Cycling Sideways - Cycling in Wales 2

Tourist Information - A Sideways Glance

(Wales is worth more than a sideways glance!)

General Information

Online Maps of Wales - Relief map, plus maps of the national parks, main roads, counties, and airport locations. All on the Data Wales website.

Wales Tourist Information - Really good tourist site with lots of info and photos.

Pembrokeshire Coast National Park - Britain's only coastal national park. One of the most spectacular coastlines in Europe.

Gomidwales - Visitor’s guide to Mid Wales.

Mid Wales Lakes and Mountains - The Elan Lakes, Upper Wye Valley, and Brecon Beacons National Park etc. Includes Cycling in Mid Wales, a short article describing just what a “cyclists' paradise” Mid Wales really is.

Brecon Beacons National Park - Provides everything that there is to know about the Park, plus info about accommodation, local transport, entertainment etc.

A Visitor's Guide to North Wales & Cheshire - North Wales and the northern Welsh Borders.

The North Wales Borderlands - North east Wales border country.

Notes for Visitors to Wales - Currency, health, weather, etc.

Festival of the Countryside - Things to do in Wales.

Map Quest - Interactive map, currently set on Wales (if it does not work, go to www.mapquest.com).

MultiMap - Interactive maps. Just type in a place name, or postcode, and it will take you there.

National Cycle Network - Comprehensive network of safe and attractive cycle routes in UK developed by Sustrans.

North Wales Internet Tourism Page

Wales Live - Guide to the outdoors in North Wales.

Croeso Cynnes - North Wales tourist info in English and Cymraeg (Welsh). With info about the Welsh language and what Welsh place names mean.

North Wales Tourism

Teifi Valley - The area between Lampeter, Cardigan, and Aberystwyth.

Visit Wye Valley and Vale of Usk - About the lower Wye Valley around Monmouth and the Forest of Dean.

Cycling in North Wales, CTC Cymru - Illustrated cycle routes together with news, features and photos.

Cardiff Cycling Campaign - Cycling in and around the Welsh capital.

Abergavenny Cycle Group

Cycling Attractions

National Cycle Exhibition. The history and development of the bicycle. Over 250 bikes on display, plus related memorabilia. Situated in Llandrindod Wells at the old Autopalace (note the carving above this ex-garage says "Bicycles, Motors and Aircraft" - the owner, Tom Norton, was obviously hedging his bets). The exhibition is well worth a visit, and so is the Victorian spa town of Llandrindod Wells (we recommend the Herb Garden wholefood cafe in the street opposite the Autopalace). Short detour off Lôn Las Cymru (from Newbridge-on-Wye). Open 7 days a week, 10am to 4pm. Entrance: £2.50, Children £1.50. The Autopalace, Temple Street, Llandrindod Wells, Powys. Phone: 01597 825531.

Lôn Las Cymru - Welsh National Cycle Route. The 276 mile way-marked cycle route running from Anglesey in the north to Cardiff or Chepstow in the south, taking in Snowdonia, the National Cycle Exhibition at Llandrindod Wells, the Wye Valley and the Black Mountains. Maps and details of the route are on the Sustrans site. Their guide to the route comes in 2 parts: South (Chepstow/Cardiff to Builth Wells) and North (Builth Wells to Holyhead) - available at £5.99 each from Sustrans shop, or Bicycling Books, or bookshops/info centres along the route. Sustrans are also developing other routes in Wales. Be warned, Sustrans' way-marked routes signs do get vandalised or turned around (why do they put them on round posts?), so it is easy to get lost unless you carry a good map. Also, there are no signs to warn cyclists about dangerous descents (like the drop off the Black Mountains on route 43) or impossible fords (like the ford in St. Davids, on route 4).

Bicycle Beano's cycling holiday in Snowdonia, North Wales, is featured in the book...

A Place to Cycle
– Amazing rides from around the world
by Rob Penn, published by Conran Octopus, 2005.

"the ultimate guide to the world's top 25 cycling holidays"
Read an extract

Centre for Alternative Technology - Situated in a disused slate quary just north of Machynlleth (pro. mack-unth-leth), on the Mid Wales coast. Arrive by bike and it's cheaper to get in.

Portmeirion - The Italianate village in north Wales built by the architect William Clough-Ellis, which featured in The Prisoner, the 60's cult TV series.

CADW - Cadw (meaning 'to keep') looks after ancient buildings in Wales (such as Tretower Court near Crickhowell which you really should visit).

Woodland Trust - Wales is blessed with lots of fine native woodland. Some woods are owned by the Trust and can be visited.

Royal Society for the Protection of Birds - The RSPB own 12 reserves in Wales, which you can visit.

National Trust - Own and protect lots of Wales' historic buildings plus large areas of hilltop and coastal landscape.

Some Welsh Towns

Hay-on-Wye. A small border town in the lea of the Black Mountains famous for its second-hand bookshops. On the 1st April 1977 bookshop owner Richard Booth, in a speech from his castle ramparts, declared the town independent of the UK crown and himself king. A parliament was formed, bank notes printed (on rice paper, so at least you could eat them), passports issued, and Earldoms offered for sale at £5 (with a free t-shirt thrown in). A referendum in 1984 ended the rule of King Richard. The Duchess of Hay and Offa's Dyke, April Ashley (Britain's first sex change) sought exile in Hollywood. Two online guides: Hay-on-Wye and Hay on Wye.

Llanwrtyd Wells - (pro. thlan-ooer-tid) The mountain biking town famous for holding the World Bog Snorkling Championships, the Horse v Man v Bike race, and the Real Ale Wobbles.

Virtual Mold - Putting Mold on the map.

St. Davids - The smallest 'city' in Britain, St. David's is only the size of a village. Situated in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.

Brecon - Info about the Brecon Beacons National Park and accommodation etc.

I take no responsibility and give no guarantees or warranties, implied or otherwise, for the content or accuracy of any linked sites.

Page 1: Cycling in Wales main page.

Page 2: Accommodation in Wales.

Bicycle Beano Cycling Holidays

Sociable cycling holidays on idyllic country lanes in Wales and England with delicious vegetarian organic cuisine (lunchtime veggie and meat options available). Lively friendly groups. 2 to 7 days, May to September.

"Great cycling country and Bicycle Beano are warmly recommended for value for money fun" – Cycling Plus

"Bicycle Beano holidays are cycling idealism come true – the tours combine the best countryside in Wales, the quietest roads, gorgeous accommodation and a superb bounty of home-made vegetarian food." – The Sunday Times