Mince Pie Ride from Mallards Pike Lake in the Forest of Dean

19 riders gathered at Mallards Pike Lake in the Forest of Dean for the Christmas Mince Pie ride, the final ride in our 2023 cycling programme. As well as the normal array of hybrids, mountain bikes and e-bikes, it was interesting to see Simon and Barbara on their mechanical trail tandem! Setting off from Mallards Pike in dry conditions, we joined the family cycle trail at New Fancy and were soon enjoying the long descent to Cannop Ponds. Turning north on the family cycle trail, we passed Beechenhurst before climbing steeply up to the Lydbrook Link where we followed muddy forest tracks towards Cinderford. With rain now falling, we descended to the Cinderford Linear Park and followed wet and muddy paths to Ruspidge Halt.  After a long and challenging climb up to Staple Edge, during which smug e-bikers were overheard goading the mechanicals with offers of a tow, we enjoyed a welcome but bumpy descent back to Mallards Pike Lake. With the cycling done and the skies brightening, we were joined by Brian M and Teresa and mince pies and mulled wine were enjoyed by all.

The Lower Wye Valley Woods and Craig-y-Dorth with Chris - 10th November 2023

Encouraged by the prospect of a dry day with some sunshine, 16 riders set off from Chepstow Park Wood to follow forest tracks and minor roads through the woods of the lower Wye Valley. From our start point on the Devauden Road, we followed muddy forest tracks through Fedw Wood to The Cot and then through more woodland in the lower Anghidi Valley before descending into Tintern at Chapel Hill. A short ride along the Valley Road by the side of the river brought us to the Wye Valley hotel where we turned off onto the Trelleck Road for our longest climb of the morning up past Botany Bay and in to Bargain wood for our coffee stop at a view point high above Llandogo. Continuing to the cottages at Cleddon waterfall, we passed Cleddon Hall and then followed good forest tracks to Trelleck Beacon our highest point on the ride at 1000ft. From there we enjoyed some fast off road riding along firm tracks across Trelleck Common. Leaving the common we continued along quiet lanes to the top of Lydart Hill where we crossed the main Trelleck Road and descended the lane to Craig-y-Dorth a promontory forming a spur in the Trelleck range. Stopping in a gateway on the west side of the hill, we were treated to magnificent views of The Blorenge, Sugar Loaf, Skirrid, Black Mountains and Hay Bluff. It was at this point Ceridwen our history expert for the day, informed us Craig y Dorth is reputed to be the site of a battle between the forces of Owen Glendwr and Henry IV in 1404. On this occasion, the English were routed with the Welsh rebels chasing the King’s men back all the way to the gates of Monmouth. It is also worth mentioning that the hamlet of Craig-y-dorth is one of the only two communities in Monmouthshire with its own flag, the other being the town of Monmouth. Returning to the junction on the Trelleck road, we followed minor roads to Penallt and on through The Narth to the Lion Inn where we were delighted to be joined by Brian Mahoney for an excellent lunch. We look forward to seeing Brian out cycling again with the group in the not too distant future. After our lunch we followed the Catbrook Road out of Trelleck enjoying a long descent through Parkhouse into the Anghidi Valley where on reaching the Anghidi river, we turned uphill for our last climb of the day back to our start point in Chepstow Park Wood. Thank you Chris for an excellent ride with great views, some interesting local history and the best of the autumn colours.

Flag of Craig-y-Dorth

A Circuit of the Valley between Abergavanny and Brynmawr

12 riders set off from Llanfoist on a sunny autumn morning to explore a route through the Clydach Gorge up to Brynmawr before descending the Llangattock escarpment and returning along the Brecon and Monmouthshire canal. Setting off from the Llanfoist Crossing car park, we climbed steadily on cycle route NCN 46 which, passing high above the Clydach Gorge, follows part of the former Merthyr, Tredegar and Abergavenny Railway which itself started its existence in 1794 as the Clydach Rail Road tramway carrying raw materials to and products from the iron works of the Tredegar Iron Company. Stopping for our coffee break on a viaduct midway along the tramway, we were surrounded by old mining and quarrying ruins a reminder of the area’s rich industrial past. Reaching Brynmawr, the ride leaders expertly guided the group through the town and onto a quiet road which, contouring around Mynydd Llagatwg (Llangattock Mountain) high above the valley, gave us breathtaking views out across Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons national park) as well as glimpses of our route up the old tramway earlier in the day. A very steep and winding road took us down the escarpment and into the pretty village of Llangattock for our lunch stop at the friendly Horseshoe Inn. Suitably refreshed, we cycled a short way back up the side of the valley to join the Monmouth and Breconshire canal. With the sun glinting off the water and the odd wave from friendly narrowboaters, the group enjoyed an excellent ride along the canal towpath through Gilwern, Govilon and finally back to our start point in Llanfoist. Thank you Keith and Jane for researching and leading an excellent ride with so much interest enroute.

