Collection (www.cyclemuseum.org.uk), and the curator has
agreed to open it up for us on the Saturday evening, so long as we have
a
reasonable sized party.
Meet at Severn View Service Station, Aust. Leave 9.00 am.
Bridge Cafe, Bridge Street Brecon for lunch (www.bridgecafe.co.uk)
Retrace
back across the Usk, left up the High Street and
then left again up Priory Hill (B4520). Keep on B4520, keeping right
after
Upper Chapel to Builth Wells. At junction with A483 turn left. Straight
on at
r'bout, taking right turn (Golf Links Road) in about ¼ mile
after
crossing
river on outskirts of the town. In about a ¼ mile join the
signed cycle
route
(route 8). Follow the signs (keeping right) to A470 where left to
Newbridge on
Wye. Right (B4358) then A4081. After crossing the River Ithon, just
outside
Llandrindod Well keep right (still on A4081). At r'bout turn left into
High
Street to Greylands Guesthouse. (75
miles)
Meet at Severn View Service Station, Aust. Leave 6.30 am.
As Dr Hocter's route to Brecon and up Upper Chapel, but take left fork (B4519) to Garth where left (A483) to Beulah. Take right s/p 'Coed Trallwym Visitors' Centre' to:
Coed Trallwym Visitors' Centre for lunch (www.coedtrallwm.co.uk)
Continue towards Abergwesyn where right up the Devil's Staircase (!), keeping right at junctions to Tregaron. Take B4343 north to Pont-rhyd-y-groes. Take right (B4574) and right again to Cwmystwyth and over to Rhayader. Straight on (A44). After 5½ miles turn right, and keep right to Llanyre and Junction with A4081 where left. After crossing the River Ithon, just outside Llandrindod Well keep right (still on A4081). At r'bout turn left into High Street to Greylands Guesthouse. (120 miles)
We all come together for an easy ride home. South on A483, left A481 and right (B4567) following cycle route 8 down the Wye Valley to Glasbury, then keeping on B4350 to Hay on Wye. B4348 and B4347 down Golden Valley and on to Monmouth. Don't go into town, keep straight on (B4293), take right turn over A40. Keep straight on old A40 towards Mitchel Troy to:
Millbrook Garden Centre for lunch (www.millbrookshop.com)Retrace ½ mile to junction with B4293 where sharp right to Chepstow and over the Severn to Aust (75 miles)