Bosherton/Castle Martin Circular

I have a Sustrans leaflet describing a route alongside the Pembrokeshire Coast and it was an itch which needed to be scratched.

Route

As the route crosses MOD land where tanks etc practice their art you have to check that they are not active on your chosen day.  Usually it is OK at weekends and holiday periods but check the website.

I parked the car in the National Trust car park in Bosherton and set off south on the lane which leads directly to the coast and the shared path west.

Bosherton Church

Who said mint sauce?

The track is stony and not suitable for road bikes but hybrids and mountain bikes are fine. Walkers of course can of course walk alongside the cliff edges.

There was a strong headwind and I hoped this would not change on the way back.  There were a number of cyclists on the route as well as walkers and a number of climbers heading for the cliffs.

I stopped to look at St Govans Chapel a small building built into the cliffs and also stopped to look at Huntsmans Leap and the Elegug Stacks.

Stackpole Head

Elegug Stacks

Elegug Stacks

At the end of the path near Flimston I headed inland and road the lanes to overlook Freshwater West Bay.

Church with flock

Freshwater West

It was here a long time ago I experienced a rip tide.  I had capsized my kayak and instead of being pushed ashore in the surf I found myself heading out to sea. Thankfully I was seen and towed back to safety. I soon learned what to look for and to swim horizontally to the current if it happened again.

Following lunch I headed east along quiet lanes back through Castle Martin, Warren, St Twynnels and back to Bosherton.

St Twynnels

Taff Trail and Cardiff Bay

As pay back for my away days, my wife and close friend flew off to Tenerife, not a walking boot or bike between them.

It was my job to transport them to the impressively named Cardiff International Airport and so as not to waste the day, I took my bike with the plan to cycle part of the Taff Trail and around Cardiff Bay

Route

Parking was on my mind but there was free parking in a large car park adjacent to the International Swimming Pool and the Whitewater Centre in the Sports Village.

The Taff Trail was signposted but because of various street works it was not that obvious to start with but I was soon cycling alongside the Taff passing the Millennium Stadium (no Six Nations Cup this year), into Bute Park, Pontcanna Fields and past the The Swalec Cricket Stadium.

Millennium Stadium

Melingriffith Water Pump

My goal was Castell Coch and after a flat ride it was a struggle up the steep hill to view the castle.

Castell Coch

Photos taken I retraced my steps to the Bay but then went clockwise to circumnavigate the Bay passing the Millennium Concert Centre, impressive sculptures, the Norwegian Church and  crossing the Barrage back to the car via Pont Y Werin.

More modern accommodation

Penarth Head in the distance

Millennium Centre

Norwegian Church

Commemorating Scott

Pilot Boat exiting the barrage

The whole of the Taff Trail is on my tick list and hopefully I can delete this later on this year.

1. Tumble to North Dock 2/ Penclacwydd to Pavilion Cafe

Tumble to Llanelli

I am  falling behind a bit as I forgot to mention our ride on 17th January. With the forecast looking good we decided at short notice to cycle from Tumble  to the Discovery Centre at North Dock Llanelli.

The route is traffic free for its total length and follows for the most part the old railway line and then onto the Millennium Coastal Path one we have ridden a number of times.

Route

Just after starting the forecast was clearly wrong as it rained but thankfully not for long and thereafter the it stayed dry and with light winds.

On passing above the lower Swiss Valley Reservoir it was a change, although not surprising with all the rain we have had, to see the overspill in full flow.

At the coast the tide was again well out and we could see the cockle pickers in the distance.  They must have good local knowledge as I wouldn't fancy taking my car onto the sands and at a fair distance away.

Thankfully Paul and I discovered an ancient cycling law that states that wherever possible the route MUST include a cafe and so as we are law abiding we parked up outside the Discovery Centre and had a nice coffee and bara brith.

Suitably replenished we set off back home.  the additional calories we took on were soon ridden off as we cycled uphill to Tumble and the car.


Penclacwydd to Pavilion Cafe.

Today, 23rd of January was looking reasonable for a ride without rain although the wind could and was a nuisance.  We parked up at Penclacwydd, the National Wetland Centre and headed west. There was a strong headwind for the whole of the outward journey and we were hoping the direction would not change for the return.

Route



I am always amazed and pleased to see people walking, running or cycling along the path and they seem to in all weather conditions.  The Millennium Coastal Path was a good investment and despite the recent storms the path was clear of sand and debris, well done Carmarthen Council.

The golf club car park looked full and there were a few hardy souls actually playing.  We passed our previous week's watering hole and headed for the Pavilion Cafe in Pwll, Paul had mentioned the all day breakfasts. The cafe was busy and we sat down to double egg on toast with coffee, once again abiding by the cyclists law (see above).

It wasn't far from the cafe that Emilia Earhart landed her plane after flying from the USA.

Luckily for us the wind had not changed direction and the ride back was much easier.

Chester

It was my brother in law`s 60th birthday on 21/12/13 and a small gathering was planned for the evening. As a bonus Andy and I decided on a bike ride from Chester out to the Wirral and back mostly on traffic free routes.

Route

Dee Marshes Cycle Route

The forecast was not great with the possibility of high winds and rain by the end of the day. Overall the weather was OK with the occasional head wind but no rain.

At the Burton Marshes there had clearly been a recent storm, but a lot if work had been carried out to clear the path.

There were lots of bird watchers looking out onto the marsh and we found out later that some buff coloured pippit had been blown in on the wind.

We carried on to Parkgate which had at one time been a holiday resort, but the foreshore was now marshland.

On our way back we detoured to visit the RSPB centre at Burton and then found a well situated cafe on the bike route. Here we had a huge piece of warm chocolate cake and cream washed down with a mug of coffee.

Happy Birthday

There were numerous cyclists on the route, individuals and groups.

The only hill was the incline over a bridge such a difference from where I live in West Wales.

The lack of photos is down to my camera being left behind.

LLandovery/Rhandirmwyn/Cilycwm/Llandovery

With the Sustrans workday cancelled and Tuesday probably the only fine day of the week, Paul and I decided a bike ride would be a good idea. We had unfinished business in the Rhandirmwyn area when the last time we cycled this area I punctured and the circle was not completed and so we were here again.

Route

We parked just off the A40 adjacent to the Afon Tywi before crossing the bridge into Llandovery. Within a short distance Paul realised that his brakes were NOT connected, thankfully not when it was important to stop. The route took us over the Afon Tywi at Dolauhirion and then steadily uphill to Rhandirmwyn.

Afon Tywi at Dolauhirion

Waterfall enroute

 There is a tea room in the village but although the door was open the cafe was not serving - blast!  However we were carrying our own vittles and a coffee break was had down by the river near the campsite entrance.

Mist in the valley

We now crossed the river and began our ride back downstream but stopped for lunch at the Forestry site at Cwm Y Rhaeadr. This looks a good place to explore.

The ride continued through Cilycwm and alongside the Afon Tywi.

Carmarthen Fans in the distance

 An easy decision was made to continue into Llandovery and to the well known biker and cycle eatery, The West End Cafe. I can recommend the bara brith.

It was a short ride back to the car.

Another good day.