It is worth noting the first part of the day’s route up the former tramway between Llanfoist and Brynmawr was featured in The Telegraph’s 10 Best Cycle routes under 12 miles and is considered to be one of the best railway paths in Wales, if not the whole of the UK.

Along the Strawberry Line

8 riders set off from Flax Bourton on a sunny morning to follow cycle paths to Axbridge the planned destination for a picnic lunch.  The route followed the Festival Way cycle path to Nailsea and then on to Yatton for a coffee stop before picking up the Strawberry Line path to Winscombe, a circuit of Cheddar Reservoir and then Axbridge.  The return ride followed the same route with a welcome ice cream stop in Nailsea. Thank you Pauline and Colin for leading a mainly (and welcome) flat ride in glorious weather.

Across the Severn Bridge

Starting from Chepstow Leisure Centre, 15 riders most of whom had cycled from home to the start, set off to explore lanes and villages on the Bristol side of the Severn Bridge. After freewheeling down Welsh Street into the town, we passed through the town arch and after following the Port Wall for a short way, joined NCN Route 4 which took us across the upstream side of the Severn Bridge, the fine weather giving us clear views of Oldbury, Berkley and the Cotswolds hills. After teaming up with two additional u3a riders on the Bristol side, we proceeded to Olveston, Northwick and Redwick and then along the sea wall to our coffee stop at the popular Shirleys café in Severn Beach. From there, we followed excellent dedicated cycle paths to Easter Compton where we joined the busy road through Over before turning off for Almondsbury and Tockington and our lunch stop in the garden at the Swan pub. Our afternoon ride started with a climb up Old Down Hill and then along Mumbleys Lane for a good downhill run to Kington. Quiet lanes and one or two hard climbs took us to Littleton on Severn and Elburton followed by a fast flat ride to Aust. From there we re-crossed the Severn Bridge on the downstream side for our return to Chepstow. Thank you Ros and David for a well planned and interesting ride starting on our home territory.

Peregrine Path and Forest of Dean

On a warm August morning, 18 riders in two groups set off from Redbrook along the old railway line to Monmouth and onto the Peregrine cycle path. After a drink stop by the river at Biblins Bridge, we climbed the steep forest track to Coalpit Hill and on to our coffee break enjoyed on the sun drenched decking of the Forest Retreat café.  On through Christchurch and Ninewells and then back onto good forest tracks taking us to Cannop Ponds and a good downhill run to Parkend and our lunch stop at the welcoming Fountain Inn. Our afternoon ride took us up the cycle track to Milkwall where after climbing Station Road, we enjoyed another downhill run through Clearwell to the pretty village of Newland with its “Cathedral of the Forest”. There we turned off along Laundry Lane and on down the beautiful “Hidden Valley” back to our start point in Redbrook. Thanks to David and Nigel for leading a great ‘summer ride’ through varied scenery and terrain.

Penarth Promenade

Our unpredictable and quickly changing weather having led to an earlier postponement of the ride on 14th July, set the backdrop for today’s ride with drizzle, mist, rain and sun mixing it up over the space of 5hours. 14 riders set off from St Nicholas Dyffryn Gardens, a National Trust property currently undergoing major restoration to its house, with a spotters challenge from Martyn to count the churches passed en route. We started with a gentle ascent up to and past the Wenvoe transmitter – to which most of us will have our TV aerials pointed – and then down into the village and along the quiet high street and on to Dinas Powys and the countryside around Cosmeston Lake with a  long tree-lined wide path taking us to its “medieval village”, a cluster of recreated buildings symbolic of the period and also proving helpful with its “facilities” and a place to take brief cover from the rain. A short section of repurposed railway through the centre of Penarth took us on to its iconic Art Deco Pier where refreshments and the biggest teacakes in Wales were enjoyed. With views over the River Severn across to England obscured by the rapid appearance of rain and mist, the decision was taken not to continue along coastal path onto Lavernock Point and we re-routed through the rain to St Marys Well Bay with its small offshore Swanbridge Island and the welcome appearance of the sun. We then continued on through the residential area of Sully and around Barry Docks past a derelict industrial site, once occupied by Dow Corning. We then joined the  Barry cycle boulevard and were pleased to see a recently constructed electric bike charging station by the railway station, although no bikes were to be seen. A very steep short ascent took us out of the town, with tandem riders Simon and Barbara showing us all how to do it! Onwards then to a hidden Barry “gem” – no not Barry Island – Porthkerry Country Park where, much to the group’s relief, the sun reappeared  and sarnies, cakes and Martyn’s wife’s delicious shortbread heart biscuits imprinted with a “C” were enjoyed. The final third of the ride took us North along route NCN88, passing our national airport, although no plane activity could be seen and into the rolling countryside of The Vales with the longest ascent of the day and a tricky ditch and busy road crossing – thanks to Dave for assisting there – before a welcome descent which took us back to Dyffryn with more cake and tea and visit to the summer garden for some of the group. The remaining shortbread biscuits were given to Ros and Christine for correctly spotting and counting all churches passed en route. Well done to you both! Thank you Martyn for finding an interesting “coastal route” and thanks also to Martyn’s wife for providing the delicious shortbread surprises! 

