'The Trefil Travail' Permanent Ride

Start at Tongwynlais, from the Quality Friendly Hotel, easily accessible from the M4 or A470. Breakfast is served from 7.00am. Or start from Tongwynlais Cycle Care in the village. It is recommended that you start at 9.30-10.00am.

First, a good steady climb through the woods past Castell Coch, onto Caerphilly Mountain, down a narrow lane (to be treated with some caution - although of course you should take due care throughout the ride) then on to Rudry Common, a glimpse of Caerphillly Castle to the left (second largest in Europe after Windsor), to the Maen Llwyd pub (reputed haunt of smugglers) for a view of the Bristol Channel to the right. Down to Machen and up over Ochrwyth, another tricky descent, then through Risca into Cross Keys and climb ‘Black Vein Road’, a hairpinned 1 in 4. Continue along the ridge, then agravelly descent to the Sirhowy River and a short sharp climb to the first control at Ynys Hywel Visitor Centre.

Cross the river to Cwmfelinfach, up onto the other side of the valley, to Oakdale, drop steeply to the river again, then climb past Rock to the Information Control at Bedwellty.

Continue along the ridge, drop down to Tredegar, with a glimpse of it’s famous clock tower to the right, then cross the Heads of the Valleys road, to the second control at Tafarn Ty Uchaf (the Top House Inn) at Trefil.

Retrace and turn right on to the old Heads of the Valleys road past Bryn Bach park towards Dowlais Top. Turn left onto Gelligaer Common, down to Nelson, up over Mynydd Eglwysilan, down to Senghenydd and Abertridwr, up to the thrid control at the Rose & Crown at Eglwysilan.

only another 11km now, mainly downhill, back to the finish at Tongwynlais.

David Lewis