Cycling Sideways – cycling holidays and biking tours guide to Wales, UK

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Tourist Information for Wales

General Info | Cycling Attractions | Other Attractions | Towns

General Information

Cycling Attractions in Wales

  • 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).
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Other Tourist Attractions

  • 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.

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Books from Amazon.co.uk...

Rough Guide To Wales book

The Rough Guide to Wales

Maps of Wales

Maps of Wales

North Wales guidebook

About North Wales (About Wales Pocket)

Mid Wales guide book

About Mid Wales (About Wales Pocket)

South West Wales book

About South West Wales (About Wales Pocket)

Snowdonia & North Wales guide book

Snowdonia Insight Compact Guide (Insight Compact Guides)

Pronouncing Welsh Place Names

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