Black Mountains from Hay-on-Wye and The Golden Valley

11 riders set off from Hay-on-Wye on an overcast morning to explore a route south east from Hay, through the Black Mountains to Longtown and Ewyas Harold, returning along the Golden Valley. Setting off from Hay, we immediately found ourselves climbing steeply to reach the highest point of the ride at 1,400ft giving us uninterrupted views of Hay Bluff and the Hatterall Ridge. A short descent took us to the village of Craswall, where we stopped at the modest St Mary’s church for a welcome coffee break in the churchyard. The church, despite its remoteness, is the venue for popular annual classical music concerts which raise funds for upkeep of the building. Following an exhilarating descent to Longtown, we took the road to Ewyas Harold and after negotiating yet another steep climb, were soon rewarded with some fine cycling high above the beautiful valley of the Dulas Brook. After a stop to re-group in Ewyas Harold, we headed towards the Golden Valley, passing through Abbeydore and Vowchurch on the way to our lunchstop at The Mill restaurant outside Peterchurch. After enjoying The Mill’s delicious food served in generous portions, we continued into Peterchurch and then followed a quiet country lane to Dorstone allowing riders to admire the rolling countryside of the beautiful Golden Valley. After pausing for a drink stop on the village green in Dorstone, we rejoined the main road to Hay and enjoyed some fast cycling back to our start point in Hay. Thank you Christine for finding and leading a challenging and interesting ride – another new route for the group – through a beautiful part of west Herefordshire.

Along the Severn Estuary (Bristol side)

10 riders set off from Aust on a sunny May morning to cycle along the east side of the Severn estuary through the Vale of Berkeley to Sharpness Docks. The first part of the route took riders to Olveston and on to Littleton-upon-Severn stopping at Whale Wharf to enjoy views of the estuary and the Severn Bridge in the distance. Continuing through Cow Hill to Oldbury-on-Severn, the group made a stop at the hilltop St Arilda Chuch to enjoy spectacular views from the churchyard out across the estuary to the Forest of Dean. After a welcome coffee stop at the Oldbury Community shop and café, the riders continued through Oldbury Naite and then turned off to the hamlet of Shepperdine near the river to view the small St Mary’s chapel, a rare surviving example of a ‘tin tabernacle’ church. The route then continued through Hill, Ham, Berkeley and on to Sharpness where, after entering the docks area using the track across the old bridge, enjoyed a picnic lunch in the sunshine by the Sharpness canal basin. The return ride started with a short detour in the docks to view the working dry dock, the nearby MS Oldenburg and a restored CEGB fire-less steam locomotive at the Berkeley Vale Railway Preservation engineering workshop. Retracing their route out of the docks across the old bridge, the group returned through the lanes and villages to Aust and finished an excellent day’s cycling with a refreshing drink in the sunny pub garden at the Boars Head. Thank you Pauline and Colin for leading a ride with so many points of interest and spectacular views in wonderful cycling country. 

A Circuit east of Thornbury

On a beautiful May morning, 9 riders set off from the Mundy Playing fields in Thornbury to explore lanes and villages on the western edge of the Cotswolds. Leaving Thornbury on the Avon Cycle Way, we followed quiet lanes edged with cow parsley, to Cromhall and then on to the high street in Wickwar where we enjoyed refreshments in the Wickwar coffee shop. Continuing on The Avon Cycle Way, we cycled through South Moon Ridings and across Hawksbury Common, the site of ancient woodland, before climbing steeply to the foot of the escarpment below the Somerset Monument. Encouraged by cheery walkers enjoying the Cotswold Way, we turned off and headed for Hillesley and our lunch stop at the Fleece Inn. After an excellent lunch in the pub garden, we enjoyed downhill cycling to Kingswood and Charfield and then followed the Little Avon River, passing through leafy hamlets with former mill house buildings, a reminder of the past. Crossing the A38 in Stone, we continued to Rockhampton Common, pausing for a drink stop on the steps of the cricket pavilion before cycling the final leg back to our start point in Thornbury. Thank you David for finding yet another new route in excellent cycling